Chapter 1 The sun was sinking over the outskirts of Thebes. The orange glow clung to the mud-brick walls, making the suspended dust shimmer. The air carried that dry, bitter taste that clings to the throat after a whole day without a breeze. Merit walked with a jar resting against her hip. At every step […]
Chapter 2 Merit yanked him aside, dragging him close to one of the massive pillars that held up the gallery. Her fingers dug into his arm, tight enough to hurt. The roar of the hall still hammered in her skull, that endless murmur of voices invoking the gods. “Why didn’t you say anything?” Her breath […]
Chapter 3 The great hall of the palace shimmered in the glow of torches and resin-fed braziers. The air pulsed with heat and heavy scents: myrrh, incense, crushed lotus. The painted columns caught the flames, casting warped shadows across the walls—like a crowd of restless spirits witnessing the feast. The tables sagged under the weight […]
Chapter 4 Nakht’s seat remained empty. Merit sat motionless, her fingers locked around the rim of her cup. The air, thick with myrrh and crushed lotus, made her stomach turn. A hard knot swelled in her belly, rising all the way to her throat. She stood abruptly. Her veils brushed the floor, her step faltered. […]
Chapter 5 The sun had already risen, but the royal chambers remained steeped in a heavy gloom. The linen drapes, drawn over the tall windows, smothered the golden light. The air still carried the lingering scent of spiced wine, mixed with the ashes of incense burned through the night. Nakht hadn’t closed his eyes once. […]