More from WARRIOR OF THE NILE, due out September 16th…Tiya has said good-bye to her family and the angry, would-be suitor, and she, Khenet and the priest have entered the inner sanctum alone, to meet the goddess:
The strong scent of the lotus threatened to choke Khenet.
“The goddess is present,” whispered the priest, going to his knees, arms crossed over his chest, head down.
Tiya muttered a little prayer and knelt, copying the man’s pose.
Khenet planted his feet well apart, in a fighter’s stance, and remained standing. I’m here in Pharaoh’s place and he wouldn’t kneel to any goddess. Besides, I swear no fealty to Nephthys.
“Humility and obeisance are the safe choices in the presence of the Great Ones.” Where the statue had been, Nephthys herself now stood on the pedestal in front of them, taller than Khenet, wrapped in black robes and gray mist.
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Next week perhaps we’ll have some more conversation with 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?
Wow, I think I’d kneel, too. Quickly. Dark and so tall–nice visual, Veronica! 🙂
*bouncing from foot to foot” I love this. Is it September yet? I can’t wait to read this book! Great job.
Suspenseful! I can just picture Khenet’s stalwart expression, even in the presence of a goddess. You do such a nice job getting across emotions, Veronica.
Like the detail. You put us in their world.
Beautifully descriptive. I’m excited for this release!
Terrific description!
Love the descriptions. I think Khenet is a bit of a daredevil, lol.
A little bit of a rebel, yes.
Love the detail and the attitude!
Wrapped in black robes and gray mist…love that line.
beautiful descriptions here. It’s charged with tension as the plot gears up and then it’s fleshed out with stunning imagery. LOVE IT!
I love all the details in building this ancient world. It really helps to visualize the scene.
What a gem Tiya is…. especially saving good-bye to the angry suitor. That must have given her so much pleasure! I can’t help but feel that this is going to be quite an adventure on different levels and I look forward to the unraveling! Thanks, Veronica, for sharing!
oopish … think Khenet just (maybe) should consider kneeling – great snippet and very lovely visuals – gotta see what happens next.
Very nice blurb also (I’m dreadful at blurbs)
Wonder how many other gods are going to get involved.
Oh maybe one or two LOL. The next book, coming out in October, DANCER OF THE NILE, has Horus and Renenutet….
Love the dialogue this week, Veronica! Always intrigued by your snippets! Great work! 🙂
Come on, at least get down on one knee or something… He’s really pushing his luck there–what will he do if he gets an old-fashioned smiting for being rude?
On your knees–fast. lol Great snippet. I could visualize the scene perfectly! 🙂
is he gonna get in trouble for not kneeling?
(I was gonna participate this week but …)
An excellent snippet. I guess knowing they are destined to die anyway makes them a tad bolder.
They may be the safe choice, but when the “Great One” is a great pain in the tuchus, safe has nothing to do with satisfying.
Go, Team Khenet! 😀
Khenet is a stubborn guy and not a big fan of Nephthys. I think he would have knelt if he’d been there for himself, but since he was Pharaoh’s representative, he faces her in a somewhat elevated capacity. (Or that’s his logic anyway LOL)
Love that he stands up to her!
You carried me into the faraway land, Veronica. What happens next? Exceptional eight.
Great visuals! Thanks!
Oh, I like the way you ended that snippet, “dressed in black robes and gray mist.” Excellent visual!
I love his arrogance and strength, but I also love the delicious sense of doom when he doesn’t bow. Nicely done, Veronica. 🙂
I’d kneel in a hurry if it was me. Nice visual image.
So vivid! Love the description. 😀
I love Khenet’s conviction in this piece. I wonder if he will keep to it once Nephthys challenges him. Nice 8!
I like Khenet’s I’m not bowing to her attitude. We will see if Nephthys respects this or is pissed off. Great description in your 8.
Both the details and the tone of this are so riveting. So easy to see, though incredible to behold.
This is so intense, and I loved it! You really captured the attitude of Khenet, and that “oh-sh**” moment for the reader 🙂 I’m looking forward to the release!
A great eight there.