Dancer of the Nile (Gods of Egypt) (8 page)

“This could be
part
of the Afterlife, though,” Kamin said, staring after the fawn. “No wild animal should be so comfortable in the presence of humans.”

***

“Part of the Afterlife?” Nima paused in the act of removing her other sandal, wriggling her toes on the cool grass under her bare feet. “What do you mean?”

Kamin regarded the grassy hillock behind him where the tunnel had been carved to the outer world. “There are rumors—recent tales, not old scribes’ legends—claiming some of Pharaoh’s closest companions were able to journey through the Afterlife on a quest and return, by the grace of the Great Ones.”

Her eyes widened, and her mouth formed a perfect O shape. “Why would anyone seek to travel through the Afterlife before their appointed time?”

 
“The details aren’t known to me.” He shrugged. “Someone desperate, no doubt. But perhaps Horus’s falcon brought us to…a side door of the Afterlife.”

Nima gazed longingly at the lake. “Can we set up camp over there?” Blushing, she looked at her travel-stained dress, hands spread wide. “I crave a bath.”

He shifted the packs on his shoulders. “Why not? One place is as good as any. Although, I don’t want to get too far away from this door. The lake may harbor fish, which would be a further blessing.”

Beautiful face
 
set in a troubled frown, Nima laid her hand on his arm, as if to hold him in place. “I don’t think we should try to harm or kill any living creature here. The mere idea repels me.”

“Not even a fish?” Raising his eyebrows, he looked at her in disbelief. “What do we eat then? Flowers? Fruit? I tell you plainly, a soldier travels on his stomach, and mine needs stronger nourishment than stale bread and fruit.” He patted his abdomen, loudly rumbling at all this talk of food.

“I’m hungry, too, but my heart holds a strong reluctance. If we’re in the Afterlife, shouldn’t we pass through and disturb this place as little as possible?” Nima glanced at their beautiful surroundings. “Please, Kamin. We didn’t say any blessings. We didn’t utter any spells. We ought not to be here probably, so I think we need to tread carefully.”

He studied her face. “I admit I couldn’t bring myself to kill one of the gazelles right now, much as I crave some meat in my belly. Ordinarily, I don’t have qualms about hunting for my dinner, so perhaps you’re right.”

“Thank you!” Fatigue apparently forgotten, she danced ahead of him, going toward the inviting azure lake in a flurry of twirling dance moves, arms spread.

By the time he arrived at the shore and dropped their gear, she was already unbraiding her hair, battered sandals abandoned on the sandy beach.

“The water’s warm,” she said. “I dipped a hand in a moment ago. Have you ever seen such white sand?”

Kamin assessed the likelihood of predators lurking in the depths of the lake.
Does paradise harbor Nile crocodiles? Hopefully not.
 
Judging by how dark blue the water became, the center was deep. A pearlescent haze obscured the horizon. “Stay close to shore and keep a sharp eye out, promise me.”

“I don’t think we’re in any danger here,” she said, combing her hair with her fingers. “But as I can’t swim, I’ll only go a tiny way out into the water.” She lifted the hem of her dress and paused, eyeing him.

Obligingly, he did an about-face, seating himself on a handy tree root. “I won’t sneak a peek. But I’m not going any farther away than this either, in case you need rescuing.”

“Always the warrior. Always on guard.” Her voice was light, teasing.
 

He was glad they’d been able to take shelter in a spot that gave her pleasure, but his instincts told him he’d better remain vigilant no matter how beguiling the surroundings. “A good soldier never abandons the rules of his training. Even in the Afterlife.”

He heard her coming across the sand, and then her footsteps whispered over the grass, but he kept himself rigidly facing the forest. Pausing behind him, she bent to drop a kiss on his cheek. A moment later, before he could decide how to react, pattering footsteps told him Nima had danced away toward the lake.

