Lion Head Mesa The boy who swallowed a star

ramesses listened.
crowfeather spoke with such zeal that pharaoh chose to assume fully now his first suspicion.
his eyes fell to the physician's mouth, temptingly, teasingly, then flickered back toward the impassioned young face.
"love is a burden."
sacrifice. binding. crowfeather had become a spear-point beneath his claim. he watched now for the inexorable shift and denial, but the eyes would not lie. this boy had no deceptions in him.
"and does your solemn soldier return these affections, so common to militaristic men?"
still the taste of sweet wine in all his words; ramesses only smiled and lay languid, waiting.