in the temple. My father married a young woman. She wanted me out of my father’s house, and she wanted my dowry to enrich her beloved brother.” Lady Tiya set aside the cup, preparing to stand.
More questions blazed through Khenet’s mind, leaving him anxious and frustrated. He was plunging into a murky situation, the only certain knowledge being the girl’s dark fate and the likelihood of his own demise. He needed as many details as he could glean, about Viper Nome, about this sorcerer-nomarch—specifics about what the goddess planned. But Tiya was growing upset and near to tears and he hadn’t the heart to bother her for more. Yet why should her distress matter to me when there’s mission information to gather? This woman is getting under my skin. Or maybe it’s just the whole strange assignment. Great Ones , black magic ...
He stood as she did, immediately reaching to steady her, his hand on her arm. “Do you wish to return to your cabin?”
“Gods, no.” She shook her head emphatically. “Not to stay there, anyway. I brought some papyrus and inks in my bag. I wanted to sketch some of the scenery we’re sailing past. For many years I’ve longed to travel, to see more than the area close by Thebes. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.” Her smile was brave but wavering.
Her resolve in the face of certain death warmed Khenet, cementing his newfound liking for her. May the goddess be swift and merciful with her death. Hoping to distract her—and himself—Khenet pointed downriver. “Taneb tells me we’ll be sailing past the city of Tjaru in a little while. You might find it interesting. If you want to sketch there are some fine temples on the banks, and there will be other river traffic to watch. You’re an artist then?” He restrained an eye roll. I’ve lost count of ladies of the Court I’ve met who fancied themselves “ artists. ”
Lady Tiya fidgeted. “I’m accounted to have some skill. My father even had one of my hunting designs painted onto the wall of his tomb. And I was commissioned to paint a garden mural on the wall of the new library before this—this trip of ours came about.”
Khenet eyed the sailors at the stern of the River Horse . Men were studiously at work on the ship, but he had seen the surreptitious ogling directed at Lady Tiya in the last few hours. The fine linen of her dress, after the customary style of Thebes, was on the sheer side, and didn’t conceal much of her womanly figure. I don’t want her embarrassed by crude remarks . “Let me get your art supplies for you. Stay here, rest.”
Sinking onto the mattress, she subsided, reaching to stroke the cat. “All right. Thank you.”
When he brought the kit to her, she was scratching the cat’s chin. Smiling, she set the animal aside and unpacked her things. Leaning against the bulkhead, Khenet watched as she sketched the cat. He was amazed. In just a few swift strokes she captured the somewhat battered animal’s essence, then added a border of whimsical fish, coloring them delicately.
“Do you like it?” she asked the cat, showing it to him. Yawning, the cat walked away. Lady Tiya laughed and set the papyrus aside. “Well, I’ll give it to the captain then, to thank him for the medicine.”
Khenet picked up the drawing and examined the border more closely. Each fish had a different expression. “This is good.”
“You sound surprised.” Raising her eyebrows, Lady Tiya plucked another small blank papyrus from her box and smoothed it against her thigh.
Khenet handed her the sketch. “So many of the Theban noblewomen claim to draw, but so few have the skill to combine two symbols together in any artistic style. If they even bother to actually touch paint to papyrus.” He bit his lips on further comments about the idle, useless women at court.
Picking up a fine-pointed brush, she dipped it into the flower-shaped inkwell and tilted her head. “Can I draw something for you?”
He crossed his arms.
More questions blazed through Khenet’s mind, leaving him anxious and frustrated. He was plunging into a murky situation, the only certain knowledge being the girl’s dark fate and the likelihood of his own demise. He needed as many details as he could glean, about Viper Nome, about this sorcerer-nomarch—specifics about what the goddess planned. But Tiya was growing upset and near to tears and he hadn’t the heart to bother her for more. Yet why should her distress matter to me when there’s mission information to gather? This woman is getting under my skin. Or maybe it’s just the whole strange assignment. Great Ones , black magic ...
He stood as she did, immediately reaching to steady her, his hand on her arm. “Do you wish to return to your cabin?”
“Gods, no.” She shook her head emphatically. “Not to stay there, anyway. I brought some papyrus and inks in my bag. I wanted to sketch some of the scenery we’re sailing past. For many years I’ve longed to travel, to see more than the area close by Thebes. Be careful what you wish for, I guess.” Her smile was brave but wavering.
Her resolve in the face of certain death warmed Khenet, cementing his newfound liking for her. May the goddess be swift and merciful with her death. Hoping to distract her—and himself—Khenet pointed downriver. “Taneb tells me we’ll be sailing past the city of Tjaru in a little while. You might find it interesting. If you want to sketch there are some fine temples on the banks, and there will be other river traffic to watch. You’re an artist then?” He restrained an eye roll. I’ve lost count of ladies of the Court I’ve met who fancied themselves “ artists. ”
Lady Tiya fidgeted. “I’m accounted to have some skill. My father even had one of my hunting designs painted onto the wall of his tomb. And I was commissioned to paint a garden mural on the wall of the new library before this—this trip of ours came about.”
Khenet eyed the sailors at the stern of the River Horse . Men were studiously at work on the ship, but he had seen the surreptitious ogling directed at Lady Tiya in the last few hours. The fine linen of her dress, after the customary style of Thebes, was on the sheer side, and didn’t conceal much of her womanly figure. I don’t want her embarrassed by crude remarks . “Let me get your art supplies for you. Stay here, rest.”
Sinking onto the mattress, she subsided, reaching to stroke the cat. “All right. Thank you.”
When he brought the kit to her, she was scratching the cat’s chin. Smiling, she set the animal aside and unpacked her things. Leaning against the bulkhead, Khenet watched as she sketched the cat. He was amazed. In just a few swift strokes she captured the somewhat battered animal’s essence, then added a border of whimsical fish, coloring them delicately.
“Do you like it?” she asked the cat, showing it to him. Yawning, the cat walked away. Lady Tiya laughed and set the papyrus aside. “Well, I’ll give it to the captain then, to thank him for the medicine.”
Khenet picked up the drawing and examined the border more closely. Each fish had a different expression. “This is good.”
“You sound surprised.” Raising her eyebrows, Lady Tiya plucked another small blank papyrus from her box and smoothed it against her thigh.
Khenet handed her the sketch. “So many of the Theban noblewomen claim to draw, but so few have the skill to combine two symbols together in any artistic style. If they even bother to actually touch paint to papyrus.” He bit his lips on further comments about the idle, useless women at court.
Picking up a fine-pointed brush, she dipped it into the flower-shaped inkwell and tilted her head. “Can I draw something for you?”
He crossed his arms.
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