Ta-meri flung up her hands and gazed at the blushing girl with wide eyes.
"Enough," she said at last. "It is indeed a marvel. Never have I seen such a thing before, and never shall I see it again."
"And if that be true, fie and for shame, Kenkenes," Senci chid laughingly.
"Ta-meri always shuts her eyes," the sculptor defended himself stoutly. The nomarch's daughter caught his meaning first and covered her face with her hands. The chorus of laughter did not drown her protests.
"Kenkenes, thou art a mortal plague!" she exclaimed behind her defense.
"Truce," he said. "Thou didst accuse me and I did defend myself. We are even."
"Nay, but am I also even with Ta-meri?" Io asked shyly.
"Now," Senci cried, "which of ye will say 'aye' or 'nay' to that!"
Ta-meri retreated protesting to the prow again, but the gang-plank had been withdrawn. An army of slaves were breaking up the bridges of boats. The oars of the nomarch's barge rose and fell and the vessel bore away. Ta-meri cried out again when she saw it depart but she made no effort to stay it.
"Come back, Ta-meri," Io called. "I shall not press thee for an accounting."