Now press it to your heart, Merytra, and swear after me." Then he repeated a very terrible oath, for should it be violated it consigned the swearer to shame, sickness and misfortune in this world, and to everlasting torments in the next at the claws and fangs of beast-headed demons who dwell in the darkness beyond the sun, appointing, by name, those beings who should work the torments, and summoning them as witnesses to the bond.
Merytra listened, then said, "You have left out your part of the oath, Friend, namely, that you promise that I shall be the only wife of Pharaoh's Vizier and hold equal power with him." "I forgot," said Kaku, and added the words.
Then they both swore, touching their brows with the book, and as she looked up again, Merytra saw a strange, flame-like light pulse in the crystal globe that hung above her head, which became presently infiltrated with crimson flowing through it as blood might flow from a wound, till it glowed dull red, out of which redness a great eye watched her.

Then the eye vanished and the blood vanished, and in place of them Queen Neter-Tua sat in glory on her throne, while the nations worshipped her, and by her side sat a man in royal robes whose face was hidden in a cloud.
"What do you see ?" asked Kaku, following her gaze to the crystal.
She told him, and he pondered a while, then answered doubtfully: "I think it is a good omen; the royal consort sits beside her.

Only why was his face hidden ?" "I am sure I do not know," answered Merytra.

"I think that strong, red wine of yours was doctored and has got into my head.

But, come, we have sworn this oath, which I dare say will work in more ways than we guess, for such accursed swords have two edges to them.