Sofia was vaguely aware of voices inside the tent. She heard someone talking about the White stallion and getting ready to go. She tried to move, but her body seemed to be paralysed.
Paul once again reared, screaming with joy. The camp fell silent, their attention on this amazing stallion, his pure white coat, dazzling in the sunlight. Francois was shocked. He had seen Paul in the guise of a white stallion before, the first time he had visited Bast's temple, but this stallion could not possibly be Paul. There was an answering whinny from inside the tent of Osiris, and the crowd parted as the old stallion, walked out, to greet this old friend, who would lead him on his journey home. As the crowd closed behind him, Marie, Kieran and Martin carried Sofia from the tent and started hurrying back towards Amun-Ra's temple.
The old stallion approached Paul, whinying joyfully. Paul lowered his head, breathing on the old stallion, and rubbing his head against his neck. Then he turned away from the camp and gallopped out into the desert, the old stallion following willingly.
Francois watched the two stallions gallop away with the rest of the crowd until, they vanished into the haze. He turned to Saeed. "What makes you think that the White stallion will come for Paul when it is his time to die?" He asked. Saeed turned towards him, "You know that Paul favours the shape of the horse when he changes shape. He arrived in Egypt on the back of the White stallion, and his favoured shape is of a pure white stallion, the only explanation is that he and the White stallion are brothers. Divine offspring of the Gods. The temple of Bast was built long before Egypt as a united nation existed. We were still split into upper and lower Egypt when Paul rode to the courtyard of Bast's temple. How could he have known any such temple was being built if he was the child of a mortal couple? No the White stallion will come for Paul when it is his time, and take his brother home to reside where he truely belongs, with the Gods." He replied.
Francois thought over what Saeed had said about Paul, and remembered what Ademus had told him when he had been planning to attack Bast's temple "Followers of the goddess say that her blood flows in his veins." Had Ademus known that Paul could be the son of the Gods. It seemed unlikely to Francois, but in Ancient Greek civilization had not Hercules been the son of Zeus? Surely it would not be hard to present such a story to the ancient Egyptians themselves upon your arrival in their country? It would explain to them why you looked different to them, even the White stallion could be explained away by that story. But Paul did not seem to possess anything extraordinary about him other than his vast knowledge, which given his supposed age was no surprise.
Francois resolved to discuss the matter further with Martin and wandered over to the tent that Osiris had been in, only to find it empty.
"We must turn now and pick up Marie and the others. Francois may even now suspect where we are headed and attampt to catch us" Paul said to John as they walked parallel to the riverbed. John nodded and started to pick his way down the bank as he spotted Marie hurrying along with Keiran and Martin, Paul following him.
"You got out OK then?" John asked Marie who nodded. "It feels like it went almost too well." She replied. Paul nodded, looking concerned. "We must move quickly if we are to get to the Triaxial Temple today. I will carry Sofia. John, Marie, I ask you to look after Keiran and Martin. They also must get to the Triaxial Temple, but their need is not as urgent. Keep hidden, and try to ensure that Francois - who will follow us - does not see you. If he sees you he will kill you without thought. Yes, even you Martin. I must run now. I will meet you infront of the altar of the Triaxial Temple this evening." Paul said, lifting his daughter onto his back and taking the shape of a black stallion, before gallopping away.
"We had better start our journey then. We cannot follow Pauls route for fear of leading Francois to the Triaxial Temple, but we can still get there by this evening, going another route." Marie said, leading the way up the river bank.