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But if it had spread through Egypt already, then ht it not end in Aksu about distant Britain?

Goeill tell the eht, if I knoin She’ll tell hi this afternoon; that’s why Grandfather ca He never co in the sun with his face against Sheba’s spicy fur, Teleed on folly

He contrived to gain entry to that afternoon’s ave private counsel to the young eht, just as he had done with the salt traders This ti the council as Goewin’s unlikely companion, and he made her believe that he was there with Grandfather

Telemakos walked between theh, his eyes on the floor He could sense Kidane and Goewin glaring at each other accusingly, not daring to start a personal arguaze trained on the floor He bowed to the emperor with Kidane and Goewin, lower than either of theer and had no place here He lay on his chest on the floor with his face in his ared him

"Lij Telemakos"

That sobered him It was very rare that anyone called hi prince" Telerandfather only ever introduced him as Telemakos Meder, his own name and his father’s Aksumite name Yet his h Telemakos was Aksuship than did Constantine, Britain’s high king

For one uncertain moment Telemakos feared the emperor would ask why he was there Then Gebre Meskal said, as though in warning, "All right, Tele in tones of dismissal

Telemakos stood up, his eyes still trained on the floor He moved to stand aside with his face to the wall, to shoell he knew his place; he was sure that this was a courtesy Grandfather would have required of hi

Gebre Meskal acknowledged his councilors with no iven to Telemakos, and called for their silence

"Princess" Gebre Meskal was always as respectful to Goewin as he was to anyone, and it was partly this that kept Telemakos in awe of her "You have news from our a me entry here today, Your Majesty," Goewin said coolly "Yes, only this noon I’ve received a letter from Priamos"

"I await my own," said the emperor "The despatchers are erratic as ever"

"There ood reason for that," said Goewin "May I read this aloud?"

And there it was again, the evil word, plague Priaized that he would not return to Aksum that year, as planned and expected, because he did not think it safe to travel He also advised that Goewin stay where she was: "For tothe pestilence from place to place, and to leave a wake of death and uncleanness in one’s path"

There was a long silence after Goewin finished

She spoke gri to write one , and tell him to shut down Britain’s ports And I entreat you, Your Majesty, to do the same here in Aksue Telemakos turned his head, very quietly and carefully, so that he could see over one shoulder a little of as going on

There was old Zoskales, as deaf and always asleep, starting and blinking; his neighbor, Karkara, yelled an explanation at his ear The warrior Hiuna and the priest Kasu, frou cousin, slapped the rail before theet their attention

Telehter Each one of the bala heg was behaving exactly as he did in court or in the street, Telemakos could not believe they were so predictable

Goewin leaned an elbow against the rail in front of her own seat, her head tilted a little, her eyes hidden behind one hand She waited in disgusted silence for the council to co to get a better look, and found Goeatching hiaze for a moment before he could duck back toward the wall His heart haain

Well, there was no doubt Grandfather would have hi he had ever done But he would not give himself up until he was called out

It was Danael who brought the’s closest advisor

"Have you so little regard for the British ambassador?" he thundered "Sit down Would you question Caleb’s choice of her any more than you question his choice of Gebre Meskal as his heir? Sit down and be quiet and let her speak"

Danael turned to the negusa nagast "Your Majesty?"

"Coain," said the emperor

Telemakos heard her stand up She said simply, "Close your ports Close your borders You will lose commerce, you will lose authority, you will lose alliances But you have the strength to do it and survive The world is aflae, you must cut yourself off from the world"

A few of the council sent up athe, loudly but inco voice

"‘What is the child doing here?’" Karkara repeated clearly

Telemakos drew in a sharp breath

"Turn around, Telemakos," said Goewin

He turned to face the at his feet

"I asked him here as my witness," said Goewin s when I first heard ruue, from Anako, the archon in Deire And it was in conversation with Anako’s porters that Telemakos heard speculation as to how to undermine the quarantine in Alexandria Where there is no market, there will be a black market So I would advise you not only to set quarantine in your own land, but also to lay careful snares against any ould slip through your net"