Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) (7 page)

Freeing the
River Horse
progressed more rapidly than Tiya had expected. Digging away at the sand with crude shovels and buckets, the men made great progress. The river was mostly shallow here, although there were pockets of deeper water where the current had already eaten away at the new sandbar. Tiya’s attention kept straying to Khenet. He was bigger and in better shape than any of the sailors, even the rowers. The wet loincloth clinging to his body showed clearly how well muscled he was in all regards.

“Quite an impressive fellow, your captain.” Taneb strolled over to stand beside her, leaning on the rail.

Embarrassed to have been caught ogling, Tiya hastily reoriented her focus to the center of the Nile. “He’s my military escort on this journey. Nothing more.”
He can’t be more
.

“As you say, my lady.” Raising his voice, Taneb called to Khenet, who had taken command of the effort to dig the ship free. “What do you think? Should we try backing her out now?”

Shading his eyes with one hand, Khenet squinted up at them, and Tiya craned over to hear him better as he called out, “I think we could make the attempt. She buried herself deep in this cursed sandbar, but we’ve dug a trench halfway to the underworld.”

“All right. Send my rowers aboard.” Taneb threw two large cargo nets over the side, and men clambered onto the deck a moment or two later.

Tiya moved aside, out of the way, and surveyed the river. To her dismay, she noticed a V of ripples moving fast against the current. Squinting into the sun’s glare, she tried to get a better look, and her heart plummeted with fear as she did. “
Crocodiles!
” Running to the side of the ship, she leaned precariously over the rail to shout at Khenet. “Get out of the water!
Hurry!
”

Khenet grabbed a nearby sailor and literally threw him at the net. Striding through the water along the sandbar, he ran to help the other two men who had been collecting the buckets and shovels. Watching anxiously, heart pounding, Tiya whispered, “
Hurry
,
hurry.
”

Before Khenet could reach the sailors, the men screamed and disappeared under the surface of the Nile, yanked off their feet by the deadly predators. Tiya jumped in surprise, lifting her hand to her mouth to stifle her shriek

Staring intently into the river, Khenet swore and drew his long belt knife, scanning for any sign of the sailors’ location. She bit back an urge to yell again for him to get out of the water. One man resurfaced, coughing and trying to shout, before he was dragged out of sight once more. Diving off the sandbar into the deeper water, Khenet swam toward the spot where the sailor had appeared. Horrified, stomach tied up in knots, she watched him take a deep breath and disappear below the murky surface himself. In that moment, her own breath seemed to have been stolen from her.

“No, no, what is he doing? He’ll get himself killed.” Tiya gripped the railing so hard her nails sank into the wood, and she leaned so far over that it dug hard into her belly.

“Gallant insanity.” Taneb snorted, but his eyes were wide with a fear seemingly as intense as her own.

Please be all right
,
Khenet
. Raking the water with her gaze, she searched frantically for some sign of the warrior. The storm had churned the waters, though, clouding them, and she saw nothing stirring beneath the surface.

Struggling weakly, the young sailor broke the water’s surface again. Blood stained the muddy river. A moment later, the crocodile reared up, rising four feet into the air before crashing with a huge splash. Khenet clung to its back, stabbing at the eyes with his knife. Tail thrashing, the crocodile rolled over and sank, taking her soldier with it. Afraid to hope, Tiya held her breath and sagged against the railing.
At least he’s still alive
,
still fighting.
Please
,
please
,
let him escape
.

Long seconds later, Khenet came up alone, sucking in air with an audible gasp. Tiya covered her face with her hands and breathed a prayer of thanks. When she looked to the river again, she startled as the corpse of the crocodile surfaced behind her warrior. The beast drifted away on the current, tail twitching. Shaking the water out of his eyes, Khenet swam to the injured sailor, forced the man to stop flailing, and tugged him along toward the ship.

