“All right.” After taking a sip of the wine from his goblet, Tiya launched into her story. “Nephthys condescended to give me a small explanation in Thebes.” Tiya grimaced. “I think sometimes she enjoys hearing herself talk. Smenkhotep practices black magic. Some rare mineral in his nome gives him access to extraordinary powers. He created a barricade of evil spells, which keeps Nephthys or any other Great One of Egypt from crossing his border in her own form.”
Khenet drew lazy circles around her nipple. “And she intends to cross the border while hidden inside you.”
Tiya nodded, toying with a sweetmeat. “Establishing a barrier against such an eventuality didn’t occur to him. Maybe he doesn’t know the potential of her power.” She shivered. “I’m not a black magician.”
“Thank the gods. I might be at your mercy,” he teased.
Gripping his cock with her fingers, she stroked from root to tip, keeping a firm pressure. “I believe you are at my mercy, beloved.”
His hips rocked. He groaned. “Keep touching me there and we’ll see who is more merciful.”
Tiya released her grip on him. “My heart wants to entice you but I fear I’m too sore.”
“We’ll lie here together and be close then,” Khenet assured her, inviting her to lean against him. “I’ve never plotted battle strategy in such comfortable surroundings, or with such a beautiful ally.”
“I should hope not!” She wriggled into his embrace. “Where was I? Oh, yes, so now the Usurper Pharaoh is dead and the Hyksos fled from most of Egypt, Smenkhotep thinks he can deal with their god Qemteshub himself, open a portal here to allow unspeakable evil to enter Egypt. Maybe even become Pharaoh someday. He must expect Qemteshub’s gratitude for betraying our country to him.”
“And me?” Khenet kissed her shoulder. “What part do I play in all of this?”
She couldn’t meet his eyes. He placed his hand under her chin, swiveling her head to him. “It’s all right, sweetheart, whatever it is. I need to know. Advance information is half the battle.”
“Smenkhotep needs a human sacrifice to entice Qemteshub itself through the portal. Ritual demands someone close to Pharaoh, someone representing Pharaoh.”
Looking thoughtful, he reached out and plucked a date from the fruit bowl, savoring the taste. He swallowed. “Are we talking a literal sacrifice? I’m to be killed on an altar?”
“I don’t know. I’m not sure. Nephthys plans to reveal herself as Qemteshub comes through into our space and time, destroying the evil one when it’s most vulnerable. She’ll obliterate everything, including Smenkhotep and me.” Tiya shut her eyes as if to refute the mental picture Isis had shown her. A tear fell, then another. “By her plan, you’ll already be dead. I-I haven’t told you the worst part.”
“Go on.”
“I can barely speak it. Not only will you die at the hands of a madman, but your immortal ka is to be destroyed by black magic.” She searched his face to see if he understood the magnitude of the horror she was describing. “There’ll be no Afterlife for you, no reunion with your family, with me, nothing. Qemteshub will eat your soul.”
Khenet left the bed, striding to the edge of the pool and standing with his back to her. Tiya unwound the linen sheet from her limbs and walked naked to him, hugging him from behind, arms around his waist. “Are you all right? I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you sooner but Nephthys threatened us both with terrible punishments if I breathed a word. And Isis confirmed that anything I said out loud, Nephthys would hear.”
He straightened, rolling his shoulders as she stepped back a pace. When he turned, he reached out to brush the fat teardrops from her damp cheeks. “I’m not going to die or to let you die. I will not surrender my ka. It’s good that you told me their ultimate plan.”
Staring at him, heartsick, Tiya said, “We can’t let Qemteshub enter Egypt.”
“Agreed.” He swept her up, carried her back to the bed and settled them both against the pillows again. Reaching into the sweetmeat bowl,, Khenet tossed a nut in the air and caught it in his teeth, biting the morsel in half and swallowing. He grinned, although there were lines around his eyes and his lips were tight. “I’ve no intention of allowing such a catastrophe either. What did Isis tell you? Does she provide any hope?”
Tiya considered. “She reconfirmed all that Nephthys had said. She likened this journey we’re on to a game of senet and said you and I are very important pawns.”
