Here’s the link to the Weekend Writing Warriors central page, so you can visit all the participants sharing excerpts today…a fun way to sample new books and find new authors! (Also welcome to the Sunday Snippet visitors!)
May be edited a bit from published version.
I’m doing a few excerpts from HEIRESS OF THE NILE, my most recent ancient Egyptian paranormal romance.
The snippet – the POV of Senebkai, the heroine’s 9 year old brother. He’s just begged Pharaoh to listen his petition and the Great One has agreed.
“My name is Senebkai, son of Hapuseneb and I wish to enlist as a soldier in the army, now, today.” He swallowed hard and forced the next words out because the request was the crux of the matter. “And I need the first month’s pay in advance.”
A ripple of laughter spread through the nobles, soldiers and commoners. Senebkai’s cheeks flushed hot with embarrassment, but he stubbornly remained where he was, head held high. Pharaoh had given him leave to speak and the only opinion of any consequence was his ruler’s.
“Silence.” Pharaoh quelled the merriment with one upraised hand. He leaned forward. “The request is unusual. You must have a compelling need to ask this.”
Senebkai glanced around involuntarily. “I—I would rather not share my business with all of Thebes, sir.”
“Come closer and tell me then,” Pharaoh answered kindly, beckoning with one hand. “As your sovereign I have the right to know what lies at the heart of this issue.”
Senebkai ascended the stairs, his knees threatening to buckle, going to stand right in front of the throne. Pharaoh leaned forward, elbow on his knee, hand cupping his chin. “Well?”
Author’s own photo
Throwing his shoulders back as he’d been taught by his late father, standing at attention, he met Pharaoh’s keen eyes, rimmed in kohl, accented with malachite, taking every aspect of the boy in front of him. Senebkai suspected the Great One was weighing his ka and had to lock his knees to keep from trembling. Standing in front of the ruler of all Egypt was the most daunting thing he’d ever done but remembering why he was here loosened his tongue. “It’s my mother, sir. She’s sick and we have no deben for a healer or medicines. And my sister has sold all our possessions from our old home, and now the new landlord says he’ll take her as a slave in payment of our debt. I’m the man of the house since the Usurper had my father killed. It’s my job to provide for my mother and sister. So I thought—”
“You thought soldiering was an honest profession and pays a fair wage.” Pharaoh nodded.
VS: I’ll probaby skip ahead a little here but finish this scene because this is how the main characters come together eventually. I should also note my Pharaoh is the father of a young son. And, of course no one is expecting Senebkai to go into combat untrained and so young. Although 4000 years ago, everybody did everything at younger ages!
The book blurb: 1550 BCE – Forced by a vengeful Pharaoh to flee for her life and hide in the poorest section of Thebes, Lady Pebatma has scraped and struggled to support her ailing mother and young brother for the past two years. Now, out of funds with the rent to pay and no possessions left to sell, she begs the goddess Hathor for help. With a new pharaoh taking the throne, surely something can be done…
A powerful general in command of the army and best friend to Pharaoh, Marnamaret has everything a nobleman in Egypt could desire…except for true love. He refuses to settle for less. On a whim, he prays to Hathor to send him the woman of his dreams.Will the goddess answer these heartfelt petitions? And if she does, will Shai the god of Fate allow the course of two lives to be changed by love? For none can deny Fate….
Author’s Note: This is a connected series. Heiress of the Nile can be read as a standalone. Although it’s my newest novel, the story falls between Priestess and Warrior timewise and is set in the early days of this Pharaoh’s reign.
Great use of words and imagery. Felt like I was there. Good job, Veronica.
The Pharaoh is very generous to listen to his request. I love how you show Senebkai’s nervousness and determination in this snippet! Well written!
This is one brave little kid!
He is a little man! Shoulders back. Standing at attention. Bravo. I really like the way you’ve written the Pharaoh.
I like the kid … as well as the pharaoh for listening. Can’t read how this is going to be solved. Great snippet.
A brave and true lad. Shows how much he loves his family.
Tweeted.
I’m glad the Pharaoh is taking him seriously. He deserves that.
Pharaoh is a nice man, and the boy is brave and resourceful. They’re both good characters.
Might get this same reply again. It isn’t showing up in the list. Anyway, the pharaoh is a nice man, and the boy is brave and resourceful. Both of them are excellent characters.