The Chronicles of Nectanebo:Three

Following the assassination attempt that left me bloodied, shaken but alive, Khonsu came quickly to my villa to discuss our countermove. The decision was by no means simple. That Tachos, ultimately, was behind the failed assassination neither of us doubted. But Tachos was in Syria, beyond reach. Thus, vengeance had to be directed against hisinstrument.

The most obvious move was a direct attack on Darius. My forces were in a state of readiness, since conflict with Tachos was expected soon. To dispatch a portion of them against Darius would have been easy. Yet I hesitated. To some extent, my strength depended on the willing support of others, priests and populace. I had this, so I thought, thanks to Khonsu, but it was support clearly directed against Tachos. Might loyalties waiver if I were openly to attack Darius, who was not himself withoutfriends?

Another factor worried me. I had permitted Darius’s men to escape (all but the scoundrel who fell afoul of the crocodile: his body had been pulled from the Nile with several important parts missing). That this was understandable I recognised. That it was a mistake, I was certain. Now Darius knew his attempt on my life had failed. Now he would be preparing for my countermove, fortifying his garrisons, calling on favours from friends. Speed might enable me to strike before he was ready, but this worried me less than the possibility that open conflict between us might spark a civil war, a complication I did not need and in all probability would notsurvive.

My other course of action was to fight stealth with stealth. Khonsu favoured this approach. The Temple knew where trustworthy assassins might be bought, and my priestly mentor was all for dispatching one or more to do to Darius what he had attempted to do tome.

It seemed something of the sort was my only real alternative, for with all my long love of Darius, I could not permit him to live. But I had little faith in the ability of any mercenary, however skilled, to reach him. Thus, I determined to do the workmyself.

Khonsu was against it. He pointed out that more was at stake than vengeance. I was, after all, destined to become Pharaoh. I pointed out that the task required special skills. Although he knew what I