“Senet? With high stakes.” He laughed. “And we don’t know the rules the gods play by.”
“She showed me three outcomes—gave me a choice.”
“Ah, now we come to the place where I’m highly intrigued,” Khenet said. “So you did choose to return to the ship, to me?”
Tiya nodded. “I chose to fight,” she said, her fists clenching on his chest.
“Beside me?” Delight crossed his face and he hugged her close. “And I gave you such a hard time, keeping you prisoner, which tore my heart out. Can you ever forgive me?”
“I already have. I left you no choice—I realize that now.” Anxiously she gazed at him. “But you treated me with honor, as angry as you were.”
“So if we fight Nephthys’s battle in our own way, did Isis promise Egypt’s safety?”
Nodding Tiya, said, “We have to kill Smenkhotep, ensure that whatever portal he’s trying to open doesn’t allow Qemteshub access to Egypt. We may die in this attempt anyway but it’s a chance I’m willing to take, especially with your immortal soul and afterlife on the line.”
She hopped out of bed, headed for the heap of clothing on the floor. After sifting through the garments, she turned to display the golden dagger in the shape of a swallow, sacred to Isis. The deadly knife gleamed in the soft light. “I’m to use this against Smenkhotep.”
He reached out a hand. “Let me have it. I’m more likely to get the opportunity to wield the dagger in combat than you are.”
Shaking her head, Tiya moved the dagger out of his reach “The Great One said the task is mine, gave the dagger to me. She placed a magic spell on it, to keep Nephthys or Smenkhotep from seeing it.” Tiya glanced around the chamber. “I guess the magic doesn’t hold here but at any rate, I chose to take the dagger, to fight against Nephthys’s plans, while still guarding Egypt.”
Khenet left the bed, reaching her in two strides, lifting her high in the air and whirling her around. “So my little kitten is now a warrior with sharp teeth—I relish the coming battle!”
“I know you could defeat any human enemy. But working against our own Great Ones?” Tiya shook her head. “Not to mention Qemteshub.” Dread crept up her spine as a new thought crossed her mind. “I’ll do my best to help, to use the golden dagger but Nephthys may be in total control of my body and then I can’t make any promises.”
“So give me the knife,” he answered, his voice calm. “The spell cast by Isis will keep the dagger invisible until we need it, and I can wield it if you are...mired in Nephthys’s web.”
Frowning, she said, “But we still have no concrete plan prepared.”
“Hard to design a plan that unfolds in neat steps, when we don’t yet know what moves the enemy will take or in what order. But awareness of their goals gives me a strategic advantage. I’m no tame sacrifice.” Khenet sounded philosophical. “When preparing for battle, a good commander keeps various strategies in mind, based on the possible alternatives the enemy may try. You’ve given me the essence of their plan, as well as the knowledge of what they must have—my ka. So I know I have to defend my soul to the utmost and that our goal is the death of Smenkhotep. Kill him and there’ll be no one left to call Qemteshub.” He held out a hand and she placed the golden dagger on his rough palm. “Isis has given us a weapon aimed solely at the heart of Smenkhotep—we only need to unleash it.” He smoothed her hair as he carried her back to bed. “It’s all right, belov
ed. I may yet surprise your goddess. We should get some sleep before we have to leave.” Settling her into the crook of his arm, he leaned his head against hers. Knowing they were safe within the walls of the ancient temple, Tiya felt she could surrender to her body’s demands for a restorative sleep.
* * *
Tiya woke a few moments before dawn. She shuddered a little and Khenet pulled her closer without waking. Can’t he feel Nephthys’s anger? Pulses of hot pain rippled through Tiya, spreading out from her heart, beating at her, calling her ka. The goddess was outside the walls of this sanctuary, her fury building the longer she was kept apart from them.
Lying there, Tiya ignored the pain and watched the expressions on his handsome face as he slept and dreamed until a shaft of sunlight against his eyelids woke him. He stirred, and Tiya sat up as he stretched. “It’s time, sweetheart,” he said, kissing her. “We have to face the wrath of your goddess now.”
