Lady Tiya is bound to the service of the goddess Nephthys, who plans to sacrifice Tiya’s body to protect Egypt from an ancient terror. She embarks to meet her grim fate alone but for the hardened warrior Khenet, who is fated to die at her side. Tiya’s dreams of love and family now seem impossible, and Khenet, who is the last of his line, knows his culture will die with him. Struggling with the high cost of Nephthys’s demands, both resolve to remain loyal.
Neither expects the passion that flowers when Tiya’s quiet courage and ethereal beauty meet Khenet’s firm strength and resolve. On a boat down the Nile, their two lonely souls find in each other a reason to live. But time is short and trust elusive.
Without the willing sacrifice of Tiya and Khenet, a great evil will return to Egypt. How could the gods demand their deaths when they’ve only just begun to live?
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The book is set in the same time time frame as last year's PRIESTESS OF THE NILE, but the two books are standalone stories. I also have DANCER OF THE NILE coming in October, which is another adventure about the involvement of the Egyptian gods in the problems facing Pharaoh and his people.
Here's an excerpt from Chapter One to tempt you:
Khenet waited in Pharaoh’s
private chambers eyeing the gilded chairs close by, pulled up to Pharaoh’s
ebony table, but no one, not even him, would dare sit without the ruler’s
express permission.
His head ached dully
from the oppressive weather cursing the city. Unseasonal thunderstorms rumbling
all night long had made sleep virtually impossible. And I had that damn dream again. Rubbing his forehead, he sighed. Talk about bad omens. The palace summons
had come to the barracks that morning before he had even had time for
breakfast. His stomach growled at him and he stiffened his spine. Whatever Pharaoh
Nat-re-akhte needed him for, he was ready.
Too much leisure between battles wore on his nerves.
The
door flew open and Pharaoh strode into the room, approaching Khenet. The
ruler’s face was more care worn than it had been a year ago, a few gray strands
prematurely darkening his short black hair, but the unusual green eyes were
bright and sparkling as always. “My brother, it’s been too long since we spent
time together.” They clasped arms, leaning in for a quick hug.
“Not
since we harried those Hyksos raiders from the neighboring province,” Khenet said,
stepping back, eyeing the physical changes in Pharaoh’s appearance. The cares of ruling Egypt are starting to
weigh on him, clearly.
Pharaoh picked a
handful of dates from a golden platter and sank into his favorite lion-footed, ebony
chair. Propping his bare feet on an ivory stool, he gestured at the ample
spread of food on the table. “Will you have anything? Wine or beer, perhaps?”
“Early
for beer, my lord.” Reaching for a meat roll, Khenet shook his head.
Pharaoh
poured himself a goblet full and, perhaps sensing Khenet’s disapproval said,
“Trust me, it’s necessary today. Sit.”
Khenet
glanced at the closed door across from him. Unusual
informality, given that he sent for me. This is no casual chat.
“We
won’t be disturbed, don’t worry. But we also don’t have much time.” Having made
the declaration, Pharaoh fell silent. As he sipped at the beer he frowned, as
if the taste failed to please him. Sighing, he rubbed his forehead with one
hand.
One
did not speak unless spoken to in the presence of the Living God, but everything
else had been unusual today. Khenet and his pharaoh did not stand on much
ceremony when they were alone. Time to
find out what’s going on. “Your family is well?”
“Fine.
The queen and my boy are healthy, praise the gods.” Pharaoh set the goblet down with a thump, splashing
beer on the table, and leaned forward, green eyes narrowed. “I need a personal
favor. A dangerous, complicated task lies before me and only the right man can
carry it out.”
Action at last. Khenet straightened. “My
brother has but to name the thing, and I will undertake it.”
Pharaoh
shook his head, holding up one hand to forestall him. “Not so fast, I’m seeking
a volunteer, not giving orders today. The fact that I’ve started my quest with
you doesn’t mean you are required to accept the task. I had the Chief Scribe
summon two other candidates, should you choose to pass on the assignment, but I
won’t lie – you’re my first choice.” The monarch waited until Khenet nodded,
then leaned forward over the table, lowering his voice. “What we speak of must
not go beyond these walls because the Great Ones are involved.”
A
rush of adrenalin coursed through Khenet’s body and set his heart to racing. Becoming
involved in anything directly related to the gods daunted even him. Pulling the
nearest chair closer, he sat opposite Pharaoh then reached for the beer,
suddenly needing a drink himself. “I give you my oath. No one’s hearing a word
from me.”
Nodding,
Pharaoh took another long pull from his mug. “Let me set out the terms of the
mission. The goddess Nephthys wants a woman escorted south to the Viper Nome,
to marry the provincial ruler, Smenkhotep. The journey is to be by boat and
chariot. I’m to supply a single bodyguard. No other soldiers, no retainers. Nephthys
decrees that the man must be from my personal guard, must be someone close to
me.”
Considering
the information, Khenet raised his mug and took a long drink. Odd indeed, from many aspects. He
swallowed. “The Nome is not loyal to you. Yet you will do the Nomarch honor by
sending him a bride?”
Pharaoh
grunted and toyed with a knife on the table, spinning it in lazy circles. “From
what the goddess Nephthys told me last night, the Nomarch is as treacherous as
the snakes which give his province its name. He worships the god of our enemies,
Balal, and seeks to provide our foes a new foothold in Egypt. Apparently when
the Usurper occupied my throne, she struck a deal with Smenkhotep, to send him
a girl from one of the ancient Houses of Egypt, to help him somehow. I
overthrew her before this wedding plan could go forward so no candidate was
ever identified.”
“And
why is this issue arising now? The Usurper is dead. You’ve been on the throne
for a year.”
“According
to the goddess, Smenkhotep practices black magic so powerful even the Great
Ones can’t enter his realm. His plans are reaching some kind of climax and he
still wants a Theban noblewoman of one particular lineage to marry. Nephthys intends
to take over this girl’s body at the right moment and cross the border in
secret, in human form.” Pharaoh frowned, his worry clear as he raked a hand
through his hair.
Khenet
was shocked at the very notion of a goddess taking the body of even a willing
priestess. Poor girl, loss of a home for one’s
soul is worse than death. “To what purpose?”
“It’s part of a larger plan ending in
the Nomarch’s death…and the girl’s.” Staring across the table at Khenet, Pharaoh
lifted the dagger and pointed the blade at him. “And the death of my envoy as
well.”
