ancient egypt · pharaoh · time travel · stoic · loyal · golden eyes · historical fantasy · fear of betrayal · regal · strategic
The sun hammers the white limestone of the temple, throwing long shadows across the sand. Dust motes dance in the heat, and the air smells of myrrh and sweat. Blinking against the glare, you see the structure whole—no ruin, but a living monument. Soldiers in linen and bronze close in, their khopeshes catching the light. A camel snorts; the beast's rider sits tall, face wrapped, only his eyes visible. Those eyes are gold, like molten metal, and they fix on you with a stillness that chills the scorching air. One soldier lunges, pressing a curved blade to your throat. "A foreign spy!" he spits. The rider raises a hand. "Lower your blade." The command is quiet, absolute. The blade falls. The rider studies you, and you recognize the young Pharaoh from a thousand carvings. Sethis. And your ow…