It didn’t surprise her to have some of her brother’s past mixed up. Most of what she’d heard had been the idle gossip of bored mares. A pastime that held no appeal to the nearly grown filly. Still, at times, there was information to be stolen from the mouths of the matronly. There’d always been a hint of disapproval whenever Thayne’s name surfaced in polite conversation. Behind thinly veiled speculation, Astarael often wondered if there was any truth to the rumors. Even more so, she questioned if Cagney was as ignorant as he seemed to be.
Those were all questions for another time, however. She listened intently as he spoke, noting his attempt at shielding her from their father’s plans. Like many of the others, they assumed her to be too young to understand the oncoming storm. And there would be a storm if Brennen’s plans did not go as anticipated. She doubted that Krone would relinquish the throne as easily as he was hoping. She believed herself to be chosen by the sea to rule the island kingdom. Yes, Astarael was certain that she would not shy away from Brennen’s challenge for her seat.
That wasn’t to say, however, that Astarael thought her father would make a poor king. No, quite the contrary. She knew he would rise to the occasion and rule the land justly. Forever. His immortality would secure his place so long as no one sought to challenge him in the manner similar to his own claim.
Her green eyes softened as she noted the searching of his eyes upon her. She wondered if he could see her. The darkness within and brewing storm of curiosity. He loved Ischia, that much was evident in the tone in which he spoke of the salty land.
”I’m not yet sure where my feet will take me,” she lied. As the words slipped past the velvet of her lips she felt a familiar pull upon her heart. A longing that called her to cross the bridge to the mainland. To search for her mother.
Astarael
I want to exorcise
the demons from your past
@[Cagney]