King Elk Forest the inundation

His mouth twists into a sneer at her query; men. They are prideful and easily offended, Hatshepsut decides, listening to the thunderous fire of his voice. Yes. He is quite suited for the sea, with its fierce lashings and unpredictability. She gives a nod, noting the passion in his tones -- she knows it well. "i belong to the sands."

But there is none of that here, Hatshepsut laments silently to herself, meeting this stranger's stare with her own pointed look; the Egyptian seeks to gaze into the secret places behind his eyes, where no beast can veil their true selves, nor their intentions -- would he know this, she wondered quietly.