Two Eyes Cenote stars, aligning

senmut saw the strategy in his queen's wise choices, and something like a smile lifted a good deal of the anxieties from his own features. now his mind touched on what her own had already considered at length; her death would leave akashingo with no royal blood to lead.

by defining ashikaga as such, she gave safeguard to a future, even one that lacked her presence.

his forehead touched the smooth floor before her.

more to ask! suppose ashikaga sought a prince or Consort of her own. would the lineage then be reared as one, or would it split in two?

summoning rashepses twice would end any concern of yet another man asserting his bloodline.

but his queen spoke softly of love, of love, and senmut knew these things were unstudied books for her experience. all of her poise, her intelligence, her knowingness; he had seen love burn these things as a fire licks the end of a field.

and yet, he wished this for her; he wished the conflagration of passion and heart-string hopes, and thought fiercely if rashepses showed any shade of ramesses, the dark laughter would end in the same poison. at his hand, this time.

death was love's opposite. he would not have toula nor akashingo tormented yet again.

a piece of senmut grew still and cold, to know he could harbor such thoughts. "you are eternally wise, great one. i believe too, she must have duties of her own. queenship would bestow this. and Ma'at moves among us. this will be shown also to your Consort."

who, in the end, perhaps would not be rashepses if he reached for more.