Lion Head Mesa Influx

smeared with paint once more, senmut turned to receive the whispers from one of the fellahin: that another prince had come, bringing with him an impressive retinue and — livestock?

intrigued despite his immediate weariness at testing yet another man, senmut gave quiet instructions for a meal to be laid in his quarters, for the prince's servants to be given rest among the fellahin of akashingo, for the mazoi to be warned in readiness of the traveling soldiers who would join them in their barracks.

those unwolf animals were to be guarded in the open-air throne room.

he himself washed in the wellspring; toweled vigorously by an attendant with a soft skin, he paced down the hallway for where he expected zaahira had taken them: to his rooms. the servants would precede him, laying out fine dishes of steppefowl and mutton with wildflower honey and the ever-present potent berries.

senmut himself let the prince wait, and did not arrive until he had been arrayed in the fine white cougar-skin signalling his rank as high priest in addition to erpa-ha. his eyes were touched with fine black ash at their corners, lengthening their look, and he entered his rooms in quiet state. eset's words remained with him.

"i am senmut, erpa-ha and hem netjer tepi of akashingo. by the hand of the Godswife, i am made whole."

he stood before the taller man, seeking into the gold and fine dark features for something more concrete, a true offering for the queen of his land.