Lion Head Mesa cartouche

oh, a barb!
"a hawk's eyes and a ferret's tongue," ramesses quipped swiftly in retort, though he felt himself shimmer with a brief fascination, to have been so disarmed.
his eyes were upon her once more, the lapis of them almost a caress;
in jest or in surety; for once ramesses did not know, for both sensations had suddenly been thrown over the edge of the other.
"this will be my kingdom, once we have been properly liberated. there is far too much we have not yet seen."
the inches of space between them spare; pharaoh heldfast in the breath of Amun for a rare moment.