Ironic that I said this week would be the first appearance of Lady Tiya in the eight sentence excerpts from WARRIOR OF THE NILE because Carina Press just sent me the final cover art this past week. And the cover is all about Khenet LOL. If you missed the official reveal, I’ve put the cover on this post too. (The book is out September 16th, but is available for preorder on Amazon.)
There’s all kinds of action between last week’s excerpt and the first time Khenet sees Tiya but briefly, he’s gone to the temple of Nephthys to watch the selection of the woman who is to accompany him down the Nile to certain death. Three cousins were identified as candidates but one was too young and is dismissed by the high priest. He’s preparing to cast the omens to pick between the remaining noblewomen.
I’m doing some creative punctuation and editing to fit our eight sentence constraint, although it kinda ends up as nine (but the last few are short…):
The woman who’d caught Khenet’s eye glanced at her trembling companion on the dais, took a deep breath and spoke up. “No need for omens. I, Tiya-ami-kitara, will gladly carry out the task for the Great One Nephthys, whatever she desires.”
There were a few gasps in the chamber, but for the most part shocked silence met her offer. Standing off to the side with her father and stepmother, the man whose embrace she’d resisted earlier cursed, choking off the words as the nearest priests glared at him.
Now why is she volunteering? Khenet eyed the lady with interest. To escape the suitor? Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth, girl, if only you knew.
VS NOTE: The cursing man is a very unwelcome suitor, which is made plain in the scene before the candidate selection begins.
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Next week I’ll probably keep going with Khenet and Tiya together, maybe show a bit with the goddess Nephthys.
And the blurb for WARRIOR OF THE NILE:
Egypt, 1500 BCE
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?
She is either very brave or very naive! Exciting snippet!
“Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth.” Love it!
Ha! Hippo’s mouth to croc’s teeth! Love it and very period appropriate. That suitor she’s escaping must be really bad to choose death over him. Yikes.
You dazzle me with your imagination and creativity. Super eight.
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I love that final line! It’s such an original take on the familiar lion’s den phrase.
Very fun snippet, last line made me giggle : )
I LOVE the cover! It’s awesome! Beautiful snippet! Full of tension and the set up for the adventure!
Yikes, she doesn’t know the whole story about what she’s volunteering to do? That’s a set-up for a lot of conflict later! Nice job here.
She’s brave. Wow. Of course, unwelcome suitors can get you to make some interesting decisions, lol. Love Khenet’s last thought and congrats on the beautiful cover. 🙂
Ha! “Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth, girl, if only you knew.” Love that part:)
Love that last line! Quite the “sticky wicket”. Looking forward to the next excerpt.
Okay, your new cover? Um…YUM! Love this story and very excited to read more! Btw, I’m a big fan of the final line too!
I really loved the last line, too. Nice cover and it sounds like a great story!
I like Tiya immediately. She may not realize what she’s getting into, but somehow I think she realizes it’s dangerous because they are not expecting volunteers. It’s like she’s defying death, and I can’t help but believe she’s going to instigate a strange turn of events… great 8, Veronica!
I like the turn of phrase too, but is there really much to choose between a hippo’s and a croc’s mouths?
Love the cover! and the last line too 😀
The cover is beautiful, and like everyone else I love that last line.
Thanks for the comments, especially about the new cover! Also glad you’re enjoying Khenet’s thoughts…at this point, Tiya doesn’t know the details of what she’s in for. Nephthys, unlike Pharaoh, doesn’t do full disclosure before selecting her representative. Just part of her general approach to things LOL.
Love the line – Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth, girl, if only you knew.
My daughter is an Egyptologist – I’ll have to tell her about your book.
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Thank you! How cool to have an Egyptologist in the family!!! But be sure and tell her I write paranormals, not historicals, so I do take liberties 🙂 Best wishes…
Congrats on the cover – lovely. Really enjoyed the snippet and am wondering just lke Khenet’s thoughts as to WHY? Also (as everyone else) love the hippo/croc line. Great #8
Great cover! And such depth in such a few short sentences. Great 8 as always, Veronica!
For one bad situation to another… but I think I’d prefer the crocodile over the hippo. I’ve seen those mouths on tv–enormous and frightening.
Crocodile or hippo? Hmm… I’m not sure which is better. lol Great snippet. What a fantastic cover, too! Love it!
Out of the hippo’s mouth to the croc’s teeth? A very period-appropriate metaphor!
Sometimes death is preferable to a unwanted suitor. lol Great snippet! I love the cover. Can’t wait for this one. 😀
There’s some great lines in that snippet! Wow she’d rather die than marry the other guy. This should be interesting ….
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Dang! This is perfect: “Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth.” Excellent 8, Veronica! Wow, the 16th of Sept. will be here before you know it. 🙂 Congrats! 🙂
This sounds great! Love Egypt and what a great cover 🙂
Fantastic snippet!! Love the way you made this phrase your own: Out of the hippo’s mouth into the crocodile’s teeth, girl, if only you knew. 😀
Better unknown danger than the devil at home. Great snippet, Veronica. 🙂
I like how the “out of the frying pan, into the fire,” saying is altered here. Gives the scene a nice sense of place.
I’m really enjoying these snippets!
I wonder what makes her suitor a fate worse than death? Unless the candidates weren’t fully informed . . ?
Right, Nephthys hasn’t explained anything to anyone yet, other than Pharaoh. She’s only informed her priests and minions she needs a female volunteer.
Well, that’s convenient . . . 😉
Interesting snippet! I know you’ve switched stories this week, and I haven’t read anything on this story, so I’ll have to wait to get my bearings a bit. But I’m definitely curious to find out more about these characters.There seems to be a lot going on.
I sense chemistry between Khenet and Tiya that transcends anything life has to offer. Now if only it can be prolonged.
A great cover and an intriguing eight too.