Two Eyes Cenote [m]arrow & spit

"i do." mingled, entwined; he lifted her dainty paw in the curve of his own sand-scarred pad, moving head until his kiss caressed her wrist, and he allowed himself the dream of returning to kadesh with a woman who wore a queen's eyes and who would bear him new sons. "i think of you each day."

wife nor concubine loved khusobek. the first had been a choice made in youthful adoration soon turned sour, and the second had been a decision that benefitted no one, least of all any of the children born between them. they all knew he belonged entire to pharaoh hatshepsuun.

khusobek had not thought of his family in months, but now as he caressed inji's face with his eyes, khusobek knew a return to kadesh would only be misery for her. that this was the dream of an old man, not servants in the corridor of a new pharaoh. but he wanted her to have it, wanted to be this sleeping loveliness for her, a hope that one day they both would wake.

khusobek expected to die in the harnesses of akashingo and muat-riya, but it was not a fate inji ever had to suffer. he had placed the throne within her reach.