Rei and the Golden Helen passed through the streets of the city tillthey came to the Palace gates. And here they must wait till the dawn,for Rei, thinking to come thither with the Wanderer, who was Captain ofthe Guard, had not learned the word of entry.
"Easy would it be for me to win my way through those great gates," saidthe Helen to Rei at her side, "but it is my counsel that we wait awhile.Perchance he whom we seek will come forth."
So they entered the porch of the Temple of Osiris that looked towardsthe gates, and there they waited till the dawn gathered in the easternsky. The Helen spoke no word, but Rei, watching her, knew that she wastroubled at heart, though he might not see her face because of the veilshe wore; for from time to time she sighed and the Red Star rose andfell upon her breast.
At length the first arrow of the dawn fell upon the temple porch and shespoke.
"Now let us enter," she said; "my heart forebodes evil indeed; but muchof evil I have known, and where the Gods drive me there I must go."
They came to the gates, and the man who watched them opened to thepriest Rei and the veiled woman who went with him, though he marvelledat the beauty of the woman's shape.
"Where are thy fellow-guards?" Rei asked of the soldier.
"I know not," he answered, "but anon a great tumult rose in the Palace,and the Captain of the Gate went thither, leaving me only to guard thegate."
"Hast thou seen the Lord Eperitus?" Rei asked again.
"Nay, I have not seen him since supper-time last night, nor has hevisited the guard as is his wont."
Rei passed on wondering, and with him went Helen. As they trod thePalace they saw folk flying towards the hall of banquets that is nearthe Queen's chambers. Some bore arms in their hands and some bore none,but all fled east towards the hall of banquets, whence came a sound ofshouting. Now they drew near the hall, and there at the further end,where the doors are that lead to the Queen's chambers, a great crowd wasgathered.
"Hide thee, lady--hide thee," said Rei to her who went with him, "formethinks that death is afoot here. See, here hangs a curtain, stand thoubehind it while I learn what this tumult means."
She stepped behind the curtain that hung between the pillars as Rei badeher, for now Helen's gentle breast was full of fears, and she was as onedazed. Even as she stepped one came flying down the hall who was of theservants of Rei the Priest.
"Stay thou," Rei cried to him, "and tell me what happens yonder."
"Ill deeds, Lord," said the servant. "Eperitus the Wanderer, whomPharaoh made Captain of his Guard when he went forth to slay the rebelApura--Eperitus hath laid hands on the Queen whom he was set to guard.But she fled from him, and her cries awoke the guard, and they fell uponhim in Pharaoh's very chamber. Some he slew with shafts from the greatblack bow, but Kurri the Sidonian cut the string of the bow, and theWanderer was borne down by many men. Now they have bound him and draghim to the dungeons, there to await judgment from the lips of Pharaoh.See, they bring him. I must begone on my errand to the keeper of thedungeons."
The Golden Helen heard the shameful tale, and such sorrow took her thathad she been mortal she had surely died. This then was the man whom shehad chosen to love, this was he whom last night she should have wed.Once more the Gods had made a mock of her. So had it ever been, soshould it ever be. Loveless she had lived all her life days, now shehad learned to love once and for ever--and this was the fruit of it!She clasped the curtain lest she should sink to the earth, and hearinga sound looked forth. A multitude of men came down the hall. Before themwalked ten soldiers bearing a litter on their shoulders. In the litterlay a man gagged and fettered with fetters of bronze so that he mightnot stir, and they bore him as men bear a stag from the chase or a wildbull to the sacrifice. It was the Wanderer's self, the Wanderer overcomeat last, and he seemed so mighty even in his bonds, and his eyes shonewith so fierce a light, that the crowd shrank from him as though infear. Thus did Helen see her Love and Lord again as they bore himdishonoured to his dungeon cell. She saw, and a moan and a cry burstfrom her heart. A moan for her own woe and a cry for the shame andfaithlessness of him whom she must love.
"Oh, how fallen art thou, Odysseus, who wast of men the very first," shecried.
He heard it and knew the voice of her who cried, and he gazed around.The great veins swelled upon his neck and forehead, and he struggled sofiercely that he fell from the litter to the ground. But he might notrise because of the fetters, nor speak because of the gag, so theylifted him again and bore him thence.
And after him went all the multitude save Rei alone. For Rei was fallenin shame and grief because of the tale that he had heard and of the deedof darkness that the man he loved had done. For not yet did he rememberand learn to doubt. So he stood hiding his eyes in his hand, and as hestood Helen came forth and touched him on the shoulder, saying:
"Lead me hence, old man. Lead me back to my temple. My Love is lostindeed, but there where I found it I will abide till the Gods make theirwill clear to me."
He bowed, saying no word, and following Helen stepped into the centre ofthe hall. There he stopped, indeed, for down it came the Queen, her hairstreaming, all her robes disordered, and her face stained with tears.She was alone save for Kurri the Sidonian, who followed her, and shewalked wildly as one distraught who knows not where she goes nor why.Helen saw her also.
"Who is this royal lady that draws near?" she asked of Rei.
"It is Meriamun the Queen; she whom the Wanderer hath brought to shame."
"Stay then, I would speak with her."
"Nay, nay," cried Rei. "She loves thee not, Lady, and will slay thee."
"That cannot be," Helen answered.