Dancer of the Nile (Gods of Egypt)
Page 19
Shaking his head, Kamin cut her off, but he was grinning ear to ear now. “Somehow I expected this to come up as your next objection. My old friend and battle comrade Nomarch Tiy-Ineb-Menhet commands this army. Together, we sent a recommendation to Pharaoh asking him to award gold of valor to you for your role in the successful rout of the invasion in Shield province.”
“Gold of valor? For me?” Nima could hardly voice the questions. Only the bravest, the best in the military, receive such awards.
“I thought you’d be pleased. You earned it. You’ll be the only woman at Court, or anywhere in Egypt, with such honors to her name. Pharaoh may decide you’re too good for the likes of me, sweetheart.” From his broad smile, clearly he didn’t believe his own warning. “Gold of valor places you above any woman in the Black Lands, save for the queen and one or two high priestesses. If you decided you didn’t love me, still you’d have wealth and status and never have to dance for anyone ever again. I don’t want you to feel coerced into accepting my proposal of marriage. You—you have choices.”
As if I could ever contemplate being with another man but Kamin. She sat speechless for a heartbeat before tugging him to where she could kiss him on the lips without jarring her shoulder too much. Keeping her grip on his arm, she said, “You know I love you, and I’m honored to be your wife, if you’re sure.”
He nodded, his face growing serious again. “Will you mind living in Thebes? My primary estate lies there. I’m done with undercover missions all over Egypt. This was my last foray, and Pharaoh knows of my decision.”
“Giving adventure and intrigue up for me? What about your dread for living a safe life?” she teased a tiny bit, secure in his affections. If Pharaoh himself approves of me, all the naysayers will be silenced. No one can criticize Kamin for marrying me. I bring the honors to his family name as my dowry. Joy welled up inside her, making her pulse race. Me, Nima no-name, of nowhere, with a golden dowry!
“No regrets,” Kamin said. “I’m facing forward, to life with you, a home, children, if the gods are kind. I’ll have a role to play at court, supporting Nat-re-Akhte as he rebuilds Egypt. He needs men he can trust at his side.” His tone turning contemplative, Kamin shrugged. “Different adventures than any I’ve ever sought before, but honorable, fulfilling nonetheless.”
“Everything I’ve ever wanted.” A warm feeling spread through her, a little rush of pleasure , laced with excitement.
“Yes, I think my plans for us cover the list you recited to me, the first night we sheltered in the sandstone cave.” He raised his eyebrows a little, tilting his head and smiling.
Does he remember all my foolish dreaming? Nima felt her cheeks grow warm, knew she was blushing again. “The only thing I truly care about is that we’re together.”
“Always. “ He leaned closer, the mischievous glint in his eyes. “Of course, Pharaoh might ask me to do a small favor for him, a quick trip now and then.” He kissed her, his tongue tracing her lips until she parted them. Catching him by the neck with her good arm, she drew him closer. Caressing her breast through the nightgown, Kamin adjusted his position to mold her upper body to his. His hands touched the bandages on her shoulder, and he gentled his touch, pulling back with an effort and a frustrated groan. “Yet again we don’t have the right time and place. Thank the gods for the caravan where we had one moment of peace. Without their sanctuary for a single night of lovemaking, my frustration would know no bounds.”
“I’ll dance for you,” Nima promised agreeably. “As soon as I’m able.”
He hugged her, clearly mindful of not aggravating her wound. “And you’ll dance for no other, ever again.”
“Only you, I swear.” She held up a hand, palm against his chest. “On one condition.”
“Name the thing,” he commanded, trying and failing to keep a monumental frown on his face, belied by the twinkle in his hazel eyes.
“I must be properly rewarded for my skills,” she said demurely, fluttering her lashes. “My audience must demonstrate their appreciation. A dancer requires adulation.”
“Have no doubt, now or ever. I’d demonstrate my—appreciation—this moment if you weren’t injured.” He took her hand and pressed it against his cock, hard and hot under the kilt and loincloth. “The mere memory of your dance has an effect on me.”
She rubbed her hand along the impressive length of his shaft. “I heal quickly.”
