Lion Head Mesa twenty-sixth

another throne room. another ruler.

three in his life already had he seen.

to the rooms of the queen-elect @Toula had senmut come, bringing the holy seal of the Apis Bull. he had waited for her to dismiss her attendants, two of whom were new in addition to jawahir and sayf.

and when she had, when they were at last alone, he looked to the delicate pious features of the soft creature in her smaller throne, not that inhabited by ramesses or makono.

"we should leave the role of pharaoh open, for her to resume should she return." if toula meant to take up the crown herself, of course he would support her in all things. but akashingo had been through great turmoil, one he hoped this satin sister to makono could quell.

"let us waste no time in formally crowning you," senmut went on. "the immediate matters are how to explain and the enemy that lies beside the lake." he wanted her regally instated and would see it done.

"let us say, if it be your will, divine one, that she has gone to study beneath the high priest of her father's land. that she wishes to become a more well-rounded leader, as as always been her focus. that she means to return, and until this time she leaves akashingo in the hands of its queen." this he hoped would guard against ambitious men who meant to seize the Horus Throne with unworthy grasp.

the hem paused, and looked toward the doorway as if the fierce pharaoh herself might walk upon them! to throw himself at the foot of his divine sovereign once more would sooth the great feeling of betrayal the holy man now experienced.

so much to be decided and so quickly! he took a breath. "i had suggested war upon khaba and his wolves, but now we are at a disadvantage for it. there is the options to spy upon them, to ignore them wholesale, to make an overture of peace, or to carry out this conflict." and the princess before him was certainly no warlike creature.

"atreus has been gone for some time, as you know. he heals in brecheliant. our defenses are low, therefore i would caution against frequent excursions from the palace, until such a time as more of a retinue can be found."

but then his mouth ran dry. if she would be queen, and suppose makono nor their brothers returned, akashingo must bow to a foreigner. senmut did not like this, though he had no ambition for such a heavy title himself. and yet he knew what could be done for this, to assure that a noble bloodline never fully departed akashingo.

"make me erpa-ha," he said quietly. "hereditary prince. it means that you bestow upon me the divinity of your line, a lesser noble, but one uplifted." those holding this role could marry into the line itself. he did not mention this to the princess, for it was not his goal, only that if all her suitors paled he knew he would not. the gods help them; let it not come down to some peasant-born priest. his heart broke for makono, even as he took up his place in her sister's court.

senmut waited, knowing he would stay as her vizier no matter what she decided.