Barrier Gulch [m] Asp

once more just to set his scene!

this was wrong. eset's denouncement did not hurt the crocodile, but the manner in which zaahira snapped upon the hebsut almost broke his mien.

he had begun to slacken his grip upon the dark man at eset's order, and now khusobek did let go entire of the one called akavir with a rough shove for his disrespect. "shut up. bring the water. not another word." if he cared for eset, and she for him, he would do this immediately, and he would come back. 

there was a deeper threat here in the wheedling creature who had brought the flower. 

who had tried to poison eset in her most vulnerable hour. he circled, leaving akavir to zaahira while he slashed violently for the stranger, hoping to pin him to the sands. 

khusobek greatly needed a scapegoat for the turmoil of his terrible fear and hot rage. any resistance from the would-be poisoner was a reason to beat blood into bruises beneath his flesh. 

"jodai. if it pleases you, give me leave to bring our hebsut and this woman to muat-riya, " he rumbled, saying nothing of the stricken akavir. "this poisoning, i am certain rashepses will wish to hear of it." he pitched his voice low for her sharp ear. eset had seen all pretense and privacy ripped from her. the choice to lie with a man outside the palace was hers, and he trusted her choosing of the creek wolf. khusobek had grown uncomfortable in the face of the blood and of her interlude with the hurting, desperate man.

let the jodai take the poisoner and have him flayed in the red halls. it would satisfy he and zaahira. but he was poised to drag the poisoner wherever he was commanded, and did not suggest that akavir be released. perhaps there was more that he did not see. 

he occupied himself with any struggle put up by the one who had brought the flower.