Lion Head Mesa quernstone

"you there, soldier." ramesses was addressing @Glaukos, a man whose name he did not know or wish to know.
it was enough that this was the fighter left behind by the roman. he could earn his keep in more ways than one. as usual, pharaoh was shadowed by sihaya and some servant or another.
his eyes burned coldly into the mereoan. "while you are here, i want you to continue training akashingo's prince."

The gilded man himself called to Glaukos.

The soldier approached and then stood at the ready, imagining Germanicus in his place, shadowed by Kallik rather than the slave there.

Your mazoi are not up to the task? Glaukos knew there were very few warriors here. He had other duties as well to remember: protecting Lilitu, watching over Makono, preparing for his eventual return home (and again, Makono's wish for an escort); he could not say no to the pharaoh, though.

"the ferret has a forked tongue," pharaoh remarked languidly, though inside he seethed with fury to be so disrespected. "why would i ask a mazoi to do the job of a hired man?"
he stepped forward and lifted his head. "you have been instructed in your future by the princess makono?" he asked, though it sounded more a command.

The pharaoh said something queer. Glaukos didn't know what to make of it, but saw the expression in his eyes change. The cold disinterest suddenly engaged. It appeared that the tribunus had struck a nerve.

Yes; she wants to visit Mereo and we have an arrangement. He shifts his weight. As for the boy, I could take him with me for my morning routine if that suffices, or make space for spars in the evenings.

Or both, if Ramesses wanted the boy to actually learn something.

"if i entrust my princess to you, then you understand the price is death should any injury befall her." the adder's voice wound with a drip of honeyed poison.
he knew the soldier to be watchful. the tongue had not been predicted, but how interesting that the mereo wolf should show himself after germanicus had gone away to live in domesticity.
"she is young and whatever agreement you have comes secondary to my own instruction." the lapis eyes glowed. the pleasant look returned. "each day prince siptah rises early with the hem-priest akhtar to greet Ra with morning prayers. he is dutiful and a studious boy."
another pause. ramesses watched the other. "if i asked you to extend your — debut here, until the winter-time, what would you say?"

The man made certain to place himself above his daughter, which made sense. Glaukos nodded when he heard Ramesses' words. Obviously the pharaoh's commands would trump the princesses own, although to Glaukos they were equal as well as being beneath his true master — Germanicus.

From the sounds of things Siptah's schedule was pretty full. He rose in the dawn to see a priest, and his day was spent with one tutor or another. Evening spars would be the best option then. It would also leave Glaukos free in the day for his other work.

He blinked a slow, thoughtful expression upon Ramesses when mention came of his stay extending. I must return to Mereo by the end of my term. There I can tell Germanicus of your instruction, and if he agrees to it, I will return for a further tour.

In his own opinion Glaukos would have chosen to return to Mereo and stay there, as unfeasible as that sounded. Makono would need a guard for the return home anyway; Glaukos could easily be roped in to an extended stay.

ramesses flicked his eyes in a slow scandalous burn up and down the soldier. "good dog. i had only thought to keep the princesses safe during the weddings that will be happening. tell your leader i would like to have you back."
there was little more of which to speak. "report to my throne-room the night before you depart. i wish to speak to you of the proper precautions regarding the princess."
it was an order. ramesses waited to see how it would be received.

Good dog.

The pharaoh mocked him. Glaukos didn't react to it; he didn't really care about the opinion of this man. The only judgement he cared about currently was that of his general, and Germanicus was not here.

If Glaukos had wanted to, he could have grabbed Ramesses and broken his neck right then and there. The thought passed through his mind; his eyes gleamed. He knew better than to give in to that impulse.

Yes, sir. Glaukos answered.

He would wait for dismissal.

it came and went.
ramesses watched the stoneboy go and considered to himself that germanicus had placed him as a spy. but it was so obvious. and perhaps that was it. the imperator would wish pharaoh to know that he had placed eyes and ears into the court of akashingo. 
the dog would undoubtedly run back to his master.
"watch him," he purred to listening ears, and returned to his throne.