Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) (15 page)

Khenet clapped his hands over his ears, saw Tiya do the same. The apparition morphed into a lion-headed horse with wings, bowing a heavy head to them. “The decision has been made. One night. A gift of one night, in recognition of your loyalty to Tla’amu. You did, after all, make a proper sacrifice where none have been rendered for long ages. And you are the last man of Avsarum, whose people were of this land many eons ago. You may have until the second hour after sunrise within these walls. Protection from all threats, earthly and unearthly, as you request. You must depart at the appointed hour.”

Khenet nodded.
Better than I dared to hope.
He tightened his grip on Tiya’s hand. “Absolutely.”

“You’ve disturbed those who own this place enough already, brought memories of things long forgotten, of duties surrendered,” the voice chided. The glowing golden creature winked out and was replaced by a stately silver gazelle. The animal swept its diamond-tipped antlers to the right. “Follow me.”

They walked across the rubble-strewn floor, following the drifting creature of light. A few times Khenet blinked as he caught a glimpse of another reality overlaid on the ruins, a vision of a temple full of celebrants, feasting, singing—unaware of the intrusion he and Tiya represented. He thought he understood words here and there, sung with the lilt of his own dead language.
Maybe I really have come home
,
home to where my people lived at the dawn of time.
His vision blurred and he blinked hard to clear it. He walked more slowly, pausing, tempted beyond reason to forsake his quest and go join the revelers. The call was almost a physical compulsion.
They must be my people for they speak my language.
Why do I need to die for the Egyptians when I could slip into the world this temple touches?
A
world where I belong?

Tiya squeezed his hand, crowding close to him. “What’s the matter? Why have you stopped?”

It was as if he’d been doused in ice water. Shaking like a dog shedding raindrops, he smiled for her, the desire to abandon his quest, to abandon
her
, fleeing his mind. “The song is so beautiful, haunting.”

“I barely hear it,” she said. “Discordant to my ears.”

The gazelle paused, transforming into a lioness composed entirely of light. A beam shot out from its eyes, illuminating an archway directly in front of them. “The chamber within will be yours. None will bother you. For your part, you must not seek to learn any more of the mysteries contained in the temple. The building guards a portal to powers and places you humans are denied.” A low growl vibrated from the throat of the lioness. She bared glowing ruby fangs, dripping silver saliva to the floor. “No further sacrifice or plea will be entertained.”

“We understand. Thank you.” Khenet stepped past the lioness, through the archway, drawing Tiya after him. Descending a flight of rough-hewn stone stairs, they found themselves in a passageway whose walls sparkled with gemstones and glowing minerals, creating enough light to read a papyrus by. Shimmering aquamarine light shone at the far end of the tunnel, and Khenet walked in that direction. He could no longer hear the music or the enticing voices, which was a relief.

“Do you trust the creature who guided us here?” Tiya whispered. “It’s all so strange, like a dream or a mirage—I fear a trap of some kind.”

He paused, taking her in his arms, free of the fear of discovering he was holding the goddess by mistake. “This is a place of my people, of my gods. Even though it’s many centuries old, some beneficent power still clings to the walls.” He gestured at the nearest gemstones lighting their way. “Magic, I grant you, but real enough for us tonight. What you found discordant and disturbing was warm and welcoming to me. Almost too welcoming, but not in the way of a trap. Or if it was a lure, your voice broke the spell they were weaving.” He lifted her hand to his lips, dropping a kiss into her palm, which made Tiya smile.

She went on her tiptoes to kiss him. “Anywhere that Nephthys can’t find us is a miracle.”

He hugged her close to him, thinking she must be cold and wet. He needed to get her somewhere warm soon. “We have protection from all threats tonight, even your less-than-benign goddess.”

“Then we shouldn’t waste a moment of time,” Tiya answered, taking his hand again.

Together they walked to the end of the tunnel, finding themselves on a rocky platform above a room from a fantastical scribes’ tale. An oblong aquamarine pool glowed in the center of the cave, surrounded by soft rugs, thick towels and fresh clothing. A feast had been laid out on a table off to the side, and a large bed sat partially concealed behind gold and white curtains. Steam wafted from the pool. Golden oil lamps set with gems and torches held aloft by finely carved stone lions illuminated the far end of the room.

