Redsand Canyon cactus fruit

"arsenio stayed for me."

her voice was quiet. she did not want to speak of the mazoi to whom she had been sent. it would only evoke words of the queen that she did not want to speak. not now. tamar realized she was afraid what might be thought of her.

"but mereo is a new beginning for us both," the girl said earnestly. "i can see it in him now. he is — more at ease. he laughs more. he smiles more. he likes germanicus," she added, voice trailing.

she found herself captivated by the new sensation of this trust. she was not certain of it yet, only that the resolution in lady ruenna's voice dispelled much of her fear. if the matrona did not see ramesses as a god, perhaps others might be persuaded the same

for her part, tamar did not know how to feel. she did not like to think of the brash royal and the way that his eyes turned possessive when he looked at her.  that he did not force his favoured ones was of little account. once the pharaoh had thrown his net around the one he desired, there was little hope of escaping. 

it seemed only she had wanted to escape. the girl nodded. "he will send a spy. or he will send a messenger. he desires his eyes to be in mereo." it did not benefit ramesses to attack the canyon. but the lack of knowledge was unacceptable to the ruler.