Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) by Scott Veronica

Author:Scott, Veronica [Scott, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2013-09-15T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seven

Much later, close to midnight, Khenet stood concealed in the shadowy barracks courtyard, drawing fresh air into his lungs, taking pleasure in viewing the starry night brought by the goddess Nuit. Sounds of the drunken revelry going on in the officers’ mess carried across the open space to him. Lax discipline. I need to tell Pharaoh about this. Maybe we should send teams to survey all the nomes for preparedness. I can add a note to the message I’m sending in the morning via carrier pigeon. His gut clenched as he remembered the potentially fatal nature of this mission. Most likely I’ll never be telling Pharaoh anything else after this.

Walking to the well at the edge of the courtyard, he took a quick drink from the wooden ladle, studying the palace beyond the military compound. I wonder how Tiya spent her evening. Probably with a lot more decorum. And no dancing girls.

And when have I ever been in the presence of so many willing bed partners and left the room alone, to stand thinking about the health of one woman? A quick flash of amusement left him grinning. Well, not since that inn at Zauimu. Grin fading, he asked himself for the thousandth time why she’d tricked him, why she’d stolen away from the ship. I thought we had a bond of friendship between us at least, after the long sail. What could she have been doing that day that she couldn’t tell me about? Other than trying to escape her fate. Again he reached the same dismal conclusion. But she must realize Nephthys could find her anywhere. Is that why she was returning? He dropped the ladle into the bucket and rubbed his aching head, trying to soothe away the throbbing in his temples. None of it made any sense.

It bothered him not to have seen her since the afternoon. He was sure she was safe in the nomarch’s private palace but she was his responsibility. Wasn’t he Pharaoh’s personal representative in this matter? So, who could deny him a late night check on her well-being? Straightening, he headed toward the gate to the palace’s main courtyard.

As the guards passed him through, a sleepy-eyed servant was hurrying in the other direction. The boy stopped, forcing Khenet to halt or fall over him. “Are you the captain from Thebes?”

Khenet nodded. “The same.”

“I’m glad I found you so easily then.” The servant stifled a yawn with a small fist. “You’re summoned to attend the Lady Tiya-ami-kitara at once, sir.”

Adrenalin hit his nervous system, making his question tense. “What’s the matter? Is she ill?”

Nodding, the servant yawned again. “Something about a headache, I believe, sir.”

Spinning the boy to retrace his steps, Khenet gave him a gentle shove. “Lead the way—quickly.”

Lit by torches, the halls of the palace were quiet and empty. Only a few guards stood at attention. The residents of the palace had apparently retired for the night. If the high-ranking guest was ill, no one had made a fuss about it.

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