"A Tale of Philo"
This short story is a sequel to "The Kiss of Fate", and sees Ayesha, not yet "She-who-must-be-obeyed", but still powerful as the Priestess of Isis, sailing south from Egypt in pursuit of Kallikrates, the foresworn priest of Isis, to enact the goddesses just revenge. Egypt has been invaded, and Noot, Ayesha's foster father and High Priest of Isis, sailed down the Nile with Kallikrates. She discovered that the Princess Amenartas had secretly accompanied them, but had been put ashore, or killed, or otherwise left behind at some point. Some time later she received word that Noot wished her to follow him, which she did on the ship "Hapi", guided by the captain Philo. She is accompanied by the entire college of Isis, since their homeland is overrun.
Sailing south they pass a huge headland shaped like an Ethiopian head. On the summit Ayesha sees a king-like figure salute her. The omen is clear, though its meaning less so - is it the ghost of the last King of Kor welcoming her who will be his successor? They strike inland, abandoning the "Hapi" and striking through desolate swamps. This is the road to Kor, the ancient land of which Noot is the heir, as descendant of the last priest-king. They are met and escorted by the sinister and dour Amahagger.
Coming to the ruined city of Kor (for details see "She") Ayesha finds Noot. He tells her his story, and that Kor, the Queen of Cities, after worshipping Truth, had turned apostate and worshipped a fierce fire demon called Rezu. They practiced human sacrifice, cannibalism, and so called down destruction upon themselves. Kallikrates appears, and Ayesha feels her old attraction for him returning. Can she resist this and bring his just doom upon him?
Though this tale is more satisfactory as expanded and contextualised in "Wisdom's Daughter", it makes an interesting story in its own right, mixing ancient Egypt, Africa, Phoenicians - for such the people of Kor appear to have had some link with - and the unbounded story of She herself, into a short story. It serves to provide a good introduction to Ayesha, and indeed many of Haggard Egyptian tales.