When they were done, Taita said, ‘I can scarce believe this man before me is the boy I once taught. I can scarce believe you are the man who came to me that night after the soldiers under your command were killed in the fields. To walk the road of life is a gift granted us by the gods, and we can never tell the ways each step will change us. But change us it does. And in the midst of that change we often believe we want something that we think will bring us joy, but will ultimately bring us misery.’ His voice softened. ‘I cannot grant your request, Piay.’

Piay winced. ‘Have I not served you well?’

‘Very well.’

‘Then set me free, I beg you.’

Taita shook his head. ‘I am afraid that cannot be, at least not for now. You are too valuable to me.’

Piay’s eyes drifted to the floor. He couldn’t bring himself to look at Myssa.

‘You have learned many things on the long road,’ Taita said. ‘You have learned to be a better spy, a better warrior, a better diplomat. A better man. Would you put all those lessons to waste? We have work to do, Piay. The Hyksos may have been defeated here at Thebes, but they must be driven into the sea so they can never menace Egypt again. This will be your work now.’

‘But Myssa . . .’

Taita eyed her, the ghost of a smile on his lips. He nodded and Myssa beamed back, understanding.

‘I will accompany you in this work,’ she said. ‘No one wields a spear better, or a knife.’ She looked from Hannu to Piay. ‘And if truth be told, you two cannot be trusted on your own. That never goes well. You will need me to guide you.’

Taita nodded, impressed by what he saw in her.

‘You may not understand this now, Piay, but this is a kindness. You have been bred for a life of adventure. From the moment your parents left you with me, you have been guided towards a living that stirs the blood. You could never be happy in a simple existence. I know this. I wager Hannu knows this. And I see now Myssa knows this, too, which tells me your heart has chosen wisely. You will spend your days together, and your nights, and you will serve me, and the Pharaoh. And one day you will thank me.’

Piay bowed and left Taita to his preparations for the festivities to come. He wasn’t sure he wholly understood what he had heard, but his master was wise and perhaps he would grow to agree with this path.

As they made their way back through the camp, Hannu said, ‘Well, it looks like I’ll have to shoulder this burden a little longer.’

Piay felt his spirits lift a little. The road ahead would be hard, but who better to share it with?