a triumph. all of it.

the energy of the palace was golden joy and a splendor that would be discussed for the years to come..eset was truly in her element, and several times his brilliant green eyes could be found upon her before all their guests, glowing with a respect that only a man born from fellahin could manage.

both of them, spun from the good dark earth, and here now was eset, moving as water, uplifting this event into one of reverence.

senmut did not forget his lowest bow before the divine feet of pharaoh. he was hereditary prince and priest; his was an example for all.

courses.

if there was malaise in his heart, it was lifted by the grand theme of each dish. by turns was his tongue spiced, then piques, each flavor striking in its own element and harmonious in tandem. the prince found himself partaking in more of the cactuswine, and though he did not truly emerge from his introversion, his voice could be heard here and there, calmly speaking to one emissary or another of what trade agreement could be opened between their lands.

senmut decided then he must cut short his trip, or not at all; pharaoh and consort would linger on in muat-riya after their guests had dispersed,  but the talks he had tonight would determine what sort of work he would have in the week to come. eset would not have a rest once this was all over. she would be here, in the stirring flowery silence of the desert, waiting upon the lovers —

pharaoh was at once too near and too far; senmut saw the subtleties of how the hebsut put her mouth to the god's ear and flushed backward along his cheekbones, surreptitiously watching to see how his offering was received, and was fiercely grateful to eset for this moment.

he would go back to akashingo to handle the gifts of thanks that were to be bestowed, the messages, the responses to his queries for gathering tribute in the name of pharaoh; he would lose himself, yes; senmut drank more and found himself growing apart from them all. rashepses and their divine lord glittered together, reflecting a glint of deep affection back and forth between their gazes. she loves him, he realized, with no ill will nor jealousy, lingering over the sweetness of the dried fruit. may she flourish in it.

he would go back to akashingo. when eset returned she too could rest a while, and then he would go. yes. a finer plan than before. they were equals now, despite that she had called him pharaoh; she would be principal head of muat-riya, its events, its beauty, while his lot would be the mundane and the organized in akashingo, peasants made powerful. they must have an alliance and a respect at all times. 

senmut drank his third serving, and stood up, and wove somewhat with a rich laugh; he made his way to where eset stood in overseeing, bowing also to keiko. "you have outdone yourself, hebsut. our guests will carry the story of the finest meal they ever had to all the corners of the land." he favored her with a genuine, warm smile, and then set his attentions on the pale woman who had come so far to prepare such beautiful dishes. "obelisk keiko," for surely she was a princess or noble in her own land, "you honor both akashingo and muat-riya with your appearance here tonight. it would be exquisite to host you for as long as you wish to stay." 

later that night, keiko would discover a small wrapped hareskin set neatly in her quarters; inside would be five raw bluestones, gems found by khusobek in akashingo. deep royal, ribboned with cerulean and banded in navy, they held the cold flame of a sapphire.

and in that of eset, a single long plume from a red hawk, its tip kohled and dipped in scarlet paint made from deer fat and crimson soil. it was a symbol of guardianship and would be displayed in muat-riya wherever she deemed fit as her first offering to the gods in her new role.

for tuna, a glossy spill of iridescent scales; a skin taken from the largest serpent he had seen, wounded by an eagle. flesh scraped away, laid in the sun to glitter, it would shimmer like water when she lifted it, the snakeshawl with which he meant to robe her proud hips or delighted shoulders.

for inji, a small geode; silverstone on one side, stunning purple beneath, a little bed of softgrass cradling a further secret. into it had senmut tucked a pod of seeds, the nature of which would not be known until sprouting. for her, the lotus, a profusion of which would provide ample opportunities for her own wealth as they were quite rare. not so vain, nor visible, but its result was worthwhile.

and then his face lifted toward the dais, and his eyes narrowed first in surprise, then wonder. was it the effect of the drink, to create the glimmering forms of mournful women?

a blink and the image was dashed.

senmut sought air in the cool night of the lowlands, watching the stars.