Valley of Gold bone & wine

She'd grown accustomed to facing these things on her own; it hadn't even occurred to her to wait for Dusty Rose, or wish for him, but there he was. Reverie pressed herself gratefully to his flank, letting some of the tension fade from her. It was good to be reminded that she was not alone.

Our pharaoh is kind, Khusobek said. She wants alliances. Alliances. The word alone gave her pause. Isolation had been the goal of their flight — and now this. Reverie glanced to Dusty Rose briefly, hoping to catch his eye before she addressed Khusobek again.

Lone trespassers and other predators drove us from the willows, She explained softly. We haven't decided what to call ourselves yet - we only arrived a few days ago. Um... you can call us the Medeiros family for now.

I'd like to speak to your pharaoh, when she's ready, Reverie added. They would speak, if nothing else. But she had a feeling that this pharaoh would ask for more than she was willing to offer. For Dusty Rose's benefit she murmured, This is Khusobek of Muat-Riya.