“But we can’t lie together tonight,” Kamin said, removing her hand and kissing it. “The doctor was most emphatic, and I tend to accept his opinion on this point.” He studied her face in the lamplight. “You’re pale, bruised. “
She subsided, pouting a little and then smiling to show she wasn’t seriously upset. “How many days’ march is it to Tentaris?”
“Six or seven, depending whether the gods favor us. An army moves more slowly under the best conditions than you and I did.” Kamin gestured at the furnishings in the tent. “Too much gear, too many amenities.”
“We certainly had no amenities,” she agreed, making a one-handed attempt to adjust the shawl. “I think we walked in circles at times, despite the efforts of the falcons to direct us to the Nile.”
“Is the evening air giving you a chill?” Kamin adjusted the shawl more closely for her. “Speaking of the falcons, the Great One Horus said he would stand as your patron from now on.”
To go from no patron among the Great Ones to being a favorite of Horus! Amazing. Eyes narrowed, she asked, “He conferred such an honor on me, a woman? I thought he only watched over warriors.”
“My heart, you are a warrior, don’t doubt yourself. My men have adopted you as an informal member of the regiment. They regard it as a high honor to be stationed outside your tent.”
“I’m flattered. Even though the Hyksos menace has been removed—”
“For now,” Kamin interrupted. “They won’t give up so easily. They and their evil god are intent on conquering Egypt. But those concerns are for another day. We can savor the victory for a time.”
She nodded. “I feel at ease, being surrounded by your men, soldiers loyal to you.”
“By the way, Horus has granted us one further boon—neither will survive the other. Our lives and our deaths are truly linked.”
She relaxed into his hold, letting her head fall against his strong shoulder as she had done so many times on their long journey. “Such a fate pleases me like no other could.”
“He also told me he would come and serve as a witness for the judging of our hearts, when the time comes.”
“May it be many long years away,” Nima said. “The Afterlife was beautiful, but I’m in no rush to walk there again.”
“Agreed.” Kamin nodded. “At least next time we’ll go in the proper way, not a back door.”
“But still together,” she sighed with happiness.
Kamin’s eyes were intense. “I refuse to be parted from you again, not in life or death. The Great One promised me.”
“Promised us,” she corrected, drawing him in again for another kiss.
“I have a gift for you, to replace the amulet you lost when we called Renenutet.” He got up and crossed to the side table, bringing her a small white leather pouch.
She took it, surprised. “When did you find time to do this?”
“I had to do something while I was cooling my heels in Tentaris. I was a raging lion, penned up there, waiting for Tiy to get his army mobilized. So I commissioned his goldsmith to make this, and I carried it in my belt pouch as my own amulet until the moment I could present it to you, safe and sound and restored to me.” He nudged the bag. “Well, open it.”
Loosening the thongs holding the tiny sack shut, Nima turned it upside down on the sheets. A golden bangle bracelet fell into her lap. She picked it up, admiring it from all directions. There were miniature golden charms on the bangle—a stylized falcon, a snake, a tiny pair of dancer’s finger cymbals, and a tablet bearing miniature hieroglyphics.
Taking the bra
celet from her hand, Kamin placed it around her wrist, fingering the tablet charm. “This says, ‘Nima, held in Kamin’s heart for all time.’”
Suffused with joy and tenderness, Nima rubbed his check softly with her good hand. “My beloved soldier.”
She thought he blushed a little under the tan. “You—you like it? We can add a charm when our first son—or daughter—is born. It’s not the same as the bead amulet your mother gave you, but—”
Nima turned it on her wrist for a moment, admiring the intricacy of the charms. “Perfect. It’s perfect. What can I do for you?” she asked, looking him full in the face and smiling. “You do so much for me—”
“Just love me,” he said, gathering her into his arms and lowering his lips to hers.
And so she did, for many long and happy years, until the gods kindly took them both into the Afterlife, together forever as promised.
ABOUT VERONICA SCOTT
Best-selling, award-winning author Veronica Scott grew up in a house with a library full of books as its heart, and when she ran out of things to read, she started writing her own stories. Married young to her high school sweetheart then widowed, Veronica has two grown daughters, one young grandson and cats. You can usually find Veronica on Twitter, at her blog or on Facebook. Check out Veronica's Website!
Table of Contents
Copyright
Dedication
Acknowledgement
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About the Author