Still counting down to the release date for “Warrior of the Nile”…. the snippet below comes after Khenet and Tiya have spent some time on deck, watching the scenery as they sail down the Nile…right before this starts, she asks him to call her Tiya, as her family and friends do, instead of being so formal. (A little creative editing and punctuation and it might have strayed over into 10 sentences):
Khenet wheeled, the artless invitation surprising him. A trick or test from Nephthys? Or is this woman trying to get on my good side, seduce me in an attempt to avoid her fate? Unblinking, he stared at her for a long moment, frustration over this entire assignment making his words harsh. “We’re not family, we’re not friends, this isn’t a pleasure cruise down the Nile on any Pharaoh’s barge. My orders are to escort you to your death and to perish myself as a result. I’ll carry out my orders, Lady Tiya-ami-kitara, have no doubt. But honeyed words won’t sway me from my duty. So don’t waste your time. Or mine.”
Next week I’ll give you her answer….
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Oh and if I may SQUEE, ESCAPE FROM ZULAIRE, my new SFR, became available yesterday. Doing the big announcement tomorrow 🙂
And the blurb for WARRIOR OF THE NILE (which is available on Netgalley now for reviewers BTW):
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?
I love historical fiction, so this was an immediate plus for me. The strong dialogue made it even better – great work 🙂
Whoa, scary moments and so well written, Veronica. Remind me not to go to Egypt. Applause for your research and writing.
A lot has been said in so few sentences. I’ll bet her answer won’t be what he wants to hear. I hope readers love this when it comes out next month. I’ve always been fascinated with Ancient Egypt.
Great dialogue and tension — terrific stuff!
Love the dialogue here. It really explodes the scene with the major plot conflict. i can’t wait to see what she answers!
Fabulous tension. Bravo, Veronica! I cannot wait for her answer. 🙂
WOW. What a loaded excerpt. I love the conflict – talk about a high stakes exchange. WOW. (I said that already, right? LOL.)
Wow, just wow. What an explosive eight! Nice job!
I hope she’s able to convince him to alter his plans. I love the dialogue in this.
curious as to her motivation
Aw dude, lighten up a bit. If both of you are going to die, at least be friends until it happens!
This excerpt says so much about Khenet as a person. Great way to up the tension. Thanks for sharing this bit 🙂
Awe, I feel so bad for her. He’s a jerk here! I can hardly wait to see love bring him to his knees 😉
He’s like ‘and there you are’ but I’m guessing his attitude changes soon. 🙂
“My orders are to escort you to your death and to perish myself as a result. I’ll carry out my orders.” Wow.That’s devotion to the cause. Can’t wait to see what happens when he applies that kind of passion to her.
Well you know, when Pharaoh issues an order….
Talk about setting her back a step. Lot’s of maneuvering going on between these two.
Oh, and congrats on the release! 😀
Thank you very much! Very exciting to me to have the SFR book out. Used to excerpt it on the old Six Sentence Sunday…
I wouldn’t have expected anything less from this man… what a great character! But there is so much going on beneath the surface of this relationship and I can’t wait for next week! I’m excited for your publication date coming up in September – I see it’s already available on Kindle and I’m going to buy this one 🙂
Thank you, I hope you’ll enjoy the book (a lot easier to read when it isn’t cut up into snippets LOL)!
Love the dialogue, we will see if her ‘honeyed words’ have any effect!
Oh my, that was harsh. I think she’s getting to him. 🙂
He’s an intense one, isn’t he? He’ll be a tough nut to crack, but I have faith in her! Great 8!
I really appreciate all the comments…everyone has so much insight into Khenet, truly! I’ll be interested what you think of Tiya’s reply…thanks for stopping by to read today’s snippet 🙂
Khenet has every right to be grumpy, but poor Tiya—I can’t wait to see how she’ll react to that!
And congratulations on the release!
So much tension in that snippet. I can’t wait to hear her response.
Congrats on the release! Knenet’s very strong, matter-of-fact rebuke makes me think that he protests a little bit too much. 😉
I’m really enjoying this tale, Veronica. Nicely done. Also, congratulations on your newest release! 🙂
That dialogue is great. I could just see him talking to her. Wonderful.
Sounds to me like he’s trying to convince himself.
Nice tension in this snippet. Didn’t expect his response! Intrigues me to see how this unfolds.
Well, he certainly leaps to conclusions. A little harsh… But he’s probably trying not to like her, since she’s doomed.
He doesn’t seem very cooperative. He is almost putting his own thoughts in her head and spitting them back at her. In her shoes I wouldn’t talk to him for the rest of the trip and take care of escaping by myself.
Wow! Powerful 8. Loved the seduction to avoid fate line. 😀
Congrats on the new release! I loved the dialogue in this snippet. You always amuse me with your ‘creative editing and punctuation’. 😀 Fabulous 8!
Harsh words there.
That dialogue was fantastic, I could really feel his harsh tone. Poor Tiya!
Congrats on your new release.
This is very interesting. I love Egyptian stories. I will definitely be adding this to my TBR pile.
I can understand the way he feels, and yet I still feel bad for Tiya. His words are relentless.