Taneb and the crew hung over the rails, yelling encouragement. Tiya ran on wobbly knees to join them, adding her voice to theirs, urging Khenet to hurry and get back to safety on board the
River Horse.
When Khenet reached the nets, two sailors descended to take their injured comrade and carry him to the deck. Breathing in deep gasps, Khenet clung to the net for a moment, obviously tired, not yet ready to make the ascent. Tiya clutched her hands tight together, restraining a ridiculous urge to climb down and haul him to safety herself.

As she watched, Khenet took a final deep breath and plunged under the water’s surface once more, remaining out of sight for tense, terrifying moments. When he surfaced at last, his head bobbed above the waves only a moment before he dove again, searching in vain for the second man.

The two sailors reached the deck with their burden, lowering the unconscious man to the boards. Blood gushed from deep wounds on his leg. Stunned, no one moved forward to help the injured sailor. One oarsman vomited over the port rail.

Useless
. Tiya abandoned her post, whipped off her shawl, and ran to the victim, falling to her knees beside him. She caught Taneb’s eye. “Give me a knife—something to cut this fabric. We must bandage these wounds before he dies.” A sailor handed her a curved blade and she hastily slashed through the fine linen.
Perfect for bandages.
Using the uneven pieces, she wrapped the man’s left leg, binding the jagged slashes from the crocodile’s fangs. She made the dressings tight, trying to stop the blood loss, and trying harder to forget her overpowering, inappropriate reactions to Khenet’s peril.

* * *

After several fruitless dives below the surface of the Nile, Khenet had to admit the second sailor was gone, beyond mortal intervention. A few moments later, when Khenet threw his leg over the railing and half fell on board the
River Horse
, he found Tiya on her knees, covered in the sailor’s blood, efficiently strapping bandages over his wounds. Another crew member had belatedly come to her aid, holding the injured man down so she could work. Everyone else hovered in a loose circle, watching her efforts.

Cursing, Khenet hastened to help. He’d dressed his share of injuries after battle. He was no healer, but he understood the basics. Grabbing a length of the fabric, he settled in to work beside Tiya.

Taneb shouted orders for his rowers to take their places. Straining and creaking, the
River Horse
came loose from the sandbar with a jolt as the crew dug into the Nile with the long oars. Tacking to avoid the obstruction, the helmsman soon had the ship out into the main flow of the Nile’s current.

Tiya tied off the last knot of the bandage she was applying and sat on her heels. She laid one hand on her forehead, smearing the man’s blood on her skin. Looking at her red palm, she turned pale and swayed.

Dropping the fabric remnants, Khenet grabbed her as she trembled. “Are you all right?” He was alarmed at how white she’d become under her tan.

Shaking her head, she closed her eyes. “I’m going to be sick.”

He picked her up and carried her to the rail, where she did indeed cast up the contents of her stomach. Trembling, she stood, leaning heavily on him.

“And you...are you all right?” she demanded, inspecting him up and down. “Let me see.”

He lifted one arm away from his body, displaying a long gash that had oozed blood over his ribs. Khenet barely acknowledged the injury.
It burns but I’ve had worse in battle.
No need to alarm her.
“The beast grazed me, nothing more.”

“We need to clean and wrap it.” She leaned in to examine the gash. “I should have washed the sailor’s wounds first, I know, but stopping the bleeding was the more urgent need.”

“The important point is you took action.” Khenet patted her hand. “He’d have bled to death in a few moments. How did you know what to do?”

“My father grows vast fields of grain outside Thebes. I’ve seen workers gored by the oxen, other accidents.” Going to the bucket of clean water, she gathered a fresh scrap of linen and got the fabric soaking wet, then wrung the excess out. “My mother taught me the rudiments of healing before she died. Have a seat—let me take care of your arm.”

Stoically Khenet did as she ordered and watched her clean his wound. “Efficient. As good as a military physician.” He gathered himself to rise.

“Let’s get you to your cabin. I’ll have them bring you some water so you can bathe and change.”

