Dancer of the Nile (Gods of Egypt) (13 page)

Later, having taken a bath to rinse off the stink of camel, and with a full belly, Kamin walked toward the far side of the caravan encampment, following the sound of music. He pushed his way through a throng of onlookers and paused, watching Nima in the arms of a Minoan dancer who was evidently in the middle of lifting her into some complex acrobatic maneuver as part of their dance. Hand clenched on the hilt of his sword, Kamin could barely restrain himself from interrupting the scene so intense was his jealousy over the man touching a barely clad Nima—
his
Nima. He acknowledged the unusually possessive thought with a rueful frown.
 

Such things were never done in Egyptian dance, and he was amazed she’d participate in this.
But she has a daring spirit and a strong thirst for knowledge, especially when it comes to her art. Isn’t that part of what I admire about her?
Only the certainty that if he interrupted them in the midst of their lifts and throws she might be physically hurt stopped him from deliberately breaking the pattern of the dance.

Glancing around, he tried to gauge the feeling in the crowd. Ptahnetamun kept a tight grip on his workers, maintained a high level of discipline, but Kamin remembered how aroused and volatile the Hyksos had been while watching Nima. The people here appeared merely interested, appreciative of the skills on display. He relaxed his guard a fraction.

Applause signaled the end of the particular sequence the troupe had been practicing, and the dancers scattered to refresh themselves and rest in what shade there was. Kamin strode into the dusty circle of ground.

Rubbing her face with a damp rag one of the dancers had handed her, Nima broke into a smile. “You came! Did you see that last set of moves? Wasn’t it amazing? Oh, let me introduce you to Andrios, the troupe master.”

Reluctantly, Kamin shook hands with the man, sensing from his unsmiling face that the dancer was already feeling a rivalry, just as he was. “The acrobatics were interesting. Different.”

“Not to your taste, I gather?” Andrios said, eyebrow raised. “Yet Nima dances so well.”

“Aye, that she does.” Kamin smiled at her. “But she’s going to need her strength for travel when we leave the caravan the day after tomorrow.”

Nima shook her head, biting her lip. “I gain energy from sharing steps with other dancers, from learning. You don’t understand, Kamin, this is a rare opportunity for me.”

“And as to your departure,” Andrios said, putting his arm around Nima’s waist so they stood hip to hip, as if to emphasize they were a team, “I’m doing my best to persuade her to join our troupe, sign a contract with the caravan master.” He gave Kamin a somewhat hostile gaze, eyes narrowed. “It’s you who are on the run from enemies, as I understand it. Not her.”

“Well, to be fair, I was their prisoner, too,” Nima said, looking from one man to the other. She sidled a few inches away, breaking the intimate hold Andrios had on her.

Angered by the casual manner in which the troupe master was putting his hands on Nima, Kamin took her elbow and exerted a little pressure. “Can we talk for a moment?” He glared at Andrios. “Privately?”

The Minoan inclined his head a fraction, squeezed Nima close for a heartbeat and walked away, running his hands through the riotous black curls on his head. He called to his dancers. “We’ll be starting on the next set of moves in a few minutes.”

Tugging her elbow free of his clasp, Nima glared at Kamin. “Are you trying to embarrass me by being rude to him? Like two crowing cocks in the yard, all ruffled feathers and puffed chests and me the hen in the middle. Honestly! I thought you understood how much this encounter with the Minoans meant to me. Surely there’s no harm in enjoying myself for a day or two in the midst of our troubles, as long as we’re traveling with the caravan anyway. I beg you, please don’t diminish my pleasure.”

He brought up the least of his concerns as an opener. “They dance so strangely.”

“Different than what you’re used to, but that’s the fun in it for me, new things to learn.” She spread her hands wide. “I’m actually
happy
. For a few moments when I’m dancing with them, I manage to forget the awful things that happened to me in the past few weeks. I can just dance, connect with the energy and the flow of movement. And feel free. ”
 

Fear of losing her to the enticements of the troupe drove him to make an unfortunate remark, one he wished he could call back as soon as the words left his lips. “Andrios wants to teach you more than dance steps and simple acrobatics,” he said.

