Lion Head Mesa serekh

the evening's shadows filled the palace. the hallways were quieter now a number of attendants had gone with the queen and princess. ramesses drifted. he had not been able to remove the sear-cut image of her form flickering almost weakly in the corridor.
and so gripped by the long held desire and entitlement of his rank, pharaoh returned to his throne room and began to bark orders to those remaining.

***

night had come. the pharaoh had been bathed in the wellspring and buffed with pine and cedar until his coat fairly glowed. the sleeping-skins were pristine, and at the eating-mats there rested a generous amount of the winterdrink.
resplendent, gilded; ramesses lifted a languid limb and sent a servant to bring @Nazli. he sat upon his throne in repose to wait, lips moving in prayer to Amun.