Page 52 of Over the Emerald Valley
“You’re delusional if you think I’m going to do as you say.”
Temaj stepped into the man’s space and laid a hand on his chest. “You will, and I’ll tell you why. I’m going to give you what you’ve always wanted, Ottah. Secrets. My secrets. I will give you enough information to hold over me that you can hang me or not as you see fit, but first we need to make it to the harem’s common room unscathed.”
Ottah brought his hand to Temaj’s throat and wrapped his fingers around the delicate column. “What’s to stop me from having you now?”
Temaj pushed into the touch, unafraid. “Think, you fool. Abasi will never grant what you want, whether I’m in a cell or not. He won’t allow you access. He doesn’t find you worthy. Why then would you stay loyal to him when I can give you a better offer?”
“You offered as much earlier, and your man attacked me for it.”
“I don’t control Solon. And I’m offering more than a few minutes of pleasure if you’d just listen.”
Ottah pushed him away. “Fine.”
Temaj choked a cough and gritted his teeth. “Come on, then.”
CHAPTER17
Solon
Nekuand the rest listened as Solon filled them in.
“When we enter, you must act like men about to bed a new partner, not like an army conducting a secret mission. Understand? Smiles and laughter.”
“Dick jokes, got it.” Jontil made a lewd gesture and grabbed his cock.
“Not yet, Jontil.” Neku shoved him.
“But yes, you’ve got the right idea,” said Solon.
An hour before dusk, as the faux-rowdy group of soldiers made their way to the palace, Neku sidled up alongside Solon. “If you don’t mind me saying, this doesn’t sound like your type of plan.”
“It’s not. But we were between a rock and a hard place.”
“Who is we?”
Solon pressed his lips together and side-eyed his first officer.
“No! You and the concubine? You trust him that much?”
Solon considered saying something likeI had toorthere was no other choice, but what came out of his mouth was the plain and simple truth. “I do.”
“That’s a lot of weight to put on the back of a civilian.”
“It is. He can handle it.”
“I hope so.”
Solon turned to Neku, brows raised. “And do you trust me?”
“You know I do,” came the earnest reply.
“Then trust my judgment.”
They took the palace steps two at a time, by all appearances nothing more than a group of men looking forward to a good evening.
When the servant at the door sent Solon a questioning glance, Neku clapped the man on the shoulder. “Make sure to thank the viceroy on our behalf. The harem doesn’t know what’s coming.”
Solon plastered a wide smile across his face, though he felt anything but joyful. “Even the pharaoh isn’t so generous,” he added, for verisimilitude.
