Continuing on with my paranormal romance set in Ancient Egypt. Nima the dancer and Kamin, one of Pharaoh’s warriors, havebeen traveling with the caravan for a few days as they seek to escape the pursuing enemy and get vital information to Pharaoh to stop an invasion. Nima was exposed to various temptations involving her future as a dancer and Kamin realized how much she means to him. But he’s got secrets he can’t share…they’ve quarreled, made up and Nima said she’d do a private dance for Kamin. Last week we had the beginning of the dance and now this week, I’m going to jump ahead to more peril for these two…the excerpt takes place the next morning, after Nima’s dance and the intimate evening that followed (all of which is in the book of course). Artistic punctuation warning!:
They’d been marching for several hours, hand in hand, chatting about inconsequential things, when suddenly the rhythm of the caravan stuttered, camels ahead of them jerking to a stop with much cursing on the part of the drovers. There was mild chaos.
Kamin stopped, looking around with his eyes narrowed as he said, “I don’t like this – the one thing a caravan never does all day is come to a halt before the appointed hour or at the desired destination. Even if a camel died under its load, the others would be walked around it so something must be seriously wrong.”
Nima clutched his arm, “Could it be the Hyksos?”
“Perhaps.” He checked the nearest drovers but didn’t see anyone he recognized, much less someone he’d trust with Nima’s safety. “I should go reconnoiter, but I hate to leave you here alone.”
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Maybe another week or two and then we ARE switching off to the soon-to-be-released MAGIC OF THE NILE.
The story for DANCER OF THE NILE:
Egypt, 1500 BCE
Nima’s beauty and skill as a dancer leads an infatuated enemy to kidnap her after destroying an Egyptian border town. However, she’s not the only hostage in the enemy camp: Kamin, an Egyptian soldier on a secret mission for Pharaoh, has been taken as well. Working together to escape, the two of them embark on a desperate quest across the desert to carry word of the enemy’s invasion plans to Pharaoh’s people.
As they flee for their lives, these two strangers thrown together by misfortune have to trust in each other to survive. Nima suspects Kamin is more than the simple soldier he seems, but she finds it hard to resist the effect he has on her heart. Kamin has a duty to his Pharaoh to see his mission completed, but this clever and courageous dancer is claiming more of his loyalty and love by the moment. Kamin starts to worry, if it comes to a choice between saving Egypt or saving Nima’s life…what will he do?
Aided by the Egyptian god Horus and the Snake Goddess Renenutet, beset by the enemy’s black magic, can Nima and Kamin evade the enemy and reach the safety of the Nile in time to foil the planned attack?
Can there ever be a happy future together for the humble dancer and the brave Egyptian soldier who is so much more than he seems?
DANCER OF THE NILE, an Amazon Best Seller, is AVAILABLE on Amazon Barnes & Noble All Romance eBooks iTunes Smashwords Google Play
Nice building tension in this scene. Great stuff as always, Veronica!
Uh oh, it’s a camel jam! Seriously now… nice tension.
Camel jam – LOL, love it!
Smooth transition and quickly mounting tension. Very nicely done!
You teach a lesson of ancient Egyptian ways every week.Beware the peril of a caravan camel trek across the desert. Thanks for another super eight, Veronica.
Exciting snippet, can’t wait to read what’s caused the hold up!
Love how protective Kamin is of her. The hand-holding. Le sigh. And, of course, you had to tease me with this: ‘the excerpt takes place the next morning, after Nima’s dance and the intimate evening that followed’ – I need to read about the intimate evening! 😀 *runs to buy the book*
Mwahahahaha, the sekrit plan works…..truly though, many thanks & I hope you enjoy the book!
My stomach is in knots. Why did the caravan stop? Oy! Great snippet.
Oh no, now what? That’s a serious choice he’s got. Now I’m worried for both of them!
Great build up. Am very curious why it stopped now.
I love historical fiction set in ancient times and find your setting fascinating. Great visuals and tension in this piece.
My mind was wandering off imagining the scenery and the two of them walking hand in hand for hours. As the caravan stops, I sense there will be danger.
The romantic and sweet start to this snippet had be so relaxed, I never suspected it would end tensely. Interesting tidbit with the camel. You snippets are always so educational!
I can understand his concern. Good snippet, Veronica. 🙂
Thanks for all the comments today, wasn’t sure the snippet would work for people but Nima and Kamin only got a brief respite from the fact they’re being pursued by the enemy, not out of danger yet! The caravan master can’t protect them, as he made clear earlier in the book. I’m thinking one more snippet next week…depends how the final edits on Magic of the Nile go (because I want to start excerpting the new book).
I’m so worried for them. Nicely done evil author. 😉
The caravan might have simply moved around a dead camel, but wouldn’t they have salvaged its load? And maybe even its meat, for that matter.
Well yes (and you are always SO thorough with the details in your writing, which I admire immensely BTW), but as far as my plot, the only point was that they NEVER stop once they’ve gotten going for the day so Kamin’s on the alert! He and Nima are still on the run so any deviation from the routine is alarming…I can’t imagine a caravan master as shrewd as Ptahnetamun is, would abandon a full load of cargo in the normal course of things, you’re right.
I love stories that sweep me away to another time and place, and this excerpt did. Great snippet!
Love the building tension! Well done as usual. 🙂
Nothing like dead lock with camels. Mild chaos indeed 🙂 Nice job!
I admire how you can pass along information, like the stopping of the caravan and the camels, so seamlessly, without an infodump to be seen! 🙂
Uh-oh! I smell trouble and soon. Great snippet!
Tension and intrigue in this snippet. Great 8!
Oh no, something is going on—don’t leave her alone! That scene worked perfect for me, Veronica. I imagine Ptahnetamun would just leave a camel and some lackeys behind to switch goods off the dead carcass while everyone kept moving and expect said minions to catch up. Some get why they feel something is way wrong. You always teach us a little bit of history so seamlessly. Look forward to next week!
The Murders of Polly Frisch
Good scene! Bad things ahead. Congrats on the SFR award! And I really like the artwork you posted with this, Veronica! 🙂
Adore his concern for her safety, makes him sexier 😉
Love the tension and his concern for her.
The camel pile-up sounds like a definite bad omen. I love Kamin’s concern for Nima’s safety.
Ah camel dung, what the hell is all the commotion about? Nice tease with the previous nights events, you sly girl : )
If the caravan stops for nothing, then I don’t think I want to know what just happened. It has to be bad, though. He better not leave her alone!
Great scene. Lots of tension drawing the reader in.
Ruh roh. Something is about to go seriously wrong. Great tension!