Lion Head Mesa iacio

the night was long. the darkness had shifted into the tiny hours of morning when germanicus stood just outside the hallway where crowfeather lay.

he had seen the fellahin off into the caverns. he had helped to clear debris and bones to the trash heap outside. and then he had put a brisk patrol around the entire mesa.

the eagle was alone beneath the moon. and it was where he revisited ruenna's hopes and the sound of her voice at the end. he was perceptive. a tactician. but he did not know how to keep company with women.

germanicus did not know how to be with those of the sex he had been reared to see as fairer. he knew now of course that this had always been a misnomer. strength had many forms and women often commanded more than one.

mereo. the imperator passed his gaze toward the mountains. there, kallik and glaukos roamed. and ruenna had offered to help him make such a home. the thought was warm beneath his breastbone. 

did she hope him to one day love her? but she was not a foolish and fan-eyed girl. she knew what it was she wished, the lady redfern. and she had chosen him for it. the eagle should be so honored. 

did he believe it was not possible? germanicus at last forced himself to stop. beneath the long glow of the high cold orb, in the manner of a soldier reaching beneath his greaves, he held the spark of crowfeather in his mind and allowed it to burn truly.

yes. for all his resistance, for all his stubbornness, indeed something rich had grown inside him. something terrifying and unnameable. something which collided with his sense of what a man should be able to do: be married. be suitable for your wife and find the same in her. be honorable in your marriage. be generous. produce children and cherish her more for it.

crowfeather's voice, asking not so long ago if germanicus wished to be a father.

he shut his eyes. the spark remained. he had already dismissed it to ruenna. the eagle was not a liar. and he would not be seen as one. 

mereo. lady redfern beside him.

the moon moved higher above akashingo.

in the present, germanicus turned and walked toward the small spare room.