A fun way to sample new books and find new writers! Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…
Continuing with the excerpts from MAGIC OF THE NILE =>This excerpt follows after last week’s. Finally alone in the temple’s office, Sahure has confronted Tyema about her “masquerade” on the night of the festival. The conversation continues. (A little creative punctuation has definitely occurred here so I can give you a complete exchange.) :
“I rarely go outside the temple compound, and my reasons are strictly my own,” 
she said, striving for dignity, her heart racing a bit. “I thank you again for the dinner and the evening’s entertainment but now, I’m sure I must have others waiting for a moment of my time on temple business – my scribe said there was a full slate.”
He wandered over to admire a fresco on the east wall, of Sobek amid a gathering of his crocodiles, rendered in vivid colors. “Too bad you never leave the grounds; that’s going to present a challenge to me teaching you to drive a chariot while I’m here.” Glancing at her over his shoulder, Sahure grinned, one eyebrow raised.
Mouth open, she simply stared at him for a long moment.
“Shifting into the frog goddess Heqet now?” he teased, “Careful, you’ll be catching flying insects.”
We’ll get her reply next week. Nearly done with excerpting this section of the novel. As always, I love your comments and feedback. Although this is a published work, the input helps for the future novels…
Here’s the story blurb for MAGIC OF THE NILE:
The standalone sequel to Priestess of the Nile…picks up about fifteen years later and tells the tale of Tyema, who was the younger sister in Priestess of the Nile…
After a childhood spent scorned and ignored by her family because of her crippled foot, Tyema was magically healed then installed as the High Priestess of his temple by Sobek the Crocodile God. But Tyema is still haunted by her memories, scarred by the abuse she endured. Despite Sobek’s protection, as an adult she’s become a near recluse inside the temple grounds…
Until Captain Sahure arrives in her remote town, sent from Thebes on an urgent mission for Pharaoh, requiring High Priestess Tyema’s help. From that moment on, her quiet, safe life is upended in ways she never could have expected.
But after a whirlwind romance with Sahure, the two part as Pharaoh orders him to undertake another assignment on Egypt’s dangerous frontier, far from Tyema’s remote town.
Heart-broken, Tyema is ready to return to her life of loneliness, official duties and, now, regret. But the Crocodile God has other plans for his priestess: she must uncover the sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh’s life with black magic. Soon enough, Tyema finds herself thrown into the chaos of Pharoah’s court, neck deep in intrigue and danger. Just when she thinks she can’t take the pressures of a very public court life and her secret investigation for the Crocodile God any longer, Sahure re-enters the scene.
But is her former love there to help or to hinder? Can they resolve their differences and work together to find the dark sorcerer who threatens Pharaoh and Egypt? Will the love between a proud warrior and a shy priestess lead them to a future together?
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Haha! Love the last line 🙂 Great dialogue!
Doesn’t sound like he’s TOO mad at her.
No, he’s intrigued…
HAHAHA, love it!
Liking it. Would be good to see how this seemingly timid protagonist deals with the cloak and dagger side of things you’ve mentioned in the blurb, and how much power she can establish in whatever sort of relationship is developing here. I’m hoping she’s going to put chariot boy in his place a bit 😉 hahaha
“chariot boy” LOL!
Their feelings obviously run deep. 🙂 Looking forward to the next instalment.
ha ha! Anybody else who said that to her would probably pay a price. I think he’s feeling her out, trying to find out just how interested in him she really is. I love their interactions!
I didn’t sign up this week but didn’t want to miss your post 🙂
I’m honored, thanks for coming to visit!
Heehee!! I love this. I love that she was caught off guard. Great dialogue between the two.
😀 Nothing like dangling a string and leaving her wanting. You’re a tease, Veronica. Love it.
LOL loved this snippet! I wonder what she’s going to say to his offer!
LOL, love his reply to her jaw dropping!
Spirited snippet, fun and sassy. Your characters are really likable!
As a kid/teen I frequently blanked out and would stare with my mouth open. Like I was never aware I was doing it until someone said something about it XD I don’t do it now, I think. She seems very sheltered. I don’t like to go outside of my house alone because of social anxiety. I was bullied to the point of suicidal thoughts in middle school, so that might have something to do with it. I mean it’s better now, but I’m a shy person to begin with :/ If Tyema was abused in her early years that will likely leave permanent emotional scars. I like how Sahure is playful with her. I think once she warms up to him she will be too. She may have created a tough exterior to shield herself from more emotional pain.
Romance in ancient Egypt. I love the foreplay. He deserves a smack upside his handsome head for the remark.
I’m glad he knew exactly how to overcome her attempt at defensiveness, but I think he’d going to get a lot more than he’s expecting. Great snippet, as usual.
I didn’t know he had it in him to be such a tease : ) Love it!
She gave him the opening and he’s NOT giving it back, lol.
Nice interchange. I think he won this one!
Haha! The frog goddess, indeed! You’ve written such great characters. Wow–I might like this one even more than Dancer of the Nile. 🙂
They have great interplay. It’s clear they are both feisty. Nice!
Cheeky! And risky—how asily offended is Heqet? 😉
Excellent last line, Veronica! 😀
Wow, he’s really taken with her. I love the way he teases her and how she pretends to be too busy to fool with him.
LOL – I think he’s just turned the tables on her 🙂
That last line is great. He seems to have caught her 🙂
Perfect! He comes with a sense of humor. 😀
Lol, I like the way he is teasing her. Lovely exchange. I am looking forward to her response.
Love his teasing manner. He seems more than a match for her and I can’t wait to see how he entices her out for a chariot lesson. Nice 8!
I like all the little details you put into these scenes..,like him looking at the fresco. It makes the story so vivid and real.
Loving the banter dialogue between them and descriptive details of them and what’s around them. Went back a few “snippet” posts and have become quite intrigued by the story.
I love how he teases her and looks at his own image on the wall. Great snippet, Veronica.
Actually Sahure the human charioteer, is admiring a fresco painting of Sobek the Crocodile God… I know, it’s hard with these tiny excerpts, besides which you have to read them a week apart!
The voice of the main character comes off as regal, which is a great plus.
I’d place a comma before the conjunction “but.”
I love the way the male raises one eye brow. Nice touch.
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Seems like he’s a bit smitten, in spite of his previous words!
Love it! Can’t wait for this week’s! 🙂