Naaghai Lowlands fiftieth

If Senmut took any notice of her now, Melody was willfully blind to it; she did not want whatever leftover scraps of emotion he might toss to her, bits and pieces from what he had given another. What she had wanted was to be chosen, to be seen in her own right as Makono had seen her.

Any less was an insult she would not suffer, and besides, she no longer wanted anything from the Erpa-ha. That time had passed. The Hemet led him dutifully beyond the reach of Akashingo's claim, on to the basin where she had nearly died. She led him in silence.

Night was beginning to fall by the time they reached the place. There, the Gods saw her. And she knew in some intuitive way that someone would again see her the way Makono had. Melody would not beg for the attention of one whose eyes were always upon another. She would wait; she could be patient.

Her own eyes found the sky, only briefly drifting to Senmut to see what he made of it. He was her teacher, after all. Nothing more. That much, he had made clear.