“Oh, now we’re speaking more plainly. What gives you the right to be jealous about anything I choose to do?” Her eyes sparkled with anger, and she took a deliberate step away from him.

Too late, he realized the quagmire he’d stumbled into. “I only meant—”

“I know what you meant. I’m a grown woman who’s been dancing in taverns all her life. I can take care of myself. If you came to make me unhappy, then you can go.” Spinning on her heel, Nima made a beeline to where Andrios was waiting, his eyes on her even as he chatted and laughed with the female dancers Kamin had met earlier in the day.

As the Minoan reached to hug Nima and draw her into the conversation, he sent a triumphant glance and a wicked smile in Kamin’s direction.

Grinding his teeth, hand clenched on the handle of his belt knife, Kamin left the impromptu dance area, seething at his rival and at himself.
A defeat brought on by my own stupidity. What was it Nima had said? Like two cocks fighting over a hen? She’s not the woman to be won in such a fashion, as I well know.
Taking up a position at the perimeter of the crowd, where he’d have a clear view of the dancing when they resumed practicing, he shook his head ruefully.
If she gives me another chance, I’ve got to be a lot smarter in my wooing strategy.
 
Nima wasn’t paying any attention to him as she chatted animatedly with her new friends, demonstrating a dance step for them. He couldn’t begrudge her the happiness she was obviously experiencing but neither could he banish his fear of losing her to the dancing life.
The stakes have never been higher in any fight of my lifetime. If only she gives me the chance, I’ll make her other dreams come true, I swear it.He
looked at her again, so at home and accepted in the group of friendly dancers
. But will she offer me that chance?

Chapter Six

Far too early the next morning, Nima leaned on the stone wall surrounding the well, stifling a yawn and nibbled at a piece of journey bread, waiting for the caravan to push itself into motion. She’d deliberately spent the night away from Kamin again, testing her feelings for him, assessing the reality of what she was about to do. She’d enjoyed her time with the Minoan dancers, not just sharing steps and new moves, but also asking them questions about living and traveling with the caravan.

Andrios and his dancers probably thought she was really considering Ptahnetamun’s offer and were excited, providing advice and encouragement.
And I know Andrios is hoping my curiosity extends to his talents in lovemaking as well.
But she knew she was just playing with the concept, living the nomad artist’s life by proxy for a night or two.

The opportunity was opening up too late. Even a few weeks ago, she’d have signed the contract and been gone without a backward glance.
Why didn’t I ever at least talk to a caravan master about the possibilities?
Note taken for the future—if there was a future to be had after this Hyksos problem ended—be bold and pursue dreams. No more drifting along.

Bracelets jangling, Thala nudged her in the ribs. “Here comes your man, looking for you.”

“Uh huh.” Affecting a casual air she didn’t really feel, Nima pushed down a little surge of excitement.
I hope he was as upset by our spat yesterday as I was.
She turned to rummage in her sack for some fruit, offering a date to her companion. “Making sure I haven’t wandered into Andrios’s bed.”

“It means something that the soldier was so jealous,” Thala said, licking yogurt from her fingers. “He must have feelings for you, my friend. “

“He seemed so bereft when you turned your back on him and ignored him,” Mika added, leaning over to grab a fig for herself from the sack.

“And he stayed on the fringe of the crowd the entire evening, watching you dance.” Thala nodded, patting Nima on the shoulder. “Actually, he was watching the bystanders more than he paid attention to you, in case the men got out of hand, I think. It must be nice to have such a fearsome warrior looking out for you.” She shrugged. “Andrios is a fine troupe master, an excellent dancer, but he’ll never settle for any one woman. This soldier of yours acts like a man who’s given his heart, perhaps in spite of himself.”
 

