Valley of Gold bone & wine

she spoke to him with familiarity, the little golden woman, but he could not remember ever having met her before. 

in the manner of a guard pivoting away the point of his spear, he exchanged a long look with ironspine before his attention returned to the woman.

"why are you here?" this time khusobek's voice was more even if not kind. he held no dislike for her; he did not know her. but a "small family" could quickly become more, too close to the palace. "was there strife in the willows?"