Greatwater Lake senet

he felt the trajectory of eyes upon him. ramesses gazed now into the mismatched stare of a child, a sootblack little bantling surely clad in dust and sap and all manner of dirt. the royal's nostrils flared; how he did not like children! but there was a glittering in the too-old stare that made him wonder, idly, who this might be.
"where is your mother?" pharaoh demanded in an airy tone, coming to stand before her, to loom over this daunting little girl-child with fur all askew. she reminded him of the violent, wild children among the saints. but this one was alone.