Frowning, heartsick and nauseous from the increasing pain, she attempted to stretch. She was hardly able to think because of the pounding in her breast, Nephthys’s summons. “I suppose, but it’s hard to force myself to leave this bed.”
With a grunt, Khenet rolled over out of bed. “I think we don’t want to find out how uninvited visitors are evicted.” A new dress had been laid out for her by their invisible hosts, and Khenet brought it to her. The fabric was soft woven cotton, the color of the sand along the Nile, and ribbons of darker brown and green ran along the hem and the neckline. It was slit up the sides to the knees. “Are you hungry?” Pausing, he examined her closely. “Why are there circles under your eyes today? Do you have a headache?”
“The goddess summons me and she’s angry. Be glad you can’t feel her call or her wrath right now.” Tiya got out of bed gingerly. “I had enough to eat last night. But I’ll take some of the bread and fruit for later.”
“Good idea. Be sure to pack some of those nuts for me.”
A few moments later, they were ready. Khenet held out his hand and, smiling, she took it. As courtly as any born noble, he kissed her hand, then her lips. “I’m proud to have you at my side for the coming battle.”
“I wish I had the confidence of a seasoned warrior,” she said. “But if I’m given the opportunity I’ll use the magic knife Isis gave us. Remember, not a word, no matter what Nephthys does, or she’ll know what we intend.”
“If this does end with my ka blasted to hell—”
She laid her hand on his lips. “It won’t. It can’t.”
He kissed the tips of her fingers. “All right, I’ll say no more. Just know that I’ll love you till my last breath in this life and any afterlife I might be granted.”
They walked through the small passageway. Tiya hesitated at the threshold. Standing on tiptoe, she pressed one final kiss onto her lover’s lips but, before he could catch her for an embrace, she rushed headlong out into the early morning. Maybe if I go first, I can plead with Nephthys not to punish him for doing what we both wanted. Maybe she’ll listen to me, give him a chance.
Chapter Eleven
Drawing a deep breath, Khenet walked past the line of glowing purple stones guarding the open door. He found himself in the courtyard, facing the ruined temple. Opening his mouth to say something, he realized too late that Nephthys-Tiya’s fist was flashing toward his jaw. A tremendous blow landed on his chin, out of proportion to anything the mortal woman could possibly deliver. Flung across the courtyard, he landed hard, the air knocked out of him. Before he could make a move, invisible hands grabbed him, throwing him face down on the dirt. Khenet couldn’t stir. He could barely breathe. The scent of the lotus was overpowering. Footsteps came nearer and nearer. With great effort, he yanked his head to the side and looked up.
It was Tiya’s body, her lovely face, but the intense black eyes of Nephthys glaring at him. She raised one foot and shoved his head in the dirt. Her voice was shrill. “How dare you try to thwart my will? How dare you bring my daughter to a place where I was cut off from her? I know you’ve used the opportunity to lie with her after all, against my express wish.” She took a step away then kicked him in the ribs with bruising force. “You refused to bed her when I commanded it for my pleasure, insulted me, human, and then think you can get away with such behavior?”
He was helpless to defend himself, flopping in the dust like a giant child’s doll. A broken paving stone dug into his ribs.
“Fortunately for you I must have an appropriate human sacrifice to represent Pharaoh for Smenkhotep’s black magic or you’d die here. But you’ll be punished.” The goddess’s voice was deep and terrifying in her anger. “Oh yes, there must be pain to pay for such insolence.”
Khenet heard the buzzing of her wasps and felt flames licking at his legs. He clamped his teeth on his lip to keep from crying out as his entire body was enveloped in heat and searing agony. He had no idea how long he endured the lash of her punishment, writhing on the ground, his guardian amulet providing only token protection from the worst effects of her fire and her wasps. Eventually Nephthys-Tiya sliced her hand through the air above him and the agony and flames disappeared.
