At length the first arrow of the dawn fell upon the temple porch and she spoke.
“Now let us enter,” she said; “my heart forebodes evil indeed; but much of 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 the priest Rei and the veiled woman who went with him, though he marvelled at 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 the gate.”
“Hast thou seen the Lord Eperitus?” Rei asked again.
“Nay, I have not seen him since supper-time last night, nor has he visited the guard as is his wont.”
Rei passed on wondering, and with him went Helen. As they trod the Palace they saw folk flying towards the hall of banquets that is near the 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 of shouting. 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 was gathered.
“Hide thee, lady—hide thee,” said Rei to her who went with him, “for methinks that death is afoot here. See, here hangs a curtain, stand thou behind it while I learn what this tumult means.”
She stepped behind the curtain that hung between the pillars as Rei bade her, for now Helen’s gentle breast was full of fears, and she was as one dazed. Even as she stepped one came flying down the hall who was of the servants 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, whom Pharaoh made Captain of his Guard when he went forth to slay the rebel Apura—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 upon him in Pharaoh’s very chamber. Some he slew with shafts from the great black bow, but Kurri the Sidonian cut the string of the bow, and the Wanderer was borne down by many men. Now they have bound him and drag him 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 the dungeons.”