it is the spectacle they have been missing in these long months in the wisteria groves. the palace guard to announce them; behind, the Queen before them in gold and white, and Pharaoh alongside her in gilded black.

ashait cannot help but compare to the Emperor from the island of wisteria, and find him wanting. where his concubine had spoken to recover the error he did not understand he had made- a woman whose counsel he would never heed- it is Queen and Pharaoh who both speak now, in concert and welcome and voice of Horus and Ra.

she bows, then, pleased anew to have left the empire and its island behind.

"i have also served as mazoi, Pharaoh. i protect our young Goddess from those who might harm her. though i do not have the claws or teeth or horns of most warriors, there are none who survive my fangs."

it is said with well-earned confidence, for there are few as dangerous as a cobra. after all, one may live through the bite of a wolf or the piercing horns of an oryx with the care of a healer and some small amount of luck. the same cannot be said for a snake.