by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, chapter 15 – The Intimacy of Enemies “I am not always the brutal man I portray,” said Rameses, lying to one side on Neferaset’s bed and sipping his wine. “Authority must be established before a new situation is allowed to develop. The seed must be placed, not where it might fall, but where it should grow.” From the floor … Read More River of the Sun, chapter 15 – The Intimacy of Enemies
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, chapter 14 – The Flood Rameses, second of that name and the one in rising to the throne of Egypt, looked through the widening gap of broken, bronze doorway and fixed his eyes on the woman frozen in shock in the East of the temple. As the shrieking of torn metal desisted, he held out his warrior’s arms to … Read More River of the Sun, chapter 14 – The Flood
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, chapter 13 – The Binding Voices “Kneel before the sacred third point!” Amkhren fell to his knees and, once again, faced the clear lake of tranquillity at the temple’s centre. But this time, the sense of potency within his young soul threatened to overwhelm him… The Vessel of Sekhmet was speaking again, “Behold Shemu, season of Harvest, the home of … Read More River of the Sun, chapter 13 – The Binding Voices
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, chapter Twelve – Above and Below Sarkur the Stonemaster lay beneath Egypt’s stars, looking deep into the sky as though reading the story of his own life. As a young child, his mother would walk him to the cliff-edge, where the stars were brightest, and point out the patterns in the sky. For each, she would tell him the tales … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Twelve – Above and Below
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, Chapter Eleven – Inundation “Vessel of Sekhmet, take our chosen priest-to-be and show him the path of initiation that lies ahead.” Firmly within the power of her magic, Amkhren felt the unspoken command to continue looking at the high priestess. His senses were so heightened that he could feel the approach of the severe Vessel of Sekhmet long before … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Eleven – Inundation
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, Chapter Ten – Darkness at the Door Rameses waited for a moment on the quayside, listening to the sound of the waters lapping at the stone in the black night. He was about to do something that his father would have found unthinkable–he was going to force entry into a temple of the mysteries and take over the … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Ten – Darkness at the Door
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, Chapter Nine The Priestess Calls Anzety, high priest of the Isis temple, watched from the east of the temple as his sister, Neferaset, the prime figure of authority on the island, entered through the opened portal of the west. The symbols of her status as high priestess, worn at forehead and throat, reflected the candle lights and seemed to … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Nine – The Priestess Calls
by Steve Tanham
River of the Sun, Chapter Eight The Unchosen Darkness Darkness had just fallen when the Beak of Horus rounded the curve in the river and fixed its course on the stone landing of the Island of Gezirah al Nabatath. The ranks of the oarsmen, led by the Obion Guard, relaxed their stroke, feathering their oars as one. Menascare, known to all as the most trusted … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Eight – The Unchosen Darkness
by Steve Tanham
Chapter Seven The Crystal Air The great candles hissed and spat, casting off acrid fumes that were masked by the sweet incense rising from the copper burners, made to an ancient formula which spoke of purple flowers in the night. Their light was bright, and cast flickering shadows off the sacred objects in the temple which became dancing forms that flowed across the … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Seven – The Crystal Air
by Steve Tanham
Chapter Six – The Wide Waters Anzety, brother of Neferaset and the high priest of the temple of Isis, stood between the landing pillars and looked into the distance at the pilgrim boat departing from the eastern bank of the great river, heading for the temple island of Gezirah an-Nabatath, his home for the past ten years. The old and rickety craft rolled heavily at … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Six – The Wide Waters
by Steve Tanham
“Enough. You may release the tension.” He would not know that certain of the herbs in the incense were there to relax the body. He would think he had come close to failing her. This was all part of the build-up to his initiation, to take place later. That edge of failure – and the chasm beyond, were part of a pattern that began the breaking of the reflection…
by Steve Tanham
Chapter 4 – Touching the Sky The Stonemaker halted his weary band in the shade of the rocky escarpment, allowing them too much water from the team’s meagre supplies. It had been a long march from the banks of the Nile, where their boat lay tied up to stout wooden stakes, recently cut and driven deep into the banks of the fertile river. This was to be … Read More River of the Sun, Chapter Four – Touching the Sky
Sun in Gemini 
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