anyone;

[Stillwater]

Stillwater

Nayl introduced him, sneaking a feeble little grin his way. Oh, those grins of hers. His eyes flickered in interest and he flashed a handsome smirk back, then melted back to the others blandly. Watching.

There was a reason he didn't come on these excursions with her. He well remembered what she'd said at the meeting, that anyone wishing to be a diplomat would be required to show just as he had. To tag along like a good little pupil. Diplomacy was certainly not in his interests. He didn't want her getting the wrong idea. It was boredom only, today. And that telltale leash she had around his neck, though she may not even realize it even existed.

Another joined their little meeting thing, gold and light on her feet, a child beneath her. The dreadfully dull gathering turned into something more. Murky gray eyes settled on her, the filly. Of all the strangers, she was the most interesting to him. She didn't have to do anything to attract his attention, his senses already sought her out, just standing there with her mother and watching the horned one so curiously and careful. So small.

He smiled kindly, a methodical thing. His eyes lifted to say what he didn't need to. She is beautiful.  And then his attention easily slid away again, settling on the apparent king. Everyone seemed to stare at him, this Pollock. He was the power here, then. Everyone answered to him. Interesting.

The other man, Rodrik, seemed to take a similar stance in this place. Watch and observe. Study them as they interacted amongst themselves. Plucking bits of knowledge others might not catch on. It amused him. And then the ball was in Nayl's court, and all their eyes, two by two, made their way to her. All but his.