Luneshale Pass fifty-first

he had not forgotten his earlier talk with zaahira.

but khusobek this night was not looking for the proud darkfurred man.

his ice eyes swept the throng for inji, and when he thought he had found the shadow of her face somewhere far off, hunger flared in his stare.

but not now. not yet. perhaps not ever again. 

she was a bauble, and khusobek was willing to trade her fine pleasures for a higher foothold in the court of the man he knew would be pharaoh.

the crocodile felt zaahira at his side, and passed her an impassive look paired with a teasing smirk. "have you ever seen such a production?" the man joked, noticing the foreign woman and her trailing child.