Shy Deer Steppes Well I’m sorry I thought what I said was true, I was wrong

not for the first time did shoko feel the cold of those icy eyes appraise him. were he female he would take it as a compliment. as a male, he thought he recognized it as a mano-a-mano appraisal. 

there were worse things out there than being looked at. he missed the way arsenio’s eyes came to a point mentioning tamar: he was more interested in the woman tamar served. 

i should like to test it. shoko declared, more in compliment than seriousness. provided such thoughts don’t result in my beheading. who is this pharaoh, what does he do for you? shoko’s last words were spoken carefully: he wished to know what kept arsenio loyal to this man, what made it all worth it to him to keep going. 

because if arsenio found worth in this kingdom, chances are a selltooth like shoko might too.