Fabric rustled enticingly as her dress fell to the grass, followed by splashing as she waded into the water. He tried hard to block out the picture of her slender body naked, only a few feet away from him now.
She’s traumatized from all she’s been through, and she hasn’t given any sign of wanting to move beyond mere friendship with me. I told her a little of how I felt, but though she didn’t rebuff me, neither did she encourage me.
Nima hummed as she bathed, breaking into song for a bar or two. He heard more splashing and swallowed hard as he visualized her running her hands over all her smooth, soft skin, bathing herself.
I’d have been happy to play lady’s maid, touch her beautiful body freely, get us both hot and aroused, before quenching the fire with an unhurried session of lovemaking on this soft grass.
 

Eventually, he heard her washing her dress out, sloshing the fabric up and down in the water vigorously.

“Nearly done,” she said, a happy lilt in her voice. “Then the lake will be all yours. I’m sorry I’ve taken so long, but the bath was relaxing.”

“No rush. We’re here for the rest of the day, perhaps longer, depending on the storm above, which I’ll go check on later. I’ll get my chance to bathe.” Kamin eyed the fruit hanging from the nearby tree. Near to bursting, the luscious plums were full of juice. Maybe in a while he’d climb up and pluck a few, but right now, he wasn’t hungry. An apple tree stood beyond the plums, covered in glowing red fruit, but they didn’t tempt him either. He frowned momentarily. Hadn’t he been ravenous when they walked through the tunnel, impatient to hunt or fish for their dinner?

“All right, you can turn around now,” she said, interrupting his thoughts.

He pivoted on the tree root. Nima stood swathed in the Hyksos cloak, having tied it right above her breasts and knotted it at the knees so it wouldn’t drag on the ground. The blue dress was neatly spread out on the grass to dry, her undergarments nearby. She shook the glossy curtain of her ebony hair. “Being clean is so luxurious after days as a prisoner and then being on the run. Your turn now.”

He stood up, letting his own cloak fall to the ground behind him and kicking off his sandals, and strode to the edge of the water. With relief he unfastened the scratchy Hyksos kilt, tossing the garment aside in a heap.
I wish those barbarians could make civilized clothing.
“The loincloth is next,” he warned.

Blushing, Nima moved away, strolling over to the nearest bank of red flowers. “Take your time.”

He walked naked into the water, enjoying the sensation as small waves lapped against his body.
I wish we could have shared this.
Reaching the point where the bottom dropped away, Kamin made a shallow dive and came up on his back, floating lazily for a few moments. The sky above was pure blue, no clouds.
Like a painting, not the real sky.
Had the sun moved at all in the time they’d been here? He rolled over and swam rapidly to shore, cutting through the water with his aggressive strokes.
Where’s Nima?
He scanned the bank in both directions but didn’t see her. Alarmed, he left the water, reaching for his clothing.

As he was fastening the kilt’s knotted belt, he called for her. “Nima?”

There was no answer, but he heard singing in the distance, off to the left. Barefoot, he headed rapidly toward the sound. The trees grew more thickly the farther away from the lake he jogged. He met other game animals placidly grazing, none of whom were frightened by his passing, at most raising their heads to watch him stride by. He could hear snatches of a song she was singing, and finally he caught a glimpse of her brown cloak when she walked through a patch of sunlight. Quickening his pace, he caught up to Nima, grabbing her hand.

She stopped humming but swayed to and fro, as if temporarily pausing in a performance. “What’s the matter? Did you enjoy the bath?”

“Why did you wander away from the lake?” he demanded, swiveling his head to see how far they’d come. Even with his acute vision, he could barely see the blackness of the tunnel opening in the distance. “What if you’d gotten lost? How would I have found you?”

“It’s so beautiful here. I was admiring all the different flowers, and each time I found a new variety, I noticed even more attractive ones farther down the path.” She offered him the blossom in her hand, a bloom the size of his fist, the center purple, petals lightening to palest pink at the edges. “This one was by far the most striking.”

“Like a jewel,” he agreed. “Or a hair ornament.” The rich, spicy scent filled his nostrils.
And what was I so worried about?
She’d only been picking flowers. No harm had come to her. Taking the astounding blossom, he placed it in her hair above her ear, then bent to kiss her.

