"Then this high god should love me, should he not? He should hear my
prayers and give me power--he should protect those who are dear to me.
Mother, they say that you, the Mistress of secret things, can open the
ears of the gods and cause their mouths to speak. Mother, I command you
as your Queen, call up my father Amen before me, so that I may talk with
him, for I have words to which he must listen."

"Are you not afraid?" asked Asti, looking at her curiously. "He is the
greatest of all the gods, and to summon him lightly is a sacrilege."

"Should a daughter fear her father?" answered Tua.

"When the divine Queen your mother and Pharaoh knelt before him in his
shrine, praying that a child might be given to them, Amen did not deign
to appear to them, save afterwards in a dream. Will you dare more than
they? Lie down and dream, O Star of the Morning."

"Nay, I trust no dreams which change like summer clouds and pass as
soon," answered the girl boldly. "If the god is my father, in the spirit
or the flesh, I know not which, let him appear before me face to face.
I ask his wisdom for myself and his favour for another. Call him, if you
have the power, Asti. Call him even if he slay me. Better that I should
die than----"

"Hush!" said Asti, laying her hand upon her lips, "speak not that name.
Well, I have some skill, and for your sake--and another's--I will try,
but not here. Perchance he may listen, perchance not, or, perchance, if
he comes you and I must pay the price. Put on your robes, now, O Queen,
and over them this veil, and follow me--if you dare."