Luneshale Pass [aaf] the weight of history

In the mind of every prince was the hard truth of Pharaoh: Gods die young. While he was here, Rashepses wanted to live.

And so he was prepared to lead his Queen step for step in this dance and into this courtship. He let her whirl away from him while he traced two steps back to catch her.  Around him she revolved and his eyes drank in her face: every hair, every lift of lip as she smiled, every tilt of her narrow chin. In this closeness they beheld eachother so intensely. The fellahin songs waned. In his ears it was Toula and she sang with a voice surpassing desire to summon him alone.

Mid-step, he changed the dance. While the others spun, he drew her against him, feeling the heat of her back press into his chest.

“Let me know you,” he murmured from behind into her ear and reached to bring a golden arm to his lips. He pressed a kiss to the wrist that wore him.