Alerted by some subtle change in the air behind them, Khenet turned to find he now faced a solid wall, decorated with four black symbols in a language he didn’t recognize burned into the stone. The impression it gave was one of warning. There was no longer any exit to the temple. Across the chamber below, across from the pool, a passageway led off to the left.

“Stay here a moment.” He leapt down the stairs, jogged across the chamber and into the corridor. As he hoped, night sky and open ground waited at the end. Sheets of rain blew across the opening. Careful not to come anywhere near the doorway, he reversed his steps and returned to the main room where he had left Tiya. “We can get out this way, when we’re ready, in the morning.” He swung his cloak off his shoulders and unbuckled his sword belt.

Hesitantly, cautious on the stone stairs, Tiya made her way from the entrance above to the pool, then knelt on the soft carpet laid there and dipped her hand into its inviting water. She sank onto her heels with a sigh of sheer pleasure. “Warm. Oh, I want a bath. How is this possible? Are we dreaming?”

“I believe it’s real enough.” Khenet walked over to the laden table, tore off a piece of the cooked fowl and bit into it. “Roasted to perfection.” He pivoted on his heel as he chewed the well-done meat, taking in all the details of the room that had been prepared for them. No effort had been spared by their unseen hosts to make them welcome. The furnishings were those a pharaoh might treasure and if they stayed a week he and Tiya couldn’t hope to eat all the rich food set out.

“Khenet?” There was alarm in her tone.

“What?” He dropped the quail on the platter and stepped away from the table, his hand going to his dagger.

“How can this be?” Tiya’s eyes were wide, frightened. “What sorcery have you done?”

“What do you mean? What’s wrong?” He was by her side in a heartbeat.

Showing him her wrist, she struggled to get the words out. “My mark of Nephthys. It’s gone.”

“And...the other mark?” he said in a low voice, watching her face.

She put a hand to undo the gemmed clasp of her dress but paused, her face set in troubled lines. Biting her lip, she said, “I—I’m afraid to look. I want to be free of her with all my heart, even if only for one night.” Tiya took a deep breath. “Can the spells your old gods are weaving possibly be of such strength?”

“I believe they are. I pray they are.” Khenet kissed her forehead. “Shelter from the rain and food to eat were not the only comforts I hoped for, my lady, if I may be so bold.” He glanced over his shoulder at the inviting bed, heaped with striped pillows, fine sheets and exotic furs. “I believe the temple spirits read the deepest desire of my heart, to be able to
show
you my feelings tonight. I am not good with words—I’m no glib noble or scribe.” He placed one hand under her chin, gently raising her gaze to meet his. “You must know how much I’ve desired you these past weeks?”

With a nervous laugh, blushing, Tiya said, “But you said Nepthys offered you my body and you refused.”

“Your body is not
you
. I want you, Tiya-ami-kitara.” He kissed her forehead again. “The person.” His fingers brushed her breast through the clinging fabric. “The heart and the soul.”

She shut her eyes and drew in a long breath, almost a sob. “I want the same, may your gods grant us the chance.”

“They have.”

His eyes locked on hers, Khenet reached out to unfasten the clasps at the shoulder seam of her dress, lowering the neckline of her gown until her breasts were revealed. “Was the other mark here?” he asked, brushing the back of one hand lightly across her silky skin.

She licked her lips nervously and nodded as his hand slid lower to cup her breast, his thumb rubbing her nipple gently. She tilted her head, closing her eyes, and he nuzzled her neck, caressing her breast in slow languid circles. “Have you truly freed me from Nephthys?” she whispered.

“For one night only.” He captured her lips and kissed her.

Tiya broke off the kiss, one hand pushing at his chest. “It’s not possible—this must be another dream. Perhaps she’s testing me. The Great One is going to come and punish us.” Ineffectually she tried to escape him.

Khenet pulled her against his broad chest and kissed her forehead. “This place belongs to one who came before, one who was pure power in her time. Amanuet. She gave birth to the grandmother of Nephthys, so Nephthys has no foothold here, no ability to affect us within these walls.”

“How did you know about this place? About the magic?”

