[legend was not within the palace. had she left him? stunned despite all that had gone on, the one-time pharaoh darted from room to room. he searched her quarters, but did not approach the royal pair. legend's departure would not be cause for the palace to galvanize itself, and for the first time, he saw how separated he was from them all. senmut had returned to the flame once queen merneith had been safely delivered back to the palace, on the day her contingent had come back from camhanaich. he had remained silent and stolen away when he was able, seeing no reason to remain in the palace with a wife who did not think of him as her husband. he did not know she had gone. now, rawboned from fasting, wild-eyed, red fur mussed and coarse from long hours in the desert, senmut felt as if he were living dead, gazing at the girl who had inherited his entire face as she paced his floors. aiesha. his voice cracked. what has happened? that look in her eye -- who had placed it there?]

legend was not within the palace.

had she left him?

stunned despite all that had gone on, the one-time pharaoh darted from room to room. he searched her quarters, but did not approach the royal pair. legend's departure would not be cause for the palace to galvanize itself, and for the first time, he saw how separated he was from them all.

senmut had returned to the flame once queen merneith had been safely delivered back to the palace, on the day her contingent had come back from camhanaich. he had remained silent and stolen away when he was able, seeing no reason to remain in the palace with a wife who did not think of him as her husband.

he did not know she had gone.

now, rawboned from fasting, wild-eyed, red fur mussed and coarse from long hours in the desert, senmut felt as if he were living dead, gazing at the girl who had inherited his entire face as she paced his floors.

aiesha. his voice cracked. what has happened? that look in her eye -- who had placed it there?