Lion Head Mesa copper

"not belen." ramesses' voice was pointed and final. "she is intended to be an emissary to the coastline. pray to the gods that jawahir and kasmut have prepared her well. it will be six months, and she must be resplendent before and during that time. she is not to leave so far. and do not tell her."
the discourse was exhausting. ramesses wanted to hear no more of it. "yes, do inform mereo. see that the message reaches germanicus himself, the rot-swilling roman." his head throbbed. the lapis eyes shut.
"you will take sihaya. and you will not be gone more than two days. if he has managed to escape farther than that, it is meant to be. let him be after that."
his tail lashed. it was not as if his own plans for crowfeather had succeeded.
his lips twitched with a cruel grin. but he did not voice that thought: that in retribution he might shatter things between the soldier and the prince once and for all.
ramesses, unknowing that this had already been done.
"keep the queen unaware of these happenings. she is determined to suckle those whelps herself. the least you could do is keep her milk from being poisoned by an unexpected emotional state."
had this not all gone on beneath tavina's watch? sihaya was outside the chambers. "go now. i will expect you back in two dawns."
for he himself, ramesses lay back again, pulling kasmut toward him and shuttering his gaze against the loathsome sunlight.