Assembly where the priests were gathered, throwing dust upon their heads
and mourning those among them who had died with the Firstborn. When they
saw Rei, the instructed, the Prophet of Amen, and the Wanderer clad in
golden armour who was with him, they ceased from their mourning, and an
ancient priest of their number came forward, and, greeting Rei, asked
him of his errand. Then Rei took the Wanderer by the hand and made him
known to the priest, and told him of those deeds that he had done, and
how he had saved the life of Pharaoh and of those of the Royal House who
sat at the feast with Pharaoh.

"But when will the Lady Hathor sing upon her tower top?" said Rei, "for
the Stranger desires to see her and hear her."

The temple priest bowed before the Wanderer, and answered gravely:

"On the third morn from now the Holy Hathor shows herself upon the
temple's top," he said; "but thou, mighty lord, who art risen from the
sea, hearken to my warning, and if, indeed, thou art no god, dare not to
look upon her beauty. If thou dost look, then thy fate shall be as the
fate of those who have looked before, and have loved and have died for
the sake of the Hathor."

"No god am I," said the Wanderer, laughing, "yet, perchance, I shall
dare to look, and dare to face whatever it be that guards her, if my
heart bids me see her nearer."

"Then there shall be an end of thee and thy wanderings," said the
priest. "Now follow me, and I will show thee those men who last sought
to win the Hathor."