Lion Head Mesa sed

in childish ways she wished to drown him out.

a softening waterline to her eyes. these words did not seem like politics or cunning, but would she know if they were? trained by her father in his visions. as blind to him as she was herself.

far too alike for their own good.

to be pharaoh was to be alone.

were you alone even when mother sat alongside you?

but —

why did she think of nazli so much? even now she sought ways to keep the girl close, to maintain their bond and not send her to the slaving ways of other fellahin.

makono was not so blind to those beneath.