Semua Bab Queen of the Eternal Nile: Bab 101 - Bab 110

The celebration did not last long.The moment the last of the Black Jackals disappeared beyond the mountain pass, the tension that had been holding Maritza upright finally broke.She swayed and tried to reach for the nearest tree, but my fingers found only empty air."...Maritza!"Kharef caught me before I could collapse onto the rocky ground.My body felt strangely light and the voices around me became distant."I'm... okay..." The words came out as little more than a whisper."You are most certainly not," Kharef answered firmly."I only..." Darkness swam before my eyes. "...need..."Before I could finish the sentence, everything disappeared."Lady Maritza!"Ramose's voice echoed somewhere far away but I couldn't answer.It seems like the fever had finally stolen what little strength I had left.*****Kharef carried her back inside the stone cottage without hesitation."Zahra!"Harun's wife hurried from the back room and the moment she saw Maritza's unconscious face, her expression

The hidden valley was peaceful once again.Morning sunlight spilled over the mountains, painting the cliffs in shades of gold while a cool breeze carried the scent of wild herbs through the village.Two more days had passed since the battle against the Black Jackals and Maritza's fever had finally broken.Although the bruises covering her face and body still ached whenever she moved, the color had slowly begun returning to her cheeks."You are not leaving this bed until you finish everything."Zahra crossed her arms while placing another bowl of warm broth onto the small wooden table.I looked down at the enormous meal before me and couldn't help laughing."I've already eaten enough for three people." I said and tried to give a reason.She shook her head. "And you'll eat enough for four today."I looked toward Kharef for help but he simply raised an eyebrow."I believe Zahra has given you an order," he said calmly.I stared at him in disbelief after I heard his answer."You're taking

The journey east continued for several more days.Unlike the harsh wilderness we had crossed before, the roads gradually became wider and busier. Merchant caravans passed us carrying spices, dyed fabrics, pottery, and livestock from distant kingdoms and travelers from every direction filled the dusty roads, their conversations blending into one constant murmur.By midday, the walls of a bustling frontier city finally came into view.Unlike the little hidden village Harun called home, this place was alive with commerce.Stone watchtowers overlooked the gates while colorful banners fluttered above the crowded marketplace. The air was filled with the mouthwatering aroma of roasted meat, fresh bread, and unfamiliar spices. Traders shouted from every direction, blacksmiths hammered glowing iron, glassmakers carefully shaped molten glass, and musicians filled the streets with cheerful melodies.My eyes widened. "This place is...""Larger than I expected," Ramose finished with a grin.Kharef

Morning had not yet broken over Memphis when hurried footsteps echoed through Queen Neferaset's private chambers.A hooded spy dropped to one knee. "My Queen." He called.Neferaset looked up from the scroll she had been reading. "What is it?""We've received another report."She slowly set the papyrus aside. "Speak.""A merchant arriving from the western frontier claims he encountered a man matching Pharaoh Kharef's appearance."Silence…The Queen's emerald eyes narrowed. "...Are you certain?""The description matches His Majesty. He traveled with a foreign woman and another warrior."Neferaset's fingers tightened around the arm of her chair."So..." A slow smile appeared. "He survived."The smile vanished just as quickly."If he truly is Kharef..." She rose gracefully. "...then I will admit what few others would."She walked toward the open balcony overlooking the palace gardens."He is far stronger than I anticipated."The spy remained silent.Neferaset slowly turned and her beauti

I tried not to smile, I really did, but no matter how many times I told myself that perhaps I was imagining things, I couldn't forget the way Pharaoh Kharef had looked at that young man.Your husband?Yes.It was only one simple word… And somehow, it stayed in my mind.I lowered my gaze as I walked beside him, pretending to be interested in the crowded streets around us. But my thoughts were somewhere else, they were with him, to the enormous man walking silently beside me, Pharaoh Kharef.I didn't know when things between us had started to change. Perhaps it had been when he carried me through the mountains after the collapse, or perhaps it had been when he stayed awake through the night simply to make sure I was breathing.Or perhaps… it had happened much earlier, so gradually that I hadn't noticed.For almost two years, I had pushed the idea of love away because there had been no room for it. I had spent my days surviving, learning this strange world, treating the wounded, searchin