“I told you, my tribe worshipped Tla’amu, the Old God who came even before Amanuet. My god and his kin created the world, or so the legends say. When I learned about this temple from ancient scrolls in pharaoh’s library, I hoped here I might be able to shield us from Nephthys, at least temporarily. I saw another map in Dendaret that confirmed my guess, since the cartouche marking the temple’s location matched my tattoo. You and I need to talk freely—we need to make some kind of plan for what will happen when we reach the Viper Nome. I need to know what transpired that day in Zauimu, if you’ll tell me.” He tipped her face up to his with one hand under her chin. Staring into her eyes, his own wide and serious, he vowed, “I’m determined to get you through this alive but I need every shred of information.”

“If you’re sure we’re safe from Nephthys here, then I’ll be only too happy to share what I learned in Zauimu. I have information from Isis herself,” Tiya said.

“Isis? The queen of the Great Ones meddles in this affair too?” Khenet held her tighter for a moment. “Does she give us hope? Or more despair?”

“Hope. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you what I’d done, where I went, but Isis specifically warned me that Nephthys would learn anything I spoke aloud.” Tiya looked at him. “
Would
you have taken me to the temple of Isis that day if I’d asked you to escort me, instead of deceiving you?”

“I will regret to my dying day the words I spoke to you in Zauimu,” he said. “I was so angry and so worried, and then when I found you, your refusal to explain—”

“We agree on the necessity of talk. But why do I have the feeling conversation will be difficult to concentrate on just now?” Her hand skimmed down his stomach, touched the iron rod of his cock and tentatively caressed the length of the shaft through the linen.

He shivered under her touch and hugged her closer, grinding his hips into hers. “What I want most is to make love to you. I want you to be mine.”

“And you to be mine,” she answered, her eyes shining. “I’ve longed for nothing else.” A shy smile curved her lips, and she looked appreciatively at his cock. “I’m not a dancing girl. I won’t know how to please you.”

He turned her head back to him gently. “Shh, my love. Tonight is for your pleasure. If you’re happy, then I will be as well.” He shook his head. “Don’t worry about anything. We have all the time in the world. Come, let us take this bath you were wishing for a few moments ago.” He untied the silk sash at her waist and slid the wrinkled linen dress from her body to pool at her feet while she stood blushing before him. He reveled in the sight of her womanly curves, soft skin gleaming in the torchlight. “Beautiful, you’re so beautiful.” Khenet cupped her breast before running his hand slowly down her belly and through the soft curls below. “Your skin is like the velvet of a peach.” Shucking his leather harness, Khenet unhooked his kilt, let it fall to the carpet, kicked it away. He reached for the fastening of his loincloth.

Tiya stopped him, her hands moving his aside. “Let me.”

He stood motionless, riveted to the spot as she removed his undergarment. His massively aroused cock sprang free of the cloth folds. Tiya reached out to caress his balls, stroke the aching shaft. Her touch was a gentle, unintentionally teasing caress. Khenet repressed a groan, caught her hand, and kissed it.

“Come, let me be your servant tonight. Let me bathe you.” He drew her down a set of shallow steps toward the waters, warm and bubbling slightly. A convenient ledge edged one side of the pool, where she could sit or recline. He reached out for the small pitcher of scented oil close at hand and worked up a lather. The intoxicating scent of rich spices and exotic flowers blossomed in the air.

He soaped her body slowly, paying great attention to her breasts, so exactly the right size and weight to fill his hands, then rubbed his palms along her flat belly, stopping right before venturing between her legs. Tiya stretched like a cat as he brought his hands over her breasts and washed her arms, back and neck. He took a large sea shell sitting on the rim of the pool and dipped it into the warm waters, rinsing the soap from her body with care.

“Mmm, wonderful. So relaxing,” she murmured.

“There’s better yet to come, I promise.” He picked up one shapely leg and washed her foot, gently scrubbing between the toes, massaging her calf, then moving in a circular motion upward, sliding his callused palms to the sensitive skin of her inner thigh. He cupped her sex with one hand as she strained against him. Tiya moaned and undulated, rubbing herself against the pressure of his hand. Soft curls tickled his palm. Holding her against his body with one arm, he parted her satin folds and gently eased one finger inside.

“You’re so tight, so hot, like molten honey,” he murmured. He added a second finger and caressed the walls of her sheath, massaging her hidden bud with his thumb. She clamped her muscles, maneuvering her hips to try to make the sensations even stronger. After a moment, he withdrew his fingers.