Lion Head Mesa Khonsu

how long had it been since a man had spoken of qiao favorably? her eyes snapped to bayek with rueful surprise.

perhaps he was deserving of being seen in a new light too. it'd been so long she could not pinpoint when cynicism had snuck in and made occupant of her bones. 

you are very kind. she informed him briskly, ignoring the smile which played his features and transcended his dark face into something handsome and untired. sayf and my assistants collect what i need. but knowledge -- perhaps if you learn of something interesting, you would deem it suitable to share with an old not-crone.

she led him down the red path, the pair conversing quietly as evening set in.