Hestia’s voice draws him out of the cave he’d been exploring on the northern slopes. Not as many venture up to the tip of the kingdom as they stay near the heart, but Walter prefers it. He especially prefers the solitude today in his solo exploration of the wild lands. So much has happened in the last year that he couldn’t have imagined even a year prior. He’s taken on a mantle of responsibility that he’s shrugged off his entire life. And the weight of it is more of a blessing than a burden as it sits heavily on his shoulders. There is a new comfort in routine, in keeping himself grounded and loyal to the benefit of more than just himself. He thinks about all of it in the caves. The stalactites drip cold water along his body as he moves, continuously reviving him with each droplet. Then Hestia’s call echoes into the deepest reaches of the chamber and he is quick to about-face and follow it to the source.
By the time he lands nearby and tucks his feathered wings to his side, there are already a large number of attendees to the meeting. Good, he thinks, walking the rest of the way to the lot of them, a united group is a strong image to send out to the rest of the world. He finds the black queen with his eyes, meeting her gaze and nodding in encouragement before she begins. Not that she needs his assistance, but he wants to be that friendly face in the crowd, should she want it. He probably should have loaded up on some cave water before he left to spill out of his mouth in front of her again. Although, perhaps it is best he hasn’t. This is Serious Business after all. Best keep his game face on and muscles flexed at the ready.
Hestia moves through the crowd, talking as she goes. She mentions how much they’ve grown over the past year. It truly has, more than a year, even. He remembers a stretch of time when the kingdom had been more grey and bleak than usual – and that is saying something for Nerine. He hadn’t cared then, not really. But long years waiting for his woman had made him start to notice inadequacies and lapses in the ocean-kissed land. It hadn’t been enough to be a spectator any longer. Hestia’s thus-short reign has been a boon to the activity, it can’t be denied. And for the first time, he’s invested in it.
Mention of promotions and filled positions comes first. The pegasus regards Scorch as her name is aligned with the advisor spot. Walter doesn’t know much about the bald lady, but knows she is well-respected among many of the others. Something about coming back from the dead gives one a certain acumen, he supposes. He’ll have to meet her at some point. His name is next, and here comes the muscle flexing to prove he’s worthy of it. Not really. To be honest, if someone had told him one day he would be willing to surrender his life for the honor of a kingdom, he would have laughed until he choked on his own spit and died. Now, the idea only seems a little crazy still. Well, maybe more than a little. But he’s here, committed, and that’s the main thing. He’ll take a kick to the ass and a bite to the jugular all for Nerine. He smiles at the rest of them like any good and just champion would do.
The queen blessedly moves on after that. He doesn’t like the addendum to what she says about Djinni. For now? What the hell is that supposed to mean? He looks for her pinkish gold form in the crowd, but doesn’t see her at first. They hadn’t exactly gotten to discuss their long-range plans, even if she now knew he was ready to plant roots here. Is she planning her exit already? The palomino pushes those thoughts away for now as the meeting continues on. There is talk of alliances and terms, and he feels suddenly vulnerable to his own ignorance of the other lands. He really needs to get out more and see what they’re up against. Any protector would, right? They reinstate the Blood Alliance idea with several kingdoms. He has no opinion on the matter either way, but wonders how he’d feel about his own child participating. Thoughts like that only bring him right back to Djinni (and he warms when he thinks of their time in a different cave recently) so he stifles them again.
There is a change in tone his ears swivel to catch after that. The fire-winged mare mentions Brennen and Ischia and an interesting plot to make him its leader. A new Brotherhood. Interesting indeed. He wonders if it will come to violence in the island kingdom or if the old warrior will have enough support to make it a bloodless transition. He wagers on the latter. Just in case it comes to a raid, he throws in his name. “I’ll be there if needed.” Scorch seems sure of Brennen, at least. They talk about a new name for the members of both sister kingdoms and Walter doesn’t really have a stake in the discussion, but throws out a few ideas, anyways. He’s rather a sucker for the history of names.
The meeting goes on with the day, and the stallion shifts his weight from one side to the other and back again. Are they always this long? I mean, solid work by their fearless leader, but man. Nayl replaces the missing general, and he looks to her meaning to seek her out at some point soon. Surely she will have good advice for him on his newfound path in life. Protecting the realm and all that, no big deal.
Walter
son of Liefde & Ellen
OOC: Soo here are some name ideas I was too lazy to work into the post
Tritons / Nereids
Neptune (Neptunians? Neptunans?) / Salacia (Salacians - queen of Neptune)
Hydrans / Sirens
Leviathans / Undines
Merrows – Irish mermaid/merman
Some could be interchangeable, but all have to do with water/the ocean for Ischia/Nerine.