Lion Head Mesa 家 okaerinasai

wow sorry

the eagle had said nothing and missed nothing.

ahead of them there was a tall and pale figure. before germanicus arrived before the man, he had already ascertained who and what this man should be. arrogant as the day was long, with a pair of eyes outlined in kohl.

an egyptian.

the eagle already felt distastefully within himself at the prospect of these saints. satsu had been kind upon their journey but did not have his trust. she was striking, with the promise of fire beneath the ensnarement of her vivid eyes. deception was often had in beauty. 

the sensation was kindled, and with it an old prejudice. germanicus did not forget to note how crowfeather had become abrupt and shrinking and silent. he stepped in front of the shadow, flanking the woman of the saints as she named them beneath her favour. interesting that she did not say 'our guests.' he turned his gaze upon the creature of finest ceylon and amber at the indolent white side. and then the younger to the left, smiling openly and all but leering toward them, with a soft laugh that showed her cold and biting loveliness.

at this distance germanicus could breathe the scents of them, mingled, all three, in some way. he thought at once he might have finally puzzled out what such 'entertainment' satsu had meant. 

the wolves of egypt were the most indulgent, indolent rabble that he had ever met. all of their gods were devoted in some way to pleasure, and their conquering of land was not first ambition. it was said that their world had more priestesses than soldiers. but germanicus knew this not to be true. the gates of egypt were much admired, much discussed, some living testament to the power of wolves in the sand. that much was undeniable. and beneath the veneer of velvet there lurked a blade.

crowfeather knew this man somehow. he reminded himself of it.

"i am germanicus julius caesar, imperator of the emperor's first army. we travel as auxilia, and have offered our word to new allies in this region." the hard bite of his eyes were fixed upon the icy and jeweled glinting of the lazuli stare. "i have come to know whether akashingo wishes to raise an honorable head or if you have an asp's poison as your goal."

the silver man was unmoving. "i would hear of your dealing with the saints. they move to war, but you are here. both of you. why?"

he knew he was bold. he meant to be, meant to seize this jeweled little assemblage with his own control. if this egyptian dog was more than a pretendant noble, then he would know the sum of what germanicus had said. what each word of it had meant beneath. 

germanicus set carefully his last baiting with a low, swift murmur. in the language of the saltwater trade he ground out, "δεν υπάρχει αίσθηση ηθικής στη γη σου, ότι θα σήκωνες χαρέμι εδώ?"