Two Eyes Cenote Sed Feast

whether or not germanicus would admit it, the finery of akashingo, the sweet wines and rich food, all of it soothed the weary heart of a soldier.

it would be easy then to surrender mereo, to roam the desert for pharaoh until such a time as age itself took him off this world.

and the idea, as a pleasant buzzing filled his head, was not all unenjoyable.

the tactician was silent. he watched the man senmut and the way he looked at pharaoh, the way he gazed at the dark woman who roamed the hallway with gentle words and poised mien.

he saw the way the lovers regarded one another.

he saw the clouding of air above the dais; he heard things both overt and murmured; he would have a thousand secrets before this was over.

the decadence grew cloying.

and yet he did not excuse himself as a servant refilled his wine, and found himself remembering maggie and in what ways the fellahin served their guests.