An Egyptian Princess — Volume 10

After the disappearance of Phanes, the narrative follows the courtly aftermath: Sappho gives birth and is sheltered in the royal palace while tensions grow over Cambyses' erratic conduct. A richly described festival excursion on the Nile brings together notable figures whose talk ranges from counsel about moderation and imperial ambition to rivalries over military glory. Interpersonal bonds, jealousy, and political anxieties surface amid festive pageantry and an evocative lamp-lit night on the river. Parallel scenes depict the king struck by illness and seized with dread over a grave command he may have given, blending intimate domestic detail with the broader strains of power and reputation.