Chapter 1
Egypt, B.C.
Hotepamen stood overlooking the delta of the river Nile, watching the reeds sway gently in the wind. Slave women bent down to gather water in clay jugs, the water lapping at thier ankles.Three cranes were startled from the movement and flew overhead.
His newly appointed duties weighed heavily on him. Fathers’ death had been sudden; whispers of poisoning running rampant through the kingdom.
Shuffled steps against the stone floor sounded behind him.
“ Your Highness, forgive the interruption.”
Hotepamen turned around to see the high priest Paneb. He was not alone. Beside him was a young woman with long, black hair pulled back at the nape of her neck with a scarab jewelry piece. Her eyes were a light brown and curious. They survailed the room, and him.
She was beautiful.
The hairs on his arms stood on end. His heart thumped rapidly in his chest.
What a bold creature she is. He thought with admiration.
Paneb and the woman bowed to Hotepamen. The high priest had served his father for over twenty years faithfully. He mourned his pharoh and friend more deeply than most. The grief was written on his face with dark shadows beneath his eyes. His mouth was a hard and serious line.
“Please rise, and tell me what brings you.”
Hotepamen went to sit on his throne.
Paneb gestured to the woman. “ I have come to introduce you to my daughter Farida. She will be my replacement once I step down.”
Hotepamen blatantly observed Farida. His eyes searching for flaws. Her dress was white linen without a speck of dirt at the hem. Gold bangles lined her arms and glittered in the sunlight. At her neck, a multilayer of beads with lapis lazuli and gold. Her skin glistened with a thin layer of perspiration.
Hotepaman motioned for the slaves on either side of him to start fanning.
“You have served my father well Paneb. Do you not wish to follow with me?”
“I am tired your highness, and Farida is eager to start.”
Hotepaman nodded. Outwardly a calm acknowledgment. Internally, his heart threatened to beat out of his chest.
Farida met his eyes and a blush crept along her cheeks. Her eyelashes were impossibly long and fluttered as she averted her gaze to the floor.
Whatever this was he was feeling; she felt it too.