Nephthys-Tiya smiled, the expression all the more terrible as it was his beloved’s beautiful face he saw gloating at his agony. “I hope you enjoyed last night, savored your union with my daughter. Relished your last bit of independence. From this moment until your death at Smenkhotep’s hands you’ll only do what I command. You’ll never touch this woman’s body again. And one more thing, impudent mortal.” She raised her hands to her neck and yanked the lotus necklace free, tossing it to the dirt beside him. “She can hardly wear your token of affection into the presence of her husband, now can she?” Nephthys-Tiya didn’t wait for an answer, gesturing impatiently with her right hand. “The venom of my wasps in your blood gives me the power to control you, as I do their swarms. I’ll use that power without mercy, rest assured. Now rise so we can be on our way.”
Awkwardly, he rolled over and got to his knees, scooping the little necklace out of the dirt surreptitiously as he moved, hiding it in his fist, then jamming the bauble in his kilt pocket. Somehow he managed to stand, despite the fact that his muscles and sinews were not responding to his commands normally. He was stiff, jerky, aching in every inch of his frame. Experimentally, he tried to take a step away from her and couldn’t move. The venom circulating in his body burned and his limbs itched everywhere he’d been stung, although he saw no visible marks. His tongue was thick and breath caught in his throat.
Nephthys-Tiya shrieked in amusement at his attempt to elude her control. “And so we shall go on. The gates to the nome lie at the other side of this pass. It is but a short ride from there to Smenkhotep’s capital city. By sunset tomorrow the dark forces of Qemteshub will have been repelled, his portal sealed forever.” She leaned in close. Her breath was bitter, reeking of smoke and dark spices. Poking him in the chest with her index finger in triumph, she said, “You’ll be dead, your soul destroyed by the black magic. Now, get in the chariot and take the reins.” She walked away.
He followed her like a dog on an invisible leash to a chariot that had materialized outside the statue-lined passage. Two large black horses stood in the harness, crimson plumes adorning their headgear. They regarded him with uncanny intelligence but didn’t fidget or stir. Flicking a contemptuous tail, one bared its teeth at him. Nephthys-Tiya ascended into the chariot and he came behind her, taking the reins when she made no move to do so. Rolling their eyes, tossing their heads, the horses sprang into a trot, easily traversing the pass.
About an hour later the drive came to an abrupt end at a massive wall, guarded by a squadron of soldiers. As the chariot swept up to the gate, the soldiers eyed him suspiciously from their posts on the walkway running the length of the barricade. Banners flying the cartouche of the Viper Nome drooped listlessly from standards directly above the heavily reinforced gates.
Khenet fumbled at his belt. “We are expected.” He displayed the golden badge Edekh had given him, marking him as Pharaoh’s representative. “I’ve brought the Lady Tiya-ami-kitara, the affianced bride of your nomarch, from Thebes.”
Narrowing his eyes, the captain took a long look at Nephthys-Tiya. The soldiers behind him muttered and scrutinized her as well. Pointing at Khenet, the squad leader said, “Pull your chariot over there and I’ll attend you in a moment.”
Shortly, the great gate cranked open and the provincial officer marched through, a squad of six men fanning out behind him. Khenet observed that although they moved with discipline, the men seemed scrawny, underfed. Their uniforms fit too loosely, and some appeared barely able to lift their shields. So, not the highly valued mercenaries then.
The soldier grabbed at Khenet’s golden token, giving Nephthys-Tiya a curious stare. She raised her chin haughtily, ignoring him.
“We didn’t expect to see her, not after the Usurper Pharaoh was deposed.” The officer studied Khenet, hands on his hips, taking special note of the golden falcon badge.
Blocked by Nephthys-Tiya’s iron control from making any move, Khenet could only clench his hands on the reins, literally frozen in place.
She unfastened the document case from the sidewall of the chariot and extended it to the soldier. “The proclamation from Pharaoh is in here.”
With an appreciative glance, the man accepted the leather cylinder. “Nomarch Smenkhotep will be pleased. I’ll send word to him.”
“At once,” she instructed, eyebrows raised.
The officer inclined his head. “As you say, my lady. You’ll have to wait outside the gate until he can get here. He was adamant no one but he could escort his bride into our nome, should you ever actually arrive.”
Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) Page 17