khaemwaset became motionless as setemhotep described the fecundity of their nearest neighbor. touched by Heqet; and it was a damnable thing. only the strain of his mind caught the warning in the physician's words, that some feral animation haunted this place. had he not felt it himself? but he was distracted overmuch by the first thing said, and stared fiercely off into the shadows as a long silence came to pass.
oh, setemhotep. a raking sigh crawled forth from his throat. thank you for the observations. but you have just told me that our massive confidante and potential enemy holds the power of lineage to outweigh my own.
that they were of the same would have interested pharaoh, but not now. there are some within the palace who believe that -- and here his paws spread — i should have the promise of heirs through concubinage already. he was young, proven in at least some mettle, a fine explorer, a perfect Horus, untried save for the most important strength of all: that of generation.
a pensive quiet tried to drop, but khaemwaset's voice cut through it again. if Set in his fullness is their patron, then they are a matched enemy for us.
the golden eyes closed.
i would do well to court peace where my mother would have sought the same. and peace cannot come at my expense, nor that of satriya. my dreams are only what has been. i cannot live inside them.