Nalia didn't necessarily know why a visit from this particular horse would surprise her, given she'd heard stories about him lately. Mostly of his efforts to repair Tephra and change it's ways, nothing of malice or evil intentions toward the land. If anything, it just seemed as if he was preparing his kingdom to deal with the Plague as Breckin had done for Nerine.
But still, the fact he came all the way out here to the ocean-bordered kingdom, he had to have some reason. She just didn't know what it was yet.
The filly had been close to the border that morning, grazing peacefully on what grass she could enjoy before the arrival of the cold season in a few weeks time. Sure, there was still one more season between this time and the cold, but it passed very quickly, Nalia had come to realize. One would almost think there wasn't an autumn, with how fast winter settled and blanketed the land in its frigid white sheet.
A change in the wind caused Nalia to lift her head, wondering what that could be about. Not far away, she saw something moving, another horse and resident of Nerine. It appeared to be Chryseis, Leilan's daughter. She had met the filly a number of times and though they were not incredibly close friends yet, Nalia liked her and hoped they could grow to be great friends. She also liked Leilan enough that despite his attitude at times, she could stand it to be friends with his daughter.
Chryseis appeared to be attracted by something by the border just a few yards up the hill. Unsurprisingly, Leilan joined her seconds later, and now Nalia was even more intrigued. To attract his attention, even if he had been following his daughter, took something, and her curiosity eventually won out, leading her to join in the conversation.
Trotting up the small incline, Nalia took a glance over who had arrived as she came to a stop near Leilan and Chryseis. So far, she could see three; a stallion, a colt, and a filly. The stallion was the one she'd heard about, Tephra's leader, Magnus. He seemed to be an indimidating stallion, with a bright buckin coat and golden eyes. The colt beside him could've been a relative, with his matching buckskin shading, so if he was related to the golden king, the paint splash color had to have come from his dam. Like Nalia, he also sported a pair of feathered wings on his back, but they appeared to be shedding, which told Nalia only one thing.
Something she was thankful to have avoided so far.
On closer inspection, the filly seemed to actually be a mare, and one Nalia vaguely recognized though she hadn't spoken to her very often. Sarkis, a member of Nerine, one Nalia had met only once or twice. She knew very few details about this mare, other than that she was also Scorch's daughter. The mare lived a quiet lifestyle in their kingdom, and Nalia had wanted to get to know her better, but something her dam said years ago always came back to her when she thought about Sarkis.
That sometimes, those who wanted to be left alone, preferred it that way...
So Nalia had kept her distance for now, but told herself she'd rexamine the option of getting to know the brindled roan mare.
Magnus introduced himself, then stated his purpose for coming here to Nerine. This included the offer of helping the ocean-bordered kingdom, something Nalia found very diplomatic of him. At the same time, however, she was cautious. The Plague was still causing havoc in Beqanna, which left some kingdoms divided and weak. Perhaps Magnus was here to examine Nerine for such a crack in it's folds? Learn when a good time to strike would be, to take the ocean-bordered kingdom from Breckin's hooves and force it's current residents away?
The thought put Nalia on edge, but she did not show it. If she exhibited any hostility, Magnus might take that the wrong way. So she stayed calm, her posture relaxed, giving the impression of her usual, happy-go-lucky charm to avoid letting the golden king know she was watching him.
"Perhaps if you told of us the changes within Tephra first, allowed us to think, we could tell you if anything you have to offer would help serve Nerine during these difficult times," Nalia piped in, moving to stand closer to Leilan and his daughter so she was not hiding in their shadows.
@[magnus] @[Leilan] @[Chryseis] @[Rhaegor] @[Sarkis]
But still, the fact he came all the way out here to the ocean-bordered kingdom, he had to have some reason. She just didn't know what it was yet.
The filly had been close to the border that morning, grazing peacefully on what grass she could enjoy before the arrival of the cold season in a few weeks time. Sure, there was still one more season between this time and the cold, but it passed very quickly, Nalia had come to realize. One would almost think there wasn't an autumn, with how fast winter settled and blanketed the land in its frigid white sheet.
A change in the wind caused Nalia to lift her head, wondering what that could be about. Not far away, she saw something moving, another horse and resident of Nerine. It appeared to be Chryseis, Leilan's daughter. She had met the filly a number of times and though they were not incredibly close friends yet, Nalia liked her and hoped they could grow to be great friends. She also liked Leilan enough that despite his attitude at times, she could stand it to be friends with his daughter.
Chryseis appeared to be attracted by something by the border just a few yards up the hill. Unsurprisingly, Leilan joined her seconds later, and now Nalia was even more intrigued. To attract his attention, even if he had been following his daughter, took something, and her curiosity eventually won out, leading her to join in the conversation.
Trotting up the small incline, Nalia took a glance over who had arrived as she came to a stop near Leilan and Chryseis. So far, she could see three; a stallion, a colt, and a filly. The stallion was the one she'd heard about, Tephra's leader, Magnus. He seemed to be an indimidating stallion, with a bright buckin coat and golden eyes. The colt beside him could've been a relative, with his matching buckskin shading, so if he was related to the golden king, the paint splash color had to have come from his dam. Like Nalia, he also sported a pair of feathered wings on his back, but they appeared to be shedding, which told Nalia only one thing.
Something she was thankful to have avoided so far.
On closer inspection, the filly seemed to actually be a mare, and one Nalia vaguely recognized though she hadn't spoken to her very often. Sarkis, a member of Nerine, one Nalia had met only once or twice. She knew very few details about this mare, other than that she was also Scorch's daughter. The mare lived a quiet lifestyle in their kingdom, and Nalia had wanted to get to know her better, but something her dam said years ago always came back to her when she thought about Sarkis.
That sometimes, those who wanted to be left alone, preferred it that way...
So Nalia had kept her distance for now, but told herself she'd rexamine the option of getting to know the brindled roan mare.
Magnus introduced himself, then stated his purpose for coming here to Nerine. This included the offer of helping the ocean-bordered kingdom, something Nalia found very diplomatic of him. At the same time, however, she was cautious. The Plague was still causing havoc in Beqanna, which left some kingdoms divided and weak. Perhaps Magnus was here to examine Nerine for such a crack in it's folds? Learn when a good time to strike would be, to take the ocean-bordered kingdom from Breckin's hooves and force it's current residents away?
The thought put Nalia on edge, but she did not show it. If she exhibited any hostility, Magnus might take that the wrong way. So she stayed calm, her posture relaxed, giving the impression of her usual, happy-go-lucky charm to avoid letting the golden king know she was watching him.
"Perhaps if you told of us the changes within Tephra first, allowed us to think, we could tell you if anything you have to offer would help serve Nerine during these difficult times," Nalia piped in, moving to stand closer to Leilan and his daughter so she was not hiding in their shadows.
@[magnus] @[Leilan] @[Chryseis] @[Rhaegor] @[Sarkis]