Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) Read Free

“Wise. Not much is known about the Viper Nome but I’m sure the oldest scrolls contain some maps, maybe some other useful scraps. I’ll give orders for the Court Librarian to assist you. However, there won’t be much time. You’re due at the temple of Nephthys at the midmorning hour as my envoy, to witness her selection of the girl. Then you will conduct the chosen one back here so that I may give her the documents pertaining to the marriage decree, after which it’ll be straight on to the docks, so you can get in a couple of hours’ sailing before night.”
    “Nephthys is impatient,” Khenet said.
    “That she is. The goddess told me she doesn’t want the bother of having to do more than check in occasionally on the girl and my envoy as they journey. No time to nursemaid humans, she said.” Frowning, Pharaoh took another long drink.
    Khenet shrugged. “I’ve little to take care of.”
    “No entanglements?” Pharaoh half smiled. “None of the beauties of my capital city have made an impression on you?”
    Khenet grimaced as he shook his head. “Great ladies of the Court have no interest in a tumble with a rough-and-ready soldier. Nor do I have any interest in them. A night spent in the bed of a tavern wench provides as much pleasure. And fewer expectations.”
    “Good, sending you on this duty causes me enough pain without bringing grief to any who may have come to love you.” The sovereign closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’m more grateful than I can say. Ask anything of me and it shall be granted.”
    “You’re my family. Though I was adopted into your House, not born as your brother, I need nothing more.” Khenet met Pharaoh’s eyes steadily, unblinking.
    Pharaoh nodded, and with the gesture he seemed to shed the formal severity of his title and was, for a brief moment, simply Khenet’s brother, Nat. “If you return from this assignment, I’ll heap gold of valor on your head. And if you don’t, my queen and I will mourn you with broken hearts. I’ll personally perform every ritual in the Book of the Dead to assure your ka safe passage to the Afterlife. I’ll make a plea to the Great Ones of Judgment myself if needs be.”
    “We shall see, my lord.” He gave his commander a formal salute. “May the Great Ones watch over you.”
    “And you.” Pharaoh rapped the blade of his knife against a small gong at the edge of the table.
    A moment later Chief Scribe Edekh was bowing his way into the room. “Marnamaret and Sebnihotep await your pleasure in the outer chambers, Great One.”
    Stabbing the knife into a honeyed date on the platter, Nat said, “Their presence is unnecessary after all.”
    Eyebrows raised, Edekh glanced at Khenet before saying, “I’ll inform them they’re released from duty today.”
    “No, tell them I need companions for a hunt, this afternoon. Bid them get everything ready.” Nat shook his head at Khenet. “I’ll need to get out of this palace after the ceremony we were discussing, clear my head from the taint of Nephthys’s wishes. Edekh, please escort our friend to the library and tell the librarian he’s to have immediate access to anything he desires.”
    Without another word, Nat left the private chamber.
    Wheeling, Khenet marched out of the office, past the guards, through crowds of courtiers and scribes, traversing long corridors on the way to the library, his old friend Edekh keeping pace silently beside him. Once or twice the scribe cleared his throat as if to say something but then kept his own counsel. Khenet’s surroundings blurred. He preferred to be in motion, the physical exertion allowing him time to think over the daunting assignment he’d accepted. Only when he’d reached the embossed wooden doors to the library did he pause to take deep breaths.
    What have I gotten myself into? What do I know about black magic?
    He set his shoulders, resolute. Well , I know much about strategy , and I may have some surprises Nephthys