Thief of the Night
Chapter One
Disclaimer: I do not own the book that this fan-fiction was based on. I do not own any of the characters. I do not keep the author prisoner in my attic.
A/N: This is my version of a sequel for the book Mara: Daughter of the Nile. It picks up about a year and a half after the book ends. I hope you enjoy!
Mara closed her eyes. The hot afternoon sun beat down mercilessly upon Egypt, not even a cool breeze blew to relive them from the oppressive heat. King Thutmosis was holding court outside today, and it seemed like the end would never come. Mara tried to lean back. Strong arms reached around her waist and steadied her. A familiar voice murmured, "careful" into her ear. " Set!" Mara cursed inwardly. She had forgotten that she was sitting on the edge of the Lily Pond. The arm remained present on her waist. Mara opened her eyes. Sheftu was smiling down at her.
" Are you so tired you'll take a tumble into the Lily Pond blue-eyed one?"he asked jokingly. Mara leaned her head against his bare chest
" It might be cooler." she murmured. Sheftu laughed, drawing looks from nearby courtiers.
Silently, a chamberlain darted into the courtyard where they sat. He ran up to the Pharo who was sitting near the door conversing with some nobles. After bowing, the chamberlain whispered something into his ear, and darted off. The King continued chatting on nonchalantly. A few moments after the chamberlain had left he announced to his courtiers
" An important personage demands to see us, if we could all proceed inside, we could clear up this bother, and come back out"
Mara drew away from Sheftu, glad to go back into the cool palace. She reluctantly pushed herself off of the warm marble edge of the Lily Pond. Sheftu offered his arm, after Mara had taken it, they moved inside with the rest of the court. Gathered back inside, the court resumed their normal positions. Sheftu on the Pharo's right, Mara on Sheftu's right. The "important personage" hadn't been shown in, so the courtiers resumed their conversations. The door's opened, and the room fell silent. The man was announced as " Apophis". Whatever he may have looked like was blurred out by the astonishing amount of jewelry he wore. He clanked as he moved. When Apophis reached the throne, he bowed shallowly to the Pharo. Both Mara and Sheftu noticed this and frowned. The man began to speak
" I am here to collect what is mine" he said, smiling widely as he spoke. "I'm here to claim the throne." Around the room, at least twenty-five people pulled out knives.