Lion Head Mesa a whispering god

oh —

"machiavelli. something is happening inside our palace. i do not know its face," senmut breathed, standing now, pulling away from the pretty dog until small lights from skyvent shafts illuminated his upturned features, "and i do not know its name. but evil stirs in akashingo, and i fear our Consort has fallen prey to it."

head shaking, arm raised as if to strike the unhearing wall, though in the end his touch was only light. shoulders curving, a great inhale drawn. "i knew when i saw him that he would not be content only being her lover. he wants the power possessed by pharaoh and her eyes are besotted with him."

treason on his tongue to lace the final words: "it should have been me who toula chose to stand beside her." the jealousy, the corruption, the rising angst; yes these things too had found their place in senmut.