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

think we ran aground. As soon as the winds die off completely, we’d better go on deck and see.”
    “Are we going to sink?” Her eyes were wide and she trembled.
    “I don’t think so.” Gently squeezing her shoulder, he infused as much reassurance into his voice as he could muster. “It would have happened already.”
    “What a comforting idea.” Tiya combed her fingers through her hair and reset the turquoise-and coral-studded hairpins that had come askew. Khenet’s fingers itched to complete the task himself, to thread his fingers through that beautiful dark silk. “Can we please go on deck?”
    “I think it’s safe enough now, yes. I don’t like not knowing what’s going on with the ship. We agree on that point.” He hurried from the cabin, brushing his own worried thoughts away like the sand he swept from their path.
    * * *
    Khenet led Tiya up to the deck, taking her arm to help her over the detritus and sand that clogged the short passageway. Her skin prickled at the touch, remembering the way he’d run his hard palms all over her. He’d only been checking for injuries, but his touch had left her shaken and warm in a way even the sandstorm had not.
    The skies were a clear, bright blue again as she stepped on deck. The River Horse wasn’t moving. The mast had broken off about a foot from the deck and vanished. Tattered red and white sails lay in a tangled heap against the starboard rail. Clustered at the bow, Captain Taneb and his men were gesticulating and talking, all their attention concentrated over the side.
    Trudging hand in hand up the canted deck with some effort, Khenet and Tiya joined the group.
    Taneb scrutinized them. “Glad you’re safe and sound, my lady.”
    “A few bruises perhaps.” Dropping Khenet’s hand, Tiya rubbed her elbow and made a face. She was still shaky and nauseous, not quite able to believe they were through the storm. “What happened?”
    “See for yourself. We’ve gone aground on a sand bar.” Taneb gestured at the river below.
    “Edekh said you knew every obstacle on the Nile.” Cautiously Tiya leaned over the side to see the problem for herself. The prow of the boat had rammed into the sand, and the collision had forced the bow entirely out of the water. Khenet swore under his breath beside her, confirming her own suspicions that their situation wasn’t good.
    “High praise indeed, to be sure, but no man truly knows the Nile.” Craning over the rail, Taneb spat into the water below. “She’s constantly changing, just as she did today, in the storm.”
    “What do we do?” Tiya straightened, glancing from the stocky captain to Khenet, a budding worry rising inside her.
    “My crew’ll have to go free the bow, dig it out. Fortunately, our cargo this trip is so light.” Taneb made her a little half bow. “If we were carrying our usual consignment of goods rather than one beautiful woman, we’d have to unload the ship here to have a hope of getting free.”
    “Or we could wait for the crocodile god to repair the river,” one of the nearby sailors said jovially.
    “Don’t even mention crocodiles, idiot.” The scowling captain’s reprimand was gruff and instantaneous, surprising her in its vehemence. “When you’re standing knee-deep in the water you’d better pray the beasts are nowhere near. Now, all of you, you have your orders—get moving. I want to be off this sandbar well before sunset.”
    “Can I help in some way?” Tiya shivered in the lingering breeze.
    The captain did her the courtesy not to scoff at her offer. “You can keep watch with me, for crocodiles or hippos.” He drew her aside.
    The sailors lowered themselves cautiously over the side of the ship, one after the other, into the Nile.
    “I’ll be glad to work with them,” Khenet said, startling Tiya. “I’ve done this sort of thing before, on other expeditions. The excavation will go faster.” Suddenly, Tiya’s worry about crocodiles became decidedly less