“I think we should leave the lovebirds alone,” Mika said with a laugh. “In case they want to quarrel again before the inevitable lovemaking heals the anger.” Taking one more date, she and Thala strolled away, heading for the dance troupe’s wagons.

Shrugging off the girls’ lighthearted banter, Nima watched Kamin striding confidently through the lines of camels and the hurrying workers.
What about him captivates me so?
He’s not like any other soldier I’ve ever met. Handsome, yes.
She knew he would have drawn her attention in any crowded inn. But looks were only part of the attraction.
Handsome
she could walk away from. Was it his confidence? His skill as a warrior? The way he took such good care of her on the hard trail they followed?

 
“He treats me like an equal in this adventure,” she said out loud.
Not some burden he has to shoulder for honor’s sake because I happened to free him.
She’d been acutely conscious of him at her back during the endless senet game, lending her silent strength and support, trusting her to use her skills and win their freedom again.
We’re partners. I’ve never had anything close to trust and true partnership with any other person, and I don’t want to give that up.
True, he’d spoken no words of love, although her foolish heart beat faster now just remembering how he’d claimed her as his woman twice in front of the caravan crew.
I know he was only trying to protect me, but perhaps... I’m willing to stay the course and hope.
 

Always a gambler!

And he certainly was unhappy with the attention Andrios was giving me.

Nima felt an irrepressible smile curving her lips as Kamin approached, walking fast.

Giving her a bow, as if she was some grand lady at Pharaoh’s court, he said, “One of the camels has given birth this morning. Out of season, but the calf appears healthy.”

A bit surprised by his choice of topic, she went along with it. “Is that the source of the delay in departure? I wondered.”

“Yes, Ptahnetamun doesn’t want to abandon a perfectly good camel, so we’ve waited for the mother to give birth. I—I thought you might like to come see the baby. It’s a cute little thing.” He rubbed the back of his neck as if suddenly uncomfortable with the notion.

“I’d love to, thank you.” She pushed away from the stone wall, and they walked together out of the center of the oasis and down the caravan line.

“I want to apologize for my words last night,” he said as soon as they were well away from the cluster of Minoans. “I never meant to spoil your pleasure in the dancing.” Brow furrowed, eyes worried, he looked at her. “That’s the last thing I would
ever
want to do. It’s my nature to protect those who—who mean the most to me, and I let my emotions get the better of my common sense when Andrios provoked me.”

“I’m sorry I grew angry in turn,” she said. “And he
was
trying to be provoking. I think I’m learning that all troupe masters have certain traits in common. But I can take care of myself.”

Kamin nodded. “A fact of which I’m well aware, and one I swear not to forget again. You saved my life twice, after all.”

“But I appreciate your care and concern.” She couldn‘t stop herself from smiling at him, and warmth spread through her at the broad grin on his face when he realized she wasn’t mad at him this morning.

“Here’s my temporary string of camels,” he said a moment later, pushing a path through the assembled caravan drivers so Nima could see the baby.

“Oh, how darling!” All gawky long legs, covered in brown fuzz, the newborn camel was struggling to rise from a bed of straw tossed onto the dusty trail, while its mother chewed her cud and seemed unconcerned. Nima tried to move closer. “May I pet him?”

“Sorry, my lady, the calf needs to nurse,” said the loadmaster. “We’ve been delayed far too long already today.”

“You can pet him while we load him into a sack after he nurses,” Kamin said.

“A sack?”

“The baby can’t possibly keep up with the caravan on those spindly legs. We’ll make him comfortable in a sack and let the camel in front of the mother carry him, so she can be at ease, keeping the calf in her sight,” Kamin explained.

“More from the library of knowledge you keep locked in your head?” she teased, hopping out of the impatient camel drover’s way.
 

Kamin laughed. “Yes, although this particular set of facts I’d hoped never to need again. Camels aren’t the most pleasant companions. Give me a chariot and two horses!”

“You are good with those.” She nodded, remembering his expert driving the night they’d fled the Hyksos camp.