His luck hadn’t been the best with the Army. Not that he had given up, not by a long shot, but his first attempt to gather them together and figure out what was what had ended with him and Djinni having a brief meeting but nobody else. Which certainly wasn’t because Nerine was empty (because it wasn’t!), and surely not all of them could be peacekeepers or mere residents? Though of course, he knows many of them are just young.

A glance back at his own youngest, the winged girl bouncing along in his wake as usual. Bristol is one who matches him, bay and winged, though she has a startling ability to change the way her wings look on a whim. Today she has dark feathery wings like him, half-spread at her sides because he has promised to teach her something new about flying if she can patiently wait until he is done talking to Nayl.

Brennen has nothing positive to report about the Army, but he has other things to offer up to his Queen. His large family that has started to fill up her shores, for one, grown by three now that Cassady has finally arrived with her son and of course his little Bristol, but something else that makes his heart beat faster, hinting at a sense of purpose on par with his gone-forever Tundra. Many years he has spent raising children, his own and their children and strangers, but never in such an official and far-reaching capacity as this promises to be.

Amet wanted a place for young people to be safe, and Brennen has embraced the idea fully.
She is the only thing that could stand in the way, because he is nothing if not loyal to the things he loves, and he has started to give a piece of his heart to Nerine. It is not home, not yet, but it has the possibility of being home, and Brennen will not surrender that easily. Not when he has finally started to gather his family again, safe and happy, and for the first time since his own childhood abandonment has started to feel comfortable with the constant sound of waves in his head. If Nayl were to disapprove of him splitting his time guiding the residents of the Lake with whatever he needs to do for Nerine, he might give up the fledging idea before it has the chance to fly.

Finally he catches sight of the Queen, and he calls Bristol back to his side, sliding his muzzle fondly down her neck and to the tip of one silky wing. “Remember, polite. This is not one of your aunts, whom you can demand to play with you.” They’re not Bristols aunts, really more like Bristol’s nieces or cousins, but some relationships are just better simplified by a term that means family and is more age-appropriate. When he gets her nod of agreement, Brennen calls to Nayl and covers the last of the ground to bring the three of them together, nodding at the pied mare politely. “Do you have a moment, Nayl? I’ve had someone bring me an interesting proposition I’d like to run by you.”

At first after his cautioning words, Bristol tucks herself into Brennen’s side, folding her own wings so that she fits neatly under one of his, until she looks past the pied Queen and spots Castile, and then a bright smile reappears on her face as she leans towards him, glad to see him again, the boy her age a million times more interesting than her father’s cryptic need for a business meeting. Nayl and then Castile greet them, and Brennen gives them both a polite nod, perhaps a touch deeper than he would have bothered with a year ago. “It’s nice to meet you, Castile.” he responds, and lets the momentary wave of sadness wash over him and then fade away as the thought ‘this is our prince’ reminds him of the Tundra princes he had known, and served, and at times, helped to guide and raise. Of all of them he misses Errant the most, though he thinks fondly of Arcteryx and Ianto as well. He does not have to introduce Bristol, since Castile has already spoken her name and she neatly matches his appearance too well for coincidence, but he does reach down to press a soft touch to her shoulder before she can start chattering away, because he can feel her nearly vibrating with excitement at the boy’s presence.

He settles, tucking his wing back close to his own body as the filly slides out from under it, fidgeting under his momentary gaze as she does her best to stay patient and quiet. But when Nayl speaks he has to just hope she’ll behave and turns his eyes back to Nayl. “There is a young brother and sister who have come from outside of Beqanna and have managed to claim one of the new territories, the Lake. Brennen pauses, frowning, and considers how much of Amet’s story he needs to share. The boy had been uncomfortable enough revealing his history to Brennen, as if it somehow made him less important, but the bay stallion thinks that the reason behind the idea is important to understand what is going through their heads. “They came from some sort of abusive situation. He might be coming three, she can’t yet be two. They want to set the land up as a safe place for foals and young adults, and possibly a sort of training ground where young people can learn skills that will later help them when they age out and move on to another home. I met Amet in the Field a few months ago and I guess I made an impression because he approached me and asked for my help in protecting the young people they hope to gather in the Lake.”

He has not yet explored the land, but speaking the word out loud brings to mind the vibrant blues and greens of the land when he flew over it, admiring it even before Amet had claimed it. It reminded him of the Falls, more than any of the other lands in the new Beqanna. “I told him that I was interested, because I think it is a good idea, but that I would have to have your approval, as otherwise it would be a conflict with my allegiance to Nerine.” He pauses here again, considering his words a moment before going on. “I also told him that in exchange for my freedom to help and protect those living in the Lake, you might expect some alliance or subkingdom arrangement with the land he is building. I think that for Nerine, it might serve a similar purpose as once our two Kingdoms tried to do with swapping colts and fillies, in an attempt to bolster numbers. A relationship with them and perhaps helping out in training exercises and being friendly gives us a way to give the young people of Nerine more ways to train, as well as to get a head start on trying to recruit any promising youth living in the Lake.”

He glances at Bristol, who is listening to him now only because she is fascinated with the idea of the Lake, of being ‘free from his overprotectiveness’ and able to pretend to be an adult already. “It might also fill a void I have seen in many Kingdoms have in that when ranks are already filled by established adults, it sometimes seems to discourage youth from working to learn those skills, and then they are underprepared when it comes their turn to lead. If they have already had a chance to lead amongst their peers, perhaps it will be easier for them to become successful adults in their Kingdoms.”