July 31, 2007
More
Since it went so swimmingly yesterday, let’s keep this going.
To copy Sela, “Entertain Me”! Let me see what y’all can do.
Let’s get some more excerpts posted. Sela obviously won for yesterday as she was the ONLY one who contributed anything! YAY SELA!! and thank you! (send me your addy dennie @ denisebelindamcdonald.com–no spaces–and I’ll get some books out to ya). But Chicas-peeps, I have more books I am dying to give away.
Give it all you got! POST!
OMG did you post a bulletin at myspace?
WTF???!
Nobody wants free books??
Nobody’s interested in posting their stuff for an audience??
I know, right!
I’m a chicken. If I do it, do I get to keep the ones I had signed for ya’ll????
Just kidding. I have too many. I may get brave later after I work on the WIP some more this afternoon.
I brought home enough books, thank you.
where is that chicken smily????
I’ll play!
Bang!
The thunderous sound echoed in the temple.
Her maidens screamed and one said, “Show us mercy mistress.”
Selena poured the deadly wine in each of the golden goblets. “Blessed be Isis,” she said after handing each their cup and their fate.
Each woman gulped down the poison to the last drop and Selena held back the tears welling up in her eyes.
Bang!
This time the door splintered. The next blow would certainly break the doors open. Selena was tempted to give in to her fears and drink the wine that would be her release. But being tortured and raped would be only momentary. Afterwards she’d have eternal life.
Bang!
The doors burst open, one flying off its hinges. Her servants gasped. There was a moment of silence before she heard clip-clop, clip-clop. A horse and rider appeared in the entryway then entered into the sacred sanctuary. His face was hidden from view as the few flickering torches cast a ghostly veil over his features. Silhouetted behind him were the figures of many, Assyrian soldiers. With swords drawn, they marched behind their leader into the temple and kept marching until they encircled them. Selena felt strangely disembodied as a cold fist closed over her heart. She knew her worst fears were being confirmed. The Assyrians had come to rape, slaughter, and pillage. She vowed not to show any fear. A divine wife of Amun was no coward unlike her pharaoh husband and she wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing her squirm and beg for her life while they humiliated her and then ripped the flesh from her body.
Her hand maidens though were a different story. The poison would take some time to work. She would not see them be tortured before the great one came to claim them.
She needed time.
She needed to create a diversion.
“You have come to the temple of Isis,” she spoke calmly. “You seek that which is in the temple of Amun.”
“That is not what the gods have told me,” the man on horseback replied, his voice deep and disconcerting.
He gently kicked the steed and approached her, stopping in the direct light of a torch. She could tell he was graced by great height. His legs sculpted in the taught muscles of a warrior hung below the belly of his powerful black steed. The Assyrian’s broad chest expanded even further as he took a deep breath as if contemplating what he should do next.
“Are the gods now speaking to commoners?” she asked emphasizing the bite in her voice. Perhaps h would make an example of her? By the time he was done her servants would be well on their journey to the afterlife.
He bent his head and studied her his eyes searching hers with certain hardness. His face held a beauty and strength she’d never seen before in a man except in the statues of the great Ramesses II. A strong jaw formed an almost perfect v-shape, coming together at the slight cleft in his chin. His lips turned upward into a smile that she’d seen in Egyptian warriors before they attacked. They were parched and chaffed from the dessert flanked by two attractive indentations on each side of his cheeks, covered with the stubble of golden whiskers.
“I can assure you that an Assyrian general who has just conquered Egypt is no commoner.” He leaned forward on his horse. “What is your name?” he whispered in a warning tone.
“My name does not matter. What does is that you’ve desecrated the Temple of Isis by entering.” She knew not from where her strength came to talk to him so boldly. He could pull a sword and strike her dead at any moment. A swift death would be better than the alternative but she couldn’t be that selfish.
He grinned back at her briefly. “Are you a member of the royal court?
She nodded.
“You have a tomb do you not?”
“It matters not,” she murmured. Why did he care?
“I need to know where to put your body after I’m done with you.”
She inhaled sharply. Her torture was near at hand. Some of her maidens gasped while a few others screamed.
“No,” Tsepta called out,” running to her side. “You may not harm our mistress.”
The men took a fighting stance ready to protect the one on the horse. The general made a movement with his head and a solider grabbed Tsepta.
Without turning his gaze away from her he said, “Well then, it seems we are at a stale mate. Tell me your name and I shall let her live.”
The soldier drew his sword up to Tpesta’s throat.
Of course Dimitri had no plans of harming the servant. But the solemn looking and exquisitely beautiful woman that stood defiant, dressed in nothing more than a linen skirt and sandals needed to learn how to obey. He took the liberty of examining her body slowly from head to toe, relishing that he was doing so in front of his men. He’d heard that it was common for the women of Egypt to wear little clothing, but he’d expected that custom be restricted to mostly the poor or the farmers who labored in the sun most of the day.
Who was this woman whose breasts were bared before him, adorned with a large elaborate necklace covering the upper part of her chest?
Her ebony hair shined from the flicker of the torch light and decorated with a head dress held in place by a golden cobra. Gold chains hung down over her long dark locks and they made a soft jingle every time she moved.
Her stomach smooth and her hips wide and curvaceous bespoke a woman who could bare him many children. Yes, taking her for a wife was a possibility.
“Are you pharaoh’s wife?” The question came out of his mouth before he could stop himself.
She stiffened and remained silent.
Praise the gods. They had shown him favor. “Are you willing to let your servant die because you won’t tell me your name? I will find out anyway.”
Her azure blue eyes turned cold. “Her fate is in the hands of the gods.”
He sat up straight on his horse growing tired of her attitude.
It must have been victory adrenaline running through his veins. Normally he wouldn’t tolerate such insolence from a prisoner of war in front of his men. But tonight he would have food in his belly, a bath, and her company. He would sleep in the palace, in the kings bedchamber, with he suspected, Selena, the Devine Wife of Amun coiled by his side.
“My lord,” the soldier holding the servant called his attention.
The woman began shaking, slightly at first, then went into convulsions. The soldier released his grip and she collapsed to the floor. He looked at Dimitri, then shook his head and backed away from her, “I’m sorry my lord. She has been taken by demons.”
The other women followed the same pattern until they were all lifeless on the floor except one. Dimitri’s heart hammered in his chest. He was confused for a moment but then it became clear to him what they had done. His heart filled with emptiness and sadness, emotions in battle that had been foreign to him before.
“I am Selena, high priestess of Isis and divine wife of Amun.” She opened her arms and looked upward. “Oh great Anubus guide these souls to the land of the west so that they may be judged and join the great Osiris. Praise be to the Goddess Isis whose womb all life is born.”
SANDY…this is fantastic.
By the way, Dennie, I’ll throw in a signed copy of BEND IN TIME if you want…
Thanks Mik!
Sandy. . . That’s great!
Sandy that’s great!
You know we could let this go all week and see if anyone grows a pair
WTG, Sandy!!
I vote for going all week with it.
Sandy, that was awesome!!!!
And I get books?! COOL!!! I’ll e-mail you, Dennie!