Lion Head Mesa cartouche

satsu slants a look his way following his comment, but says nothing.
in her haste to cut the tension during their meeting, she had let her anxiety speak for her; now here they were, beholden to the barbarian lord. it seemed right at the time, only now that they were separated from the saints did satsu wish she had held her tongue.
without that promise they would likely not have been granted their freedom, though.

pharaoh speaks of the coming war and the dancer listens, only because she is beside him and cannot avoid his voice. as he moves on to speak of other things she feels tension coiling in her body.
she thinks he is about to say something crass, to get under her skin. something to make her blush and react. instead he speaks of a royal court and satsu blinks owlishly at him, but holds his gaze.

here i thought this would be your kingdom.