The other boy unfurls his wings and Amet momentarily forgets that he is trying to play the part of the diplomat in front of Nayl who is, essentially, his Queen. Without her assistance or her willingness to allow Brennen to split his time between the Lake and Nerine, Amet is quite sure that he and his sister would have been unable to protect the territory on their own.
... but dad will teach me, the boy says as he returns to the ground, and there is a fleeting pang of discomfort that rises in Amet's chest, but then Castile compliments the gold and bronze scales and it passes. He laughs kindly and looks down towards a leather-plated leg, which he has lifted off the ground to inspect. "Thanks! I'm still getting used to them," he admits mildly, before his amber eyes flick back to Nayl. The King of the Lake offers her a sheepish grin before turning both of his ears in her direction, the inquiry one that he almost hadn't expected. He is not used to being addressed as an adult, or even as a creature worthy of life. "Beqanna has been very good to me, and to Iset."
His eyes fall away from hers, a shred of doubt inching its way into his thoughts as he considers what, exactly, he wants to tell the Queen about the Dunes. A frown turns the corners of his mouth. "The Lake, and Brennen's help, have both been blessings. Neither my siblings or I had a good childhood. This is the first place we have felt safe." This is the first place that has felt like home, is what he wants to say, but the dragon boy falls silent, instead.
Thankfully, the painted mare has questions about the future of the Lake, as opposed to Amet's past, and the bronze-and-gold boy nods enthusiastically. "Yes, very much so. We want to create a safe haven, but not just one that young horses can escape to, but one that can mold them to be whatever they want to be, whether a leader or a diplomat or a fighter." He pauses, his eyes alight with passion, "Mostly, I want to ensure that those who find a home in the Lake will never feel hopeless or lost once they leave."
@[Nayl]