She laid her hand on his shoulder and pushed him to the deck. “No, let me finish treating your arm first. I’ll be all right for a few more moments.” She wrung out the rag and set it aside, picking up a clean, dry length of linen. As she began wrapping the dressing around his arm, she said, “Going after the crocodile as you did was the bravest thing I’ve ever seen. When did you learn to swim?”

“On one of our expeditions to the southern jungles, Nat’s and mine, we both had to learn.” He scanned the river, his jaw clenched. “I wish I could have done something about the other man.” She finished with the dressing and Khenet stood, retrieving his kilt and quickly dressing, conscious of his near-naked body in close proximity to Tiya, now that the crisis was past.

“He didn’t come to the surface at all,” Tiya told him, as they walked toward the cabin area.

“Yes, crocodiles kill by rolling you over and over under the water. They can hold their breath for a long time, much longer than most humans.”

Taneb met them in front of the passageway to her cabin. “My deepest thanks to you both. The man you saved is my nephew.”

“I didn’t cleanse the wounds,” Tiya fretted. “And the gashes are so deep. Your nephew will require a healer’s attention as soon as possible.”

“We’re close to the city of Zauimu. We’ll have to shelter there for a day, maybe two. I’ll certainly get the boy to the healer, but then I’ll have to recruit local replacements. I can’t maintain speed if I’m two rowers short. Pharaoh’s agent stressed the need for a rapid journey down the Nile so we can’t rely on the winds alone. And we need a new mast.”

“The ship appears sound enough, other than the missing mast,” Khenet observed, shading his eyes with one hand and taking a rapid look over the deck. The
River Horse
cut through the Nile at a good clip now as the rowers worked, throwing spray from the bow.

“Luckily so. We’ll check while we’re in the harbor. Damage from weakened planks might not show up immediately.” Taneb chuckled. “I’ve no desire to sink tomorrow after surviving today.” The captain eyed them speculatively. “Zauimu is a small city, a village in truth, but they are having a festival this week in honor of the local deity. You two might enjoy getting off the ship to stretch your legs, tour the city.”

“Could we?” Tiya looked eagerly up at Khenet, raising her eyebrows and smiling.

Khenet couldn’t resist the appeal on her face.
She deserves some time off this ship
,
some diversion from thoughts of the fate awaiting her at journey’s end.
He bowed. “It’ll be my pleasure to accompany you.”

She held out the skirt of her dress and frowned at the stains. “Definitely won’t be wearing this again. I didn’t bring much of a wardrobe.”

“We can replace this dress with something new in the town. Pharaoh gave me enough gold to buy you three wardrobes,” Khenet said as she preceded him on the short stairway.

He paused, watching her disappear back into her cabin, his heart clenching with pain as his own thoughts took him by surprise.
And I would gift you anything in my power
,
even my life
,
if I could only save yours.

Chapter Five

Once they had docked in the small harbor and the injured man had been carried off the ship, Captain Taneb left them to seek suitable replacements for his crew. Khenet and Tiya descended the gangplank to the long wharf. She staggered a little as she stepped onto the solid ground and Khenet caught her elbow, steadying her until she moved away. “You really got your sea legs, didn’t you?”

Tiya laughed. “Which was handy until this very moment, back on solid ground.”

“Your balance will adjust soon enough. We’re in no rush—the market is open until sundown.”

They strolled along the wharf toward the center of the small town and soon came upon the promised festival. The streets were crowded with happy people, residents of Zauimu mingling with the singers, dancers, and acrobats who performed for a few tossed coins. Khenet stayed close to Tiya, although in truth most people took one look at his size, his weapons and his stern face, then gave them a wide berth.

