Pages 1-47 Summary

River God opens with Lady Lostris, only daughter of the Egyptian noble Intef, aboard a boat on the Nile River. She is fourteen years of age and accompanied by her slave and care provider, Taita. Taita is an enuch, a slave of highest regard and a wealthy possession. He is well known as a physician, astrologer, poet, architect and inventor. As such, he also served as Lady Lostris' tutor. They are joined by Tanus, a mutual friend and elite officer of the Egyptian guard.

On this day they were aboard Tanus's ship called the Breath Of Horus and were enjoying the excitement leading up to the festival of Osiris. An injured hippopotamus rears up and Lady Lostris was thrown from the relative safety of the boat through the air. Tanus was momentarily stunned but quickly responded by jumping onto the beast's...