This is a very interesting book. It's about Taharka, the child of the Egyptian king. He's glad he doesn't have to be the king. He wants to be a Doctor, or a soldier. At least it would get him out of the Palace. That's one of the reasons why Taharka is excited for tomorrow. He is going on a crocodile hunt with his Uncle, Embutah. His first hunt! But the crocodile is a surprise, and Net the boatman is knocked out of the boat! When Taharka saves Net's life, he breaks a very important rule for a king's son: he touches a slave! Just then he gets called to his father. The king is dying! When he gets chosen to be the next king, he receives his punishment. Now he will have to sit in the palace all day long.
After four years he gets to go to Thebes, where he is to be married to his cousin, Shepnuset. But when he is in Thebes he realizes the danger to the king's life. He has a taster now to make sure his food is not poisoned. Then one day, the taster died after tasting Taharka's food. This is disturbing enough, but then someone comes to the palace in Thebes to report that his Uncle, Embutah, was found with a dagger in his back!
Now things seem to begin to happen. Everybody is talking about the Assyrians. Then an ambassador named Amos comes from Judah with news that Sidon has fallen to the Assyrians. He is also asking him to help them, because when the Assyrians have attacked Sidon the will come right to Judah. One night Taharka clled Shepnuset to come with Amos to his room. That day there was a fake gaurd outside the kings door. There are gaurds everywhere! Taharka must escape, so with Amos and Shepnuset's help he is able to get down a window and with Amos to guide him, they start there journey to Judah, which Amos says is there destination. They find a caravan of Mucri people, and the Mucri accept them. They travel across the desert, to Judah, then Taharka and Amos find the Egyption Army, where Taharka is brought back up to the position of king again.