Tiya was oblivious to Khenet’s effect on other people, flitting from one attraction to the next eagerly, exploring the entire market. She applauded some particularly daring acrobats then dragged Khenet to the booths where wares of all kinds were being sold. She fingered soft shawls and admired woven belts, bought a new dress to replace the ruined one, then was drawn by the jewelry stalls. He’d seen many such humble street fairs in his travels, but, somehow, with Tiya and her infectious enthusiasm, it all became new again. The acrobats were not sad street performers but daring and dazzling athletes; the wares in the stalls were not crude, homemade items but beautiful, rustic art. Almost despite himself, he recaptured some of the excitement he’d felt as a small boy when his adopted family had taken him to his first festival in the Striking Hawk Nome.

Following her to yet another display, Khenet finally just let himself enjoy her happy mood.
This small city doesn’t offer anything as fine as the wares in Thebes but
,
if it provides a distraction for her
,
I’ll gladly walk around the rest of the day.

“Something for your lady, sir?” asked the old crone tending one booth where Tiya lingered.

Shaking his head, inured to the wheedling ways of street vendors, Khenet realized Tiya was holding something out to him.

“Isn’t this necklace clever? See the tiny hippos painted on the flowers?” She held the little collar up to her neck, admiring her reflection in the burnished metal plate the seller used as a mirror.

“Only half a deben, sir,” offered the vendor. “I see by your golden badge you’re a member of Pharaoh’s own guard.” Her tone became honeyed and wheedling. “A high-ranking soldier like yourself can surely afford to buy fine jewelry for his sweetheart.”

Hastily Tiya set the necklace in the midst of the display. She stepped away from the booth, winding a loose tendril of hair around one finger. “We—we should probably return to the
River Horse
.” Taking a final peek at the piece, she walked away.

Khenet took a few steps after her, before looking over his shoulder at the strand of beads, which the old woman was already offering to the next couple who had approached the booth. Reaching over, he plucked the bauble from the seller’s hand. “The necklace is ours.” Defiantly, he fished a coin from his own belt, not Pharaoh’s gold. Throwing the money to the crone tending the shop, he walked away.

He caught up to Tiya, touching her arm to make her stop. When she turned, he suspended the necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing across her soft skin. Obediently, she bowed her head so he could fasten the clasp. As she turned back, he was relieved to see her long artist’s fingers tracing the flat enameled beads with pleasure. At last, she raised her eyes to his.

“A souvenir.” Khenet already half regretted his impulsive purchase.
What a ridiculous trinket to offer such a highborn lady.
I’m a fool
,
no doubt of it
. “From one friend to another,” he improvised.

Tiya toyed with the necklace, a small frown on her face. “Khenet—”

“We may be rushing to our deaths but nothing prevents us from enjoying the time remaining to us,” he said harshly, striding along. He could tell his ears were red with embarrassment. “Didn’t you say as much to me once? If you don’t like my gift, you can throw it away for all I care.”

He didn’t realize how fast he was going until she reached out a hand and stopped him, breathing heavily. “Must you walk so fast? I can’t keep up with you.” Gently, she tugged his arm until he turned to face her. “I love the necklace—thank you. I only wish I had a gift for you. Was there nothing to tempt you here, nothing in any of the stalls we passed? I have some coins of my own, you know.”

“What tempts me—” He bit his lips and raised his eyes to the sky for a moment. He dared hardly think of it, let alone say it.

“Yes?” She rubbed her hand over his forearm.

Bringing his gaze down to her worried face, Khenet took a deep breath, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and strolled, more slowly now. “Never mind. Soldiers travel light. I’ve no room in my pack for any souvenirs, but thank you for the thought.”

“What are we going to do tonight?” she asked as they retraced their steps to the ship.

Khenet guided her past a crowd of merry revelers. “Did you want to go to the government house? I’m sure the mayor of this town can provide appropriate lodging for the night.”

“No, I want to stay on the
River Horse
as long as possible. It’s our private little world.”

“You could have dinner with the local nobles, spend the night in a comfortable bed at government house.” He fended off a drunken sailor, shoving the man away then pulling Tiya closer to him. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer those accommodations?”

