Lion Head Mesa ho[m]e

"he has asked me to — bring her before the gods, nazli. i believe he means her to die." it was too great a horror and yet he was unmoved! too many years in this wretched place with its bloodying politics had numbed his servant's heart.

now was not the time to speak of ramesses, and yet it was all he could think of for now, the princely face, the plotting laughter, the way he had looked with nazli beside him.

the majestic manner of his death.

"you must promise me this, nazli: that you will take our children and leave to the north, to the moon villages, should anything befall me. anything at all," voice hushed in somber dread.