Lion Head Mesa lance

the lazuli eyes widened, but the physician was already turning away.
a son. his mind too thought of siptah.
a son! another prince! energy coursed through all of him. he stood, and this time he began to pace. suppose she delivered more?
ramesses walked to and fro. his guard stood at the ready. and now his eyes shone from time to time toward the den. now he listened with straining ears for the lusty cry of any more princes born now from the woman who would be his second queen.
the firstborn's title was already upon his tongue, but ramesses would not speak it. the web of time during which he was not married to treva might invite scandal and a curse from the gods.
wonderment lifted slightly the pall of grief.