Tiya shook her head vehemently. “Dinner with you and Captain Taneb will be far more interesting. Please, Khenet?”

He stopped walking and stared out across the Nile, thinking her request through. Nothing in his orders precluded her from staying on the ship if they had to make port occasionally. Dendaret was their destination, not Zauimu. “We’ll have to take you to dinner at one of the inns.”

She skipped a little. “I’ve never been to an inn.”

“I’m sure you haven’t.” He laughed. “The company will be rude and crude, no place for a gently bred noblewoman such as yourself.”

“Will the food be good?” Tiya rubbed her stomach with her free hand. “I’ve worked up quite an appetite with all today’s events.”

“Workingman’s food, hearty and filling. Nothing fancy.”

“All right then.” She tossed her hair and looked at him saucily. “You’ll protect me. It’ll be fine.”

He was dubious, stroking his chin as he considered the idea.

Continuing to make her case, Tiya batted her eyes outrageously, chuckling. “We’ll go back to the market, buy a humbler dress and cloak for me to blend in with the company, all right?”

He couldn’t think of any objection on the spur of the moment and so the question of dinner was settled.

Taneb wasn’t too keen on the idea at first, but when Tiya remained adamant about having the new experience, he went off to make arrangements at an inn near the waterfront, owned by an old friend of his.

Shortly after sunset, the two men escorted Tiya into the well-lit Red Heron Inn. She wore a plain blue flax dress she had bought earlier in the day, trimmed with only one thin ribbon at the square neckline. In this new dress she seemed more approachable, less guarded and self-conscious. She’d kept her new necklace on, and over her shoulders she wore a humble brown cloak. Khenet wore a plain brown shirt and an unpleated kilt, leaving off his golden badge of rank. He left his sword on the
River Horse
as well, but the deadly knife rode his belt.

When she raised her eyebrows at his omissions he said, “For tonight we need to blend in with the ordinary citizens of Zauimu. Common folk don’t walk around the harbor district with tokens from Pharaoh pinned to their tunics and swords in their belts.”

“Fair enough.” She adjusted her necklace and fussed with her dress.

“You look fine,” Khenet assured her.
Better than fine
, he did not say aloud. “I know it’s not what you’re used to—”

“All part of the adventure,” she answered with a happy smile.

The inn’s owner, Imremy, greeted them at the door to his establishment, flanked by two buxom serving maids. “My humble Red Heron Inn is honored to have such unusual guests.” He bowed to Khenet and Tiya. Giggling, the women at his sides made surreptitious comments to each other, nodding at Khenet.

He ignored them, scanning the big room, assessing the crowd assembled for an early dinner. Finding no threats or problems, he lowered his gaze to the innkeeper. “We want that table at the very back.”

Imremy exchanged glances with Taneb and both men grinned. “He said you’d choose to have your back to the wall. I’ll have wine brought at once. Dinner will follow shortly. We’ve special entertainment laid on for the evening.” He winked. “Girls, escort them to their chosen seats.”

The two maids stepped forward. One rested her hand on Taneb’s arm and the other reached for Khenet. Dodging the woman’s hand, he took Tiya by the elbow and steered her after Taneb
.
I’ve no desire for the distraction of a wench tonight
. His first and only concern was Tiya’s safety.

The disgruntled serving girl stomped off toward the kitchen. Khenet situated Tiya and himself on the woven rush mats behind the low scarred table. Backs to the wall, Taneb and Khenet flanked Tiya. Khenet adjusted his position each time her long curving leg, her dainty arm, or her silky hair brushed against him. The feel of her skin against his was distracting and more exciting than the bold serving girls’ obvious endowments.
What is wrong with me?
Where is my self-control?