She parted her lips as he ran his tongue lightly over them. He deepened the kiss, molding her body to his, his cock straining the fabric of his loincloth, pressing insistently against her belly. Moaning, she rubbed her pelvis against him. Her breasts under the thin cloak flattened against his bare chest, her nipples hardening in arousal. He brought one hand up to caress her breast. “The velvet petals of the flower can’t compare to the softness of your skin,” he murmured, lost in a sensual overload, stroking his palm over her budded nipple.
 

The grass was so thick underfoot, like a mattress.
Why don’t I take her cloak off and spread it out for us to lie on? Then we can make love in comfort.
He reached for the knot she’d tied at the top, and she put a hand up to help him untangle the ends of the fabric.

A little alarm bell sounded in his head
. Less than an hour ago, she hadn’t even wanted me to watch her bathe. And I’d resolved not to rush her, so what’s different now?

Reluctantly, he ended the kiss to take a breath and slow them down, but Nima tugged at him. Exerting more force, but careful not to bruise her soft skin, he held her at arm’s length. She frowned, fingers locked onto his forearms. “Why are you hesitating?” she said, tilting her head.

“Are you sure you want this right now? You want me to make love to you?”
I can’t believe I’m asking this, but something’s not right.

She glanced at the surroundings, let go of him and gathered the half-open cloak to cover more of her luminescent skin. “Don’t you desire me?”

“More than anything, but–” She moved into his arms and resumed the kiss,
 
grasping his cock through the folds of kilt and loincloth with one hand. He groaned and broke the embrace off again. His soldier’s instincts were pricking at him harder and harder, like the point of a knife in the ribs. “Are you hungry?” he asked.

“I was, but I haven’t been for a while now.” Eyebrows drawing together in a frown, Nima licked her lips. “Why aren’t I hungry? Why didn’t I pick any fruit? I was going to, but then the flowers caught my eye. Kamin—"

A gazelle butted him in the small of his back. Keeping his hold on Nima, he half turned to find the herd gazing at him with large, expressive brown eyes as they moved into position flanking him.

Yawning, Nima sank bonelessly to her knees, pulling her hand from his clasp as she did so. “I’m tired, and the perfume of these flowers is making me sleepy. Let me rest, then we can make love.”

“No, don’t sleep.” He tugged her to her feet, one of the larger animals pushing its head under her arm to assist him. “We have to get out of here.”
 

This place is not for the likes of you.

The voice rang in his head, but he saw only gazelles. Were
they
talking to him?
Am I losing my mind?

The quiet voices in his head continued to utter warnings.

Stay too long, and you’ll never leave.

Stay too long, and you’ll sleep the sleep of eternity.

“Exactly what I’m afraid of,” he said out loud. Grimly, he put one arm around Nima’s waist and steered her toward the tiny black square in the distance. Forcing her to keep walking with him, Kamin narrowed his focus to the mouth of the tunnel leading to their world. His legs trembled; he felt exhausted for no reason. The short swim hadn’t worked his muscles to such a degree. A doe came up beside him, and he curled his free arm around her muscular neck, letting the animal provide him support while he coaxed a barely conscious Nima to remain on her feet. His arms were losing their strength.

Nima slipped from his grasp, falling to the lawn and curling up like a beautiful caterpillar. Rolling his shoulders, Kamin took a deep breath. The gazelles waited. Bending, ignoring the spots of blackness flashing in front of his eyes, he picked her up so he could stagger forward. Two of the animals closed in on either side to keep him upright. Eyes fixed on the promise of the tunnel entrance in the distance, he took one step after another. Exhaustion ate at him. The muscles in his legs burned. He had the overwhelming desire to set Nima on the fragrant grass, spoon himself around her and forget his cares for a few hours.
Why not a quick nap, a refreshing few minutes, then we'll resume our hike?
 

The gazelle on his left bumped his body hard, sending a reviving spike of energy through him. Stiffening his stance, Kamin kept moving. His peripheral vision was narrowing, as if he were falling asleep even while walking. Even though Kamin wasn’t easily intimidated by mortal foes or danger at any time, the idea of a living death here in the underworld sent fear prickling through his limbs,, generating another burst of welcome energy.