The now-greying girl had always been the adventurous type, but her setback last year had at least made her a little bit more careful, she supposed.
A warrior at heart, she had no intentions or desire to mingle with any kind of politics; unless her mother had been physically threatened, she would not have interfered. Let the kings and diplomats decide who is the enemy and who isn't - she'd go in the appointed direction to defend her home.
So, usually, she would wing herself around to border. Battle the winds, attack a hawk just to have a thinking competitor, test her strength against a swaying tree. She had considered asking Kagerus to fight the panther that seemed to have clung to her side nowadays - but what if someone needed her just the day after she was healing from battle wounds? What if she died and came back as a newborn again? It would be so frustrating. Especially with only Baltas and Kagerus to support her. No. She needed more guards to have time for things like that.
She would consider mocking with a Nerinian, of course. On the condition no real harm was done and that she would be battle-ready within a day or two. She'd eyed the border for a time, but then had reminded herself that she had been told Nerine was under contract with Loess and even though there had been a vague idea about the details, she couldn't be sure if no further information was exchanged between them.
Perhaps just wait until that year was over.
She landed in a familiar place, and grinned at herself. How young she had been, the last time she was here. In fact, it had been just before she had been exchanged to Nerine. There had been a fanged, invisible colt out here, probably a yearling by then, not much older than she was now. Back then it had meant the world. She wondered what he'd say if he recognized her and saw her body barely grown up. But he was a king now. Surely he had no time to toy around with young fillies any more.
Shaking her head at the memory, she trotted further along the riverbank. There was a good chance she might find some Nerinians or Loessians here, or even kingdom-less dwellers that perhaps she could befriend. Or fight.
Anything was fine, really.
has always been within