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, the Great One has agreed and they’ve been talking. I’ve skipped a little bit ahead.
Pharaoh picked up his flail and the crook, crossing them over his chest and gazed beyond Senebkai to regard the avidly attentive crowd. “I am pleased to accept the oath of service from my newest soldier.”
Senebkai licked his lips and swallowed hard. Let him forgive me for reminding him. “And my wages?”
Fortunately Pharaoh remained unperturbed, merely tilting his head ever so slightly in agreement. “Edekh, have one month’s wages, plus a suitably generous signing bonus, brought immediately.”
“Yes, my lord.” The Chief Scribe bowed and sent an under scribe running on the errand.
The High Priest of Horus paced forward, dressed in finely pleated robes, wearing a leopard skin belted across his loins and holding a large, fragrant onion. He touched Senebkai gently on the shoulder to get his attention. “Kneel to your pharaoh, boy, place your hand on this sacred icon, symbol of eternal life, circle upon circle unending, and repeat the oath after me. I, state your name—”
This was all going too fast now but he stumbled into speech. “I, Senebkai…”
“Do solemnly swear by my immortal soul, under the eyes of the Great Ones of Egypt, I will defend Pharaoh and my country against all enemies, be they foreign or Egyptian, human or inhuman, and I will obey the orders of Pharaoh and any officers he appoints over me, according to Ma’at, the eternal truth, here and in the Afterlife.”
Senebkai repeated the entire oath, his voice strong and calm. This was what he wanted, had dreamed of since he was a small boy. And to make my oath directly to Pharaoh, not a bored recruiting officer…my father would be proud. Tears prickled in Senebkai’s eyes, and he swiped at them with his fist, pretending the onion affected him. The priest took a ceremonial knife from his belt, gripping it by the golden falcon’s head hilt and sliced off a thin ring of the onion, giving it to Senebkai to eat as the completion of the ritual, sealing him to Pharaoh’s service.
“Here are your wages,” Pharaoh said as Edekh handed Senebkai a fat leather purse full of clinking gold deben. “And now I give you my first order.” He considered his gathered nobles and soldiers then pointed the cobalt and gold officer’s flail at one man. “General Marnamaret.”
Senebkai’s heart sank. A general? How sympathetic will he be to my need to pay the landlord right away and to take proper care of my mother?
VS: Ah but we know Marnamaret is a very understanding person, since we met him earlier in these snippets. Next week – Pharaoh’s orders.
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.
Amazon Apple Books Kobo Nook GooglePlay
******************************************************************************
I did a fun new trailer for DANCER OF THE NILE, which you can view HERE.
I hope all will still work out for him.
Such a vivid scene, Jean! Well done.
It seems he had nothing to lose by asking, and managed to get this much. I hope he is able to make the payment before beginning his service as a soldier. Great snippet!
Great little bit about his wiping his eyes pretending it was the onion that was affected him.
Tweeted.
I love this scene! Wonderful character development. Wise but kind, the Pharaoh. The onion ritual is interesting, too. 🙂
Okay – he is sworn to Pharaoh’s service and has received his wages. Will he be in time to save his sister?
I liked the details of the onion.
Onions were very important to the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of eternal life and they did take oaths with one hand on an onion. They also included onions in the burial goods, often placed around the body. I adapted the ceremony a little bit here for my book and put together my own oath for Senebkai from fragments in the Book of the Dead and other sources.
This kid is fantastic, and pharaoh isn’t bad either. I can’t wait to find out his orders to the general.
I’m looking forward to what happens next. Great characters!