Like a thorn to the holy ones [Magnus]

[magnus]

Tephra was not complacent, but Magnus was content to let her rest.

He had not walked up the side of the mountain, had not faced the faeries with the wind whipping at him, cutting at his sides, for glory. He had enough of that throughout his life; he had enough of titles and power and recognition. He had not bowed his head to the supernatural for another chance to write his name in history. He had simply wanted the chance to atone for all of his sins and provide a haven for those who needed one in the not-so-natural disasters that were befalling Beqanna.

So he did not push the residents to challenge or steal or mock. He did not push them to recruit. He was happy to give them the caste as a place of purpose, but he would gladly bear the brunt of responsibility for the land. He would travel to other kingdoms and greet diplomats who arrived at their doorstep. He would broker for peace and he would be the first one raiders found if they were to ever make the mistake of coming to the volcano’s home. They may not be loud, but they were strong and it’d be a hell of a fight.

He had seen the blood bay stallion enter the kingdom, of course he had, although it had been rather amusing to watch him search for him. Tucked away, he had watched with a bemused expression as the other sought him out. When he had finally called for him, Magnus had simply rolled his eyes and then stepped forward, coming up from behind Nymphetamine. “Who said I’m hiding?” he quipped when he was several feet from the stallion, shaking his head so that his mane spilled over both sides of his neck.

Magnus circled around the stallion so that he could face the other, his expression one that was carefully neutral, even mockingly bored. “What oh-so-important matters do you have to discuss with me?” He didn't hold a grudge against Nymph, but he certainly wasn’t going to give anything to him easily.

out of the blue out into the loneliest place that you'll ever know
I carried the world just as far as I could but the damage had taken its toll