Lion Head Mesa the oracle told him to beware the Ides

His single eye turned to the bright coat of the Pharaoh in the glare of the sun, having to near squint to see her. Aquillius turned to regard the woman with cool eyes.

Pharoah. He greeted lowly, rasped with the dust that lingered in his throat.

You are awake early. He thought royal types would stay in bed with silks draped across their stomachs and wine on their breaths.

But she had been of Mereo, for a time. Perhaps a soldiers routine sorted this ruler better.