Warrior of the Nile (The Gods of Egypt) by Veronica Scott

shoulder at the strand of beads, which the old woman was already offering to the next couple who had approached the booth. Reaching over, he plucked the bauble from the seller’s hand. “The necklace is ours.” Defiantly, he fished a coin from his own belt, not Pharaoh’s gold. Throwing the money to the crone tending the shop, he walked away.
    He caught up to Tiya, touching her arm to make her stop. When she turned, he suspended the necklace around her neck, his fingers brushing across her soft skin. Obediently, she bowed her head so he could fasten the clasp. As she turned back, he was relieved to see her long artist’s fingers tracing the flat enameled beads with pleasure. At last, she raised her eyes to his.
    “A souvenir.” Khenet already half regretted his impulsive purchase. What a ridiculous trinket to offer such a highborn lady. I’m a fool , no doubt of it . “From one friend to another,” he improvised.
    Tiya toyed with the necklace, a small frown on her face. “Khenet—”
    “We may be rushing to our deaths but nothing prevents us from enjoying the time remaining to us,” he said harshly, striding along. He could tell his ears were red with embarrassment. “Didn’t you say as much to me once? If you don’t like my gift, you can throw it away for all I care.”
    He didn’t realize how fast he was going until she reached out a hand and stopped him, breathing heavily. “Must you walk so fast? I can’t keep up with you.” Gently, she tugged his arm until he turned to face her. “I love the necklace—thank you. I only wish I had a gift for you. Was there nothing to tempt you here, nothing in any of the stalls we passed? I have some coins of my own, you know.”
    “What tempts me—” He bit his lips and raised his eyes to the sky for a moment. He dared hardly think of it, let alone say it.
    “Yes?” She rubbed her hand over his forearm.
    Bringing his gaze down to her worried face, Khenet took a deep breath, tucked her hand into the crook of his arm, and strolled, more slowly now. “Never mind. Soldiers travel light. I’ve no room in my pack for any souvenirs, but thank you for the thought.”
    “What are we going to do tonight?” she asked as they retraced their steps to the ship.
    Khenet guided her past a crowd of merry revelers. “Did you want to go to the government house? I’m sure the mayor of this town can provide appropriate lodging for the night.”
    “No, I want to stay on the River Horse as long as possible. It’s our private little world.”
    “You could have dinner with the local nobles, spend the night in a comfortable bed at government house.” He fended off a drunken sailor, shoving the man away then pulling Tiya closer to him. “Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer those accommodations?”
    Tiya shook her head vehemently. “Dinner with you and Captain Taneb will be far more interesting. Please, Khenet?”
    He stopped walking and stared out across the Nile, thinking her request through. Nothing in his orders precluded her from staying on the ship if they had to make port occasionally. Dendaret was their destination, not Zauimu. “We’ll have to take you to dinner at one of the inns.”
    She skipped a little. “I’ve never been to an inn.”
    “I’m sure you haven’t.” He laughed. “The company will be rude and crude, no place for a gently bred noblewoman such as yourself.”
    “Will the food be good?” Tiya rubbed her stomach with her free hand. “I’ve worked up quite an appetite with all today’s events.”
    “Workingman’s food, hearty and filling. Nothing fancy.”
    “All right then.” She tossed her hair and looked at him saucily. “You’ll protect me. It’ll be fine.”
    He was dubious, stroking his chin as he considered the idea.
    Continuing to make her case, Tiya batted her eyes outrageously, chuckling. “We’ll go back to the market, buy a humbler dress and cloak for me to blend in with the company, all right?”
    He couldn’t think of