llest in the city, and I will come to thee.
Nay, it is not meet. Hearken, Odysseus. To-morrow, one hour before the
midnight, see that thou dost stand without the pylon gates of this my
temple; then I will pass out to thee as well I may, and thou shalt know
me by the jewel, the Star-stone on my breast that shines through the
darkness, and by that alone, and lead me whither thou wilt. For then
thou shalt be my lord, and I will be thy wife. And thereafter, as the
Gods show us, so will we go. For know, it is in my mind to fly this land
of Khem, where month by month the Gods have made the people die for me.
So till then, farewell, Odysseus, my love, found after many days."

"It is well, Lady," answered the Wanderer. "To-morrow night I meet thee
without the pylon gates. I also am minded to fly this land of witchcraft
and of horror, but I may scarce depart till Pharaoh return again. For he
has gone down to battle and left me to guard his palace."

"Of that we will talk hereafter. Go now! Go swiftly, for here we may not
talk more of earthly love," said the Golden Helen.

Then he took her hand and kissed it and passed from before her glory as
a man amazed.

But in his foolish wisdom he spoke no word to her of Meriamun the Queen.

VIII

THE LOOSING OF THE SPIRIT OF REI

Rei the Priest had fled with what speed he might from the Gates of
Death, those gates that guarded the loveliness of Helen and opened only
upon men doomed to die. The old man was heavy at heart, for he loved
the Wanderer. Among the dark children of Khem he had seen none like this
Achaean, none so goodly, so strong, and so well versed in all arts of
war. He remembered how this man had saved the life of her he loved above
all women--of Meriamun, the moon-child, the fairest queen who had sat
upon the throne of Egypt, the fairest and the most learned, save Taia
only. He bethought him of the Wanderer's beauty as he stood upon the
board while the long shafts hailed down the hall. Then he recalled
the vision of Meriamun, which she had told him long years ago, and the
shadow in a golden helm which watched the changed Hataska. The more he
thought, the more he was perplexed and lost in wonder. What did the Gods
intend? Of one thing he was sure: the leaders of the host of dreams had
mocked Meriamun. The man of her vision would never be her love: he had
gone to meet his doom at the door of the Chapel Perilous.

So Rei hasted on, stumbling in his speed, till he cam