Greatwater Lake eighteenth

senmut watched in silence as the two spoke in the way of wolves.

he bowed to the woman as she warned him and then seemed to decamp back into her land. "lady qiao is awake. injured but living. pharaoh knows it was my order which ended with her pain." he studied khaba. "you will be judged not only by her but by the priestess when you return. i have offered to soften what comes next."

senmut stiffened his shoulders. "the woman who was queen is no longer. she has been sent away. loyalists to she and to ramesses have also fled the palace. you are needed, khaba. pharaoh desires you at her side."