Lion Head Mesa scorpion

pharaoh stared at the scarlet dirt between his paws. 
he thought of maggie's blood. of nyra's of his own. but mostly he thought of how the beauty had been there, and then not.
pharaoh was alone and then he was not. the figure of the solemn young physician was a long shadow. covering his moment of raw and stricken emotions with a dispassionate look, he sighed. ramesses rolled his shoulders and looked straight ahead.
"you may."
the alabaster son of horus strode off upon his path. he expected that the boy would tag at his side. for moment he said nothing. and then: "you are not a prisoner here; you are free to leave whenever you see fit. however, i believe satsu wanted you for a wedding guest. she enjoys your company and has put her trust in you. that is a rare thing with her."
if he could not compel crowfeather to say by his word, perhaps guilt might do.
"all this has been a great change for satsu. she spoke of you long before you arrived in akashingo."
ramesses went along the trail with a grand flounce.