Eventually, the serving girl, still pouting, returned with a wineskin, and, behind her came a young boy staggering under an overflowing fruit platter. Steaming trays of roasted quail and other delicacies followed. Khenet selected the best bits for Tiya and set them on her plate, refilling her wine himself. Two women hovered around Taneb, one finally sitting down at his invitation and eating her dinner from his fingers. The other cast longing looks at Khenet but eventually left in a huff when he refused to pay her more than casual attention.

“The food is really good,” Tiya said, dipping a morsel of pickled fish into a small bowl of sauce. “They get the spices just right. The heat lingers in the mouth but doesn’t burn.” She licked her fingers, and the unintentionally suggestive sight momentarily blanked out all thought in Khenet’s brain, as if someone had thrown a bucket of white paint over a mural.

“I’m glad you like it, my lady.” Taneb winked at Khenet. “The other amenities aren’t bad either.” He squeezed the girl cozied up to him and she laughed, caressing his thigh suggestively.

A group of five musicians filed into the room, taking a position on a small dais off to the side opposite the kitchen. Grinning hugely, Taneb slapped the table. “We’re in for a treat. My friend hired the best musicians in town for this night, and the top dancers. He wants your every desire to be fulfilled.”

“And Pharaoh’s gold will have to pay for it all, of course,” Khenet answered, shelling some nuts for Tiya, cracking the shells more easily with his work-roughened hands than she could with her dainty artist’s fingers.

Taneb shrugged. “The lady travels at Pharaoh’s orders. She has to eat.”

Tiya leaned over, shooting a small, repressive glare at Khenet. “I love to watch dancing, Captain Taneb. That was very thoughtful of your friend the innkeeper.”

The first three dancers came onto the floor, each more scantily clad than the last in loose sheaths of colorful but sheer linen. They formed a circle, hands clasped, facing each other rather than the crowd, and the music increased in volume, became faster. The girls whirled and twirled, making graceful hand motions, swinging their hips in time to the drums. Eventually, the dance took them around the room doing individual performances, demonstrating intricate steps for each section of the audience. One lithe woman with a curtain of black hair did a series of acrobatics across the floor, ending up in front of their table, hands above her head, voluptuous figure displayed to best advantage. Taneb cheered, Khenet applauded in a more restrained fashion, and Tiya politely clapped. The dancer reached out and trailed her hand gracefully along Khenet’s clenched jaw as she stepped away.

“My name is Xythis, my lord, and I’ll be happy to dance for you alone, later,” she said. “I might not even charge for the—pleasure.” She dismissed Tiya with a roll of her eyes, then gave Khenet a smile. She turned to run back to her fellow dancers, who were busy collecting the coins being hurled by the audience.

Khenet stolidly poured more wine for Tiya. She took the cup and sipped, eyeing him over the rim. “Whose honor did the innkeeper think this dinner was to be for? I can’t help but notice the dancers and serving maids seem to think you’re on the menu. Their menu.”

He shifted uncomfortably on his hard mat.
Normally I’d welcome their favors
,
but I can’t tell Tiya such a thing.
Besides
,
with her next to me
,
the other women hold no appeal.
It’s Tiya my body is craving.
Gods grant me strength to get through this evening without her realizing the effect she has on me.
“They probably assume you’re my sister.”

“Or his concubine,” Taneb offered helpfully, feeding the woman in his lap some grapes. “The way you glare at them, they must think you jealous—”

Khenet reached behind Tiya and punched Taneb in the ribs.
I
don’t need the randy old ship’s captain putting ideas like that in her head.
This dinner has enough awkwardness about it already.

“I do not!” Tiya blushed. “They are just more...forward than the dancers I’m used to seeing in Thebes at my father’s house.”

The hard-working band played a fanfare and drumroll fit for announcing Pharaoh himself. The innkeeper walked to the center of the room and an anticipatory hush fell. Clearly enjoying his moment in the spotlight, Imremy bowed, making shushing gestures with his hands. “As a special favor to me, to entertain my honored guests, this night my humble house will be graced by the best dancer in all Zauimu, the incomparable Ankhmenet.”