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Thank Bes Hotep had asked! But he would have to ascertain, now, as well, whether Queen was similarly ignorant — for there was good reason to worry about bringing her on the march if she had embarked, also, unaware and unprepared!

Maintaining a mostly serious face, despite a bit of fluster at the realization that some crucial parts of Khaemwaset's education were indeed sorely lacking, Hotep nodded once emphatically, Much more, Pharaoh. It is good that you should know this.

You may have heard soldiers making some mention of 'heat' in a woman. It was this they referred to. For several days at a time, a powerful urgency will arise, and in some it is even discomfort. For Queen, it may be many cycles of Khonsu from now, or in the very next. But once it begins, it should repeat itself upon set intervals, if all is well with her, until she conceives. It is very much like the flood of the River upon fields to replenish their fertility, and this is when a child is most easily conceived.

During this time the senses are often addled, as if drunk. The desire for — intimacies increases greatly, and her demands may even exhaust a man into impotence. Hotep could recite it with clinical detachment, but he did not necessarily expect the same mien of Pharaoh. Sesh allowed himself a faint smile, to indicate that forthcoming amusement in this matter was not entirely unexpected.

But there was warning, also, and he spoke next with gravity:

As well, the woman bears a scent; her sweetness increases greatly. And this stirs desire in a man to bed her, even at great risk and point of khopesh. Among hyksos, there may be bloody battles for the right. In more civilized climes, it is considered polite to retreat into privacy until these days have passed, for both safety and sensibility.

The choices any drawn into this spell make under its influence may be sharply misaligned from their sentiments outside of it. These urges are not irresistible. But especially to one inexperienced or undisciplined, may indeed feel as such.

Did Pharaoh understand? Barbarians might forego all subtlety in pursuit of a Desert Lotus, and unguarded, she may not be able to refuse them. This could topple alliance if mishandled. It put a charge upon him, too, to understand the vulnerability of any in such a position, and maintain his own presence of mind enough to act with forethought over base instinct.