- "My Khan," the tall bearded man said in an unpleasant tone of voice which match his unapologetic scowl, "has bidden me to read aloud in your presence the words written upon this parchment, which I am then commanded to present to you and to await your reply."
The Pharaoh, whose golden throne sat on a raised granite platform, remained unmoved, his face almost expressionless like a funerary mask. The nod, when it came, was barely perceptible, but the Iteran vizier, a wizened old man in a coat of many colours, each stripe decorated with repeating patterns of hieroglyphs and alchemical symbols, recognised it and immediately stepped forward and addressed the emissary.
- "Behold Amenhotep, He who is the All Merciful, He who is the Sickle of the Wheat, He who is Fisher of the Sea, He who is Lord of the Eternal River."
- "Behold the Mighty Lion! The Sustainment of the Universe! Amenhotep son of Ra! Amenhotep the Divine!"
- "Mighty Pharaoh commands that you speak."
- "Very well then.
Tahmaseb, by the Khvarenah of Zurvan, Lord of the Four Quarters, Suzerain of the Blue Horizon, Restorer of the Ancienty Dignity, Graced by the Khvarenah Arta?šásta, Unconquered in One Hundred-and-One Battles, Despoiler of the Khalypsine, Ever Victorious, Unblemished, Custodian of the Two Ziggurats, Keeper of the Throne, to Amenhotep, lord of Iteru. We bid you to rejoice and submit, for while we have tolerated your corruption with much forbearance, your continuing stench now leaves us no choice but to relieve you of the burden of dwelling in this sinful world.
You have profaned the holy lands of Eura for long enough with your wretched indolence and insolence. Our entire continent, indeed the entire world, groans at the sight of your decadence and decay. You are a blot upon the honour of the successor realms of this great continent and we mean to put an end to you. Please be assured that this policy has been resolved upon in consonance with our determination to safeguard the health and honour of the Euran peoples.
The Highest Divinity wills it that we shall take possession of all the lands along both banks of the great river Nouradin from Razaya to Sajin. Be assured and hereby warned that we, seeing the need to restore societal harmony and discipline among your unruly and unwashed multitudes, shall inspect your cities as they come into our possession and if the sanitary conditions of the communities, including the streets and sewers, are suitable for habitation we shall subject those communities to severe penalties in accordance with Martial Law. As befits the traditions of our ancestors, we shall make a desert of your lands and call it peace. Should you wish to come out to oppose us, we shall afford you a warm welcome. Should you elect instead to cower behind your walls and atop your pyramids it shall be much the same as we pull the roofs down upon your demon-clogged heads.
With Zurvan's aid you will find out by experience what feats our regiments can perform. Know that the Constancians are with us, sly and crafty, filled with boundless resolve, who defeated the Jing and drove them into the desert to perish miserably. What hope have you against such as these?
This fate may be averted if you obediently and reverently prostrate yourselves before Our benevolence. Do so and you shall be granted mercy and consideration, fail and the endless void shall be too good for you."
- "We are all, of course, inconsolable at the news of the misfortune which has befallen the Khan's great friend the Lord of Vey."
- "What misfortune?" He insistently hissed.
- "I trust there is no objection if I depart immediately after the audience? I do have a plane to catch and time is pressing..."