Blurb:
Seth, an undercover cop has been betrayed by his handler. To escape he calls a number on a flyer and is transported to an ancient Egypt he doesn’t understand. He must rescue the Daughter from the evil priests of Aken Re.
Merin is the Daughter. She must find the man who by wedding her will become Pharaoh. She plots to escape the priests of Aken Re and flee to those who years ago saved her life.
Can Seth and Merin find a way to defeat the priests? Is love the answer to their problems? Can they join with the Warrior of Bast and of Horu to bring unity to the Two Lands?
RT Review
Following on the heels of The Warrior of Bast, this story is filled with magic and fascinating characters. Those interested in ancient Egypt will find this an enthralling tale. A satisfying ending is presented for the hero and heroine, with a promising lead-in to the next story.
Excerpt:
Early morning sunlight glinted on the sand and bounced off the rocks
rising in erratic patterns from the ground. Merin gripped the saddle with one
hand and the reins with the other. The swaying rhythm of the camel lulled her
into a fugue state. Her eyes drifted shut and her thoughts wandered to the
past. Once again she stood in the courtyard of the women’s court of the temple
the priests of Aken Re had stolen from the priests of Toth.
The fat priest raised his hands. The strange words he chanted rose in
pitch. Dark clouds gathered. Bast Ka, sacred cat of the goddess, grew larger
and attacked. Merin screamed.
A soft meow and a rumbling purr pulled her from the scene that had
haunted her for days. How much longer would she continue to see that incident
on the day of her escape? That had been the moment she deserted Tira. Merin’s
stomach lurched. She swallowed again and again to keep from spewing all she’d
eaten and drunk during the long days of aimless flight.
Was Bast Ka an avatar of the goddess? With one hand she stroked the cat’s
silky gray fur. With each touch she repeated the command she’d been given. “Go
to the delta. Find the pharaoh-to-be.” Would finding him complete her task
or was there more?
She glanced at the rising sun and knew midday would soon arrive. Shelter
was needed. She scanned the horizon for a refuge from the sun’s hot rays. Did
those distant rocks promise shelter? Were they really there or was this a
vision caused by the bright light?
She touched the nearly empty water sack. What would she do if she
couldn’t find a source of sweet water? Even with the water, her remaining food
supply had dwindled and she had no coins to buy more. Once again she regretted
the spooked flight,
She neared the jagged rocks and saw an order to their placement. Merin
urged the camel forward. Bast Ka leaped to the ground and dashed away. When the
camel reached the fallen stones she found a pool of clear water shaded by a
rocky overhang. She tapped the camel and dismounted.
As she explored the rocks she realized this had once been a
Before setting camp, Merin prowled the ruins. She found no bones of
humans or sacred cats, only the shattered images. Though she wanted to blame
the enemy for the destruction there was no proof. The temple could have been
laid waste during the war that had occurred in the year of her birth. She would
never know the answers.
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I like how you captured her anxiety in this excerpt. It makes me wonder what will happen next.
ReplyDeleteFantastic excerpt, Janet. (Sorry to drop by so late -- I was traveling most of last week.)
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