offer no threat to any of Ptahnetamun’s pieces.
Kamin felt a cold wind blow over him as Ptahnetamun advanced his next three pawns unscathed off the board, while Nima experienced a crushing lack of high-scoring throws. Kamin knew the man was cheating, had seen him miscount at least twice, but he’d seen Nima do the same, even more skillfully. Since neither game player was calling the other out on their misdeeds, Kamin kept his silence. There was muttering in the crowd, but it seemed the audience admired both the gaming and the cheating skills on display and was content to accept the outcome. The betting odds evened out, although still slightly favoring the caravan master to win.
Thunder rumbled as Ptahnetamun marched his fourth pawn off the board. His fifth was ten squares back, and Nima passed him by. There was an audible gasp from the crowd as she threw four white sides, sending her next-to-last pawn to safety. Now the game sat with one pawn belonging to each player still on the board. The wily caravan master was a few squares closer to claiming victory, but Nima was gaining on him, until finally both pawns sat crowded on square twenty-six, the House of Happiness, one of the few spaces that could be so shared.
“Yet only one of us will have happiness within their grasp this night,” Ptahnetamun said.
“It’s been a good game, well fought,” Nima answered, rubbing her thumb along the smooth edges of the sticks in her hand.
She needs four white sides showing to gain the extra point and get off the board. Doubtful she can throw the same score again. He might challenge her amazing luck openly if she did. Kamin didn’t know what outcome to hope for. The tension was palpable.
Nima threw two white sides, advancing her pawn to sit alone on square twenty-eight. A score of three would be required next time if she was to win.
Now to pray he can’t manipulate the sticks to throw the four white sides and gain the extra point either. Kamin watched intently in the firelight as Ptahnetamun held the sticks an extra second before tossing them with an odd flick of the wrist. As lightning flashed directly overhead and thunder boomed, the markers rolled across the table, fetching up against the side of the board, one tilting from the impact, balancing impossibly on the thin edge for a heartbeat before toppling to conceal its white side at the last second. Frowning, clearly unhappy with his points, their suddenly sober host moved his pawn past Nima’s onto square twenty-nine. He would need exactly two points to win the game on his next throw.
Nima collected the wooden sticks one at a time, cupping them in her hands for a long moment. Kamin rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. Surely the gods won’t desert her now. Flashing him a tired smile, Nima dropped the sticks on the table, much as Ptahnetamun had done a few moments before. As the counters rolled and spun, all eyes following their path across the table, a cold breeze swept across the campsite, causing the fire to dance and flicker eerily. One black side, then one white side to secure half the needed points. Two sticks kept going, tumbling ever more slowly. A white side—one more hard-won point. The fourth stick slid lazily across the table, black side showing, before taking an odd jump, ending on the white side and giving her the needed third point.
“You won,” Kamin said, half in disbelief.
Deliberately, touching each square in turn, Nima moved her pawn off the board. “Victory is ours.”
Chapter Five
For a long moment, Ptahnetamun said nothing. The crowd held its breath. Kamin tensed, ready to grab Nima by the hand to run into the dark desert as a last effort to gain their freedom, should the man renege on his oath now.
Deliberately, the caravan master tipped his remaining pawn on its side before holding his hand out to Nima. “Congratulations, my lady. Clearly the gods were with you on your final throw. Life, prosperity, health to
Kamin felt a cold wind blow over him as Ptahnetamun advanced his next three pawns unscathed off the board, while Nima experienced a crushing lack of high-scoring throws. Kamin knew the man was cheating, had seen him miscount at least twice, but he’d seen Nima do the same, even more skillfully. Since neither game player was calling the other out on their misdeeds, Kamin kept his silence. There was muttering in the crowd, but it seemed the audience admired both the gaming and the cheating skills on display and was content to accept the outcome. The betting odds evened out, although still slightly favoring the caravan master to win.
Thunder rumbled as Ptahnetamun marched his fourth pawn off the board. His fifth was ten squares back, and Nima passed him by. There was an audible gasp from the crowd as she threw four white sides, sending her next-to-last pawn to safety. Now the game sat with one pawn belonging to each player still on the board. The wily caravan master was a few squares closer to claiming victory, but Nima was gaining on him, until finally both pawns sat crowded on square twenty-six, the House of Happiness, one of the few spaces that could be so shared.
“Yet only one of us will have happiness within their grasp this night,” Ptahnetamun said.
“It’s been a good game, well fought,” Nima answered, rubbing her thumb along the smooth edges of the sticks in her hand.
She needs four white sides showing to gain the extra point and get off the board. Doubtful she can throw the same score again. He might challenge her amazing luck openly if she did. Kamin didn’t know what outcome to hope for. The tension was palpable.
Nima threw two white sides, advancing her pawn to sit alone on square twenty-eight. A score of three would be required next time if she was to win.
Now to pray he can’t manipulate the sticks to throw the four white sides and gain the extra point either. Kamin watched intently in the firelight as Ptahnetamun held the sticks an extra second before tossing them with an odd flick of the wrist. As lightning flashed directly overhead and thunder boomed, the markers rolled across the table, fetching up against the side of the board, one tilting from the impact, balancing impossibly on the thin edge for a heartbeat before toppling to conceal its white side at the last second. Frowning, clearly unhappy with his points, their suddenly sober host moved his pawn past Nima’s onto square twenty-nine. He would need exactly two points to win the game on his next throw.
Nima collected the wooden sticks one at a time, cupping them in her hands for a long moment. Kamin rested his hand on her shoulder and gave a gentle squeeze. Surely the gods won’t desert her now. Flashing him a tired smile, Nima dropped the sticks on the table, much as Ptahnetamun had done a few moments before. As the counters rolled and spun, all eyes following their path across the table, a cold breeze swept across the campsite, causing the fire to dance and flicker eerily. One black side, then one white side to secure half the needed points. Two sticks kept going, tumbling ever more slowly. A white side—one more hard-won point. The fourth stick slid lazily across the table, black side showing, before taking an odd jump, ending on the white side and giving her the needed third point.
“You won,” Kamin said, half in disbelief.
Deliberately, touching each square in turn, Nima moved her pawn off the board. “Victory is ours.”
Chapter Five
For a long moment, Ptahnetamun said nothing. The crowd held its breath. Kamin tensed, ready to grab Nima by the hand to run into the dark desert as a last effort to gain their freedom, should the man renege on his oath now.
Deliberately, the caravan master tipped his remaining pawn on its side before holding his hand out to Nima. “Congratulations, my lady. Clearly the gods were with you on your final throw. Life, prosperity, health to
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