great clouds rolling over the hills
and if you close your eyes, does it almost feel
They have all been quiet. Some more than others, but none of them have been interacting with each other. Brennen was busy with his children, and then with his trip to the Falls, and he has just returned to the Tundra, looking to search out the twins first, when Errant calls them. So he doesn’t have time for much – he simply gathers them up and brings them along. They are not quiet, children rarely are, but their hushed voices fall quiet as the gathered Brothers when Errant is prepared to speak.
The black King is not the only one who feels naked. Without the Tundra’s effects Brennen is still quite battered, remnants of a life of fighting, but his scars are no longer a stark white color, but more natural. And the mark of being general more than once in his lifetime, the only tangible mark of his many achievements, is gone as well. He has not rested easily in many days – the scars fading, and with them his control over wind, and finding out his father was alive and well in the Falls – despite the lovely weather. He nods at Errant’s observations – he had seen the changed landscape in his flyovers but had not yet investigated – and continues to listen, glad to have an explanation for the changes.
The other news is more intriguing – if all of the Kingdoms can now have magical beings within their borders, the very fabric of their society will change. It could bring good things to Beqanna – or it could bring war. He shifts uneasily at that thought, glances at his bright children beside him, and turns back to the King in time to nod, agreeing with Errant’s question. “Of course,” he murmurs, agreeing to work with an air force, and then he is quiet as Errant asks for volunteers to lead, and Hurricane speaks up to make his own preferences known.
When silence falls again, he looks around at his Brothers, and finally back to Errant. “I will serve in whatever capacity the Tundra needs me for. I have been in charge of the Army before, and I will do so again if that’s what seems best.” There’s a time for proving oneself, for fighting fiercely to be at the top, and Brennen had done that. He’d battled some of Beqanna’s best fighters, worked hard to prove himself to his Brothers, and he is willing to do it again, if the time comes…but he doesn’t feel now is that time. Now is the time to let the younger generation step up, if that is what they all think is best. He’s willing to admit that – though he won’t turn down leading the army again if that is what happens here. For a long moment he watches Errant, as always wondering what exactly goes through the black magician’s head, and then turns to the others to hear their opinions.
But there are other things to be discussed, as well. When talk about these things seems to be winding down, Brennen speaks again. “Nihlus and I have just returned from the Falls.” Well, he assumes Nihlus has come home as well, though he flew and left the kid to walk. “Their queen, Shatter Me, is willing and ready to form an Alliance with us, but she has changed the conditions of Alliance with the Falls.” Brennen glances at Nihlus, if he’s there, but if he has any concerns about their visit in that department, well, he will speak to Errant privately about it later. “Those without an alliance will no longer have access to the Fall’s healing waters. Allied Kingdoms will be required to send a member to live in the Falls throughout the duration of the alliance – supposedly this individual will be trained to use the waters, to serve as healer to any of our own who come to use them.” He shifts his wings, frowning, still not certain he likes this development – for the Falls or the Tundra. “I suggested that this would be better if it was an even exchange, with a member of the Falls living here, and Shatter Me said she would consider it, though she didn’t say yes. She’ll send someone for our answer in a month, unless we send word first.”
He pauses, letting himself look around to gauge reactions. He wants this – an alliance with the Falls. It makes his life easier, protecting a Kingdom when it’s allied with his own…but he doesn’t like the imbalance any more than they might, and he won’t push for something nobody else is in favor of. But that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have an opinion. “We have nothing like the healing waters to offer in return – and I think that’s a valuable resource. But is it worth the price?” The warrior glances down at the children at his side, and lets himself voice a thought he had been mulling since Shatter spoke. “It doesn’t have to be the same person who goes, and stays. It could be a training exercise for our young people – an out of Kingdom experience for sons, or something for daughters of the Tundra to be able to do while they decide if they would like to stay or go. It could work to our benefit.” Or not. He made the visit, he doesn’t have to make the decision. Benefits of not being in charge.