all peace caste

[Talulah]

The panic rises within her, but she tries to quell it as best she can. Because there is work to do, and also because she doesn’t want to look like a complete idiot in front of her Dalean family, she forces her nerves to still. It works a little. By the time Elysteria begins to speak, she has her mind back, if not her heart. She knows there are important matters to discuss. There are alliances and kingdom visits and the usual diplomacy that means more to her now than ever, now that her son’s future is dependent on it all. She knows it all needs sorting, and she tries. She returns Ely’s smile first, because that is easy to do. It’s a small step – a manageable task – in the right direction. There’s still that seed of resentment hibernating within her chest. It sprouted the day their angel returned and she saw them together, but she’s kept it in the dark ever since, stunting its growth as best she can. It’s never been directed at the woman herself (and maybe that’s why it’s actually been worse, because Ely is so nice). But every time she looks at her, she’s reminded that they share an affection for the same man. She’s reminded that they are not alone in this, either. Talulah’s ears swivel to catch every word that the bay mare speaks. She had been at Camrynn’s declaration of the competition over a year ago, and it seems its opening is imminent. Simply attending will be as much as she can muster in terms of activity. It has its own perks and benefits, she knows - eyeing the competition and pulling information from unwitting or overeager tongues will be all too easy. If nothing else, this Desert-tournament will give the Dale a chance to learn from the other kingdoms as well as learn where they stand in the bigger picture. Talk soon moves towards these inter-kingdom relationships. She nods, her head shimmering with the motion in the spring light, when she receives her place of visit. Although the metal-mare has never been to the Gates, she’s always wanted to go. She has family originating there, their blood settled and stagnant beneath the overwhelming Dale blood coursing through her veins. She doesn’t know much about the light kingdom, only that they are historically friendly and quiet (quieter than the mountain kingdom, even). It will be good to find out where they stand. If they’ve overcome the stillness that has plagued Beqanna, they might even become a promising ally. “The Jungle holds our only true alliance.” Her voice finds purchase as she pushes her fears further away. “Will Joscelin be able to find out who their allies are? Perhaps if we’re agreeable to their allies, we should base our decisions on that?” She looks searchingly at Elysteria, wondering what the mare thinks on the matter. It would mean combining into a greater alliance, a three or four-way alliance with a strong foundation of Dale and Amazon. She has no way of knowing who the Jungle is allied with, but Talulah thinks it might be wise of them to find out. t a l u l a h lady of the Dale

reference //info