News usually travelled fast, but for Ilma, it had been hard to keep up last year. It’s only after ‘surviving’ weaning her youngest child and hiding out the breeding season just to make sure, that she feels confident enough. Confident enough to make a trip to their southern border, and into a kingdom that recently held such very close ties to Sylva, that her queens had decided a cease-fire was all they could agree to.

And perhaps the new king in Loess wants just that, again - border safety, as much as Hyaline wants it. But Ilma feels there is more to Loess now, at least there is the possibility of more that just that, and so, she comes to check on her new neