Alone in the Night (open)

[nessyo]

Daesia

The gifts of the fire-maiden had Daesia feeling very good-- good enough, even, to venture outside of the comforting borders of Lake Vier. She wasn't entirely sure what brought her out today-- some restlessness or sense that she wasn't doing enough for her king that sat below her skin like an itch she couldn't avoid, and it had spurred her away from her comfortable herd's territory. She had asked the wolves to watch her beloved children, the heirs-- now that the potions had given them fiery strength, she felt confident that they would be safe without her for a few hours-- and left with only the white she-wolf Poltergeist had assigned her for company.

She had gone to the claiming fields, to Amorrak, the place where she herself had found her own new home. This place was bittersweet, to her, because it wasn't particularly good memories that she held of it: only afterwards, once it was clear that she would submit to his will, did he start showing a surprising soft side to Poltergeist. But, of course, this place was necessary: their herd would not grow if there was nobody to live in it. What were monarchs without subjects.

She stood quietly, looking across the land from a raised hill, and pondered. There was someone here, presumably someone without a herd to call their own: Daesia could see her in the distance, a strange mare. IT filled her, for a moment, with indecision-- this mare could be a potential rival for Polter's affections. But, then again, she would cement her hold on the Matron title by bringing him more subjects, more mares-- and it was, after all, what was best for the herd.

"Shall we?" She asked the white she-wolf, and got a solemn expression in answer. Taking that for a yes, Daesia trotted to the strange mare-- now leaning against a tree, closing the distance between them.

When she reached the stranger, she found herself quite unsure of what to say. She hid that moment of shocked awkwardness with a graceful nod of greeting. "Hello," she said, "How are you, this fine day?"

Now that she was here, she wondered if perhaps this was as good an idea as she'd thought up on the hill; she didn't entirely know what to say to get this stranger to join their herd. The wolf simply stood a way's off, and sat on her haunches, watching the proceedings.

[nessyo]

Daesia

OOC| Pfft, no problem. :3 at least with me, always post whatever length you're comfortable doing whenever you post! :3

Daesia sighed. That was what she got for relying on excess familiarity-- 'fine night' just hadn't sounded formal enough, but now she looked stupid. Perhaps eventually the mantle of queen would settle evenly on her shoulders (provided nobody wrested it away, of course) and it would make sense, but for now it did not.

Instead of responding directly to that, she looked behind her, in the direction that the stranger mare had indicated-- predators? Here? Surely the she-wolf would protect her-- ah. The stranger meant the she-wolf. "That is-" Daesia paused, expression momentarily uncomfortable as she tried to think of how, precisely, to describe her relationship with the white creature sitting calmly at a measured distance. "The wolf is my bodyguard. She will do you no harm." Unless, of course, she did harm to Daesia, but Daesia did not see that happening. "My king keeps her mate, and they lead the pack that guards our herd's lands."

Remembering her manners, she added. "I am quite well, thank you. I am sorry that your night has been lonely thusfar." Shifting her weight somewhat uncomfortably, she added. "My name is Daesia. What is yours, and what brings you to this place?"

Perhaps she was already of a herd and had simply come to Amorrak to pass through, and this exercise was in vain. Only conversation would tell.

[nessyo]

Daesia

Despite herself, Daesia felt her curiosity towards this stranger-- towards Rosa-- pull stronger then did her wariness. Clearly the mare was intelligent, thinking about her answers-- and what answers she did give were fascinating, and not only because they were partially in a language that Daesia did not understand.

"That is a comfortingly simple logic." she replied, in response to the fact that Rosa existed. "And I have never heard a horse put it quite such before." Her voice betrayed her respect for the answer-- for being so simple, it was also thoughtful. She hesitated for a moment and added, "I do not understand all of your words, however-- is that a language of the lands you were born?"

She paused for a second, considering whether or not the statement Rosa had made had implied a request for what information Daesia could provide, before deciding that telling Rosa where they were could do no harm. She couldn't help the slightest hint of bitterness that entered her voice, as she surveyed their surroundings. "This place is Amorrak, and it is frequently host to headstrong stallions who think they own all things and have the right to do as they wish to traveling strangers." Her own feelings towards it were complicated: it had brought her to Poltergeist and to her current beloved life, which she wouldn't trade for the world, but it was also a place that she remembered as being cruel, and a place which Polter had said was populated by the weak of will. "There are other lands surrounding here; some are safe for horses of all kingdoms, and others are properties of their local monarchs, who set rules as they wish." Her tones now took on flavors of pride, as she mentioned her own home: "I herald from Zyth, which is not far from here. It is led by Poltergeist." There was a second of hesitation, where she wondered if she should conceal her own identity, but could find no pressing reason to do so. "I am the Queen of that land."

[nessyo]

Daesia

That answer seemed to suit Daesia just fine; she was not one to pry-- at least, not so soon after meeting somebody. She knew manners, of course. Instead of asking further about this mare's past, she merely inclined her head and smiled wanly. "Well, it is beautiful, and if we remain in acquaintance, I would love to learn it."

Daesia was now watching Rosa carefully, to gauge her reactions. She was not going to do what the stallions did, and chase strangers into her kingdom; that was so.. distasteful. But, if they were amenable to it, she would certainly invite them. Grace inspired loyalty, not force, and as much as she loved him, Poltergeist's abilities certainly lay more closely amongst the 'force'. She would have to have enough grace for both of them. Thus, she noticed the chuckle at the mention of stallions and returned it with an actually genuine smile: what mare didn't know what trouble egoistic stallions could be?

But more to the point, that chuckle might betray some independence from this mare, a strength and a willingness to speak her mind. Polter might not approve of such things, but Daesia did, in her private way. It had implications, and perhaps it meant that Daesia would not have a rival for Polter's affections in this mare. That was good; Daesia approved. All of this on assumption, of course, but Daesia was more then willing to indulge that assumption.

That approval was clear in her voice, she stood straighter and allowed herself to feel pride at Rosa's assessment. "Thank you, I appreciate the vote of confidence." And she did, even underneath the royal persona she was trying to project. "You are free to come back there with me, to Zyth. It truly is a lovely land, and well-protected by the wolf pack."