The boat was indeed much bigger than the one she had seen before.
As their party drew near to the Nile, there was no missing it.
A long, crescent-shaped vessel, with three oars to a side and a single mast carrying a large, square sail on which was painted a vivid blue lotus flower. At both ends, the hull curved elegantly upwards and over, capped by carved lotus flowers that matched the image on the sail. There was a raised platform at the rear for the steersman and a fighting platform at the front on which stood a guard armed with a spear.
"It's beautiful," Ashayt said as they reached the bank.
"Isn't she?" the Prince said. "She's named Breath-Of-The-Lotus, but we just call her Lotus for short.
He handed her up the short gang plank. Stepping down onto the deck she immediately recognised some of the crew from the boat that had rescued her. They grinned at her, leaning on their oars, and she smiled back.
I wonder what they think of the 'village girl' now? she thought.
The Prince led her forward to a canopied area near the front of the boat where there were two seats, draped in rich fabrics. Without being asked, Sethos went forward to join the spearman on his platform, while Kames and Seb remained at the rear. Ashayt noticed that each of the oarsmen had either a short sword or spear laid close-at-hand and realised that the Prince had taken Reseph's request seriously.
"Cast off!" he called.
The Lotus slid smoothly away from the shore heading towards the centre of the river. The steersman pointed the boat downstream, heading northwards. The current was with them, so the oarsmen rowed with little effort, the ship moving with surprising speed.
Djed left her to talk to Heri and the helmsman and she watched him as he walked to the rear of the boat, stopping to talk to the men, laughing and joking.
There was an obvious bond between them and she felt that he was the kind of man they would follow anywhere, whatever the reason, whatever the danger. There was an ease and confidence about him that was hard to resist, not to mention his good looks. Ashayt was forced to recognise emotions that were wholly new to her.
She would have to be careful, since it was already obvious he had feelings for her.
©Adriana Nicolas 2016
YOU ARE READING
SWORD MAIDEN OF SEKHMET
ParanormalFor 18 year-old Ashayt, life changes forever when she is recruited into the service of the Lion Goddess Sekhmet, to be trained as one of her Sword Maidens: elite female warriors sworn to defend the Goddess from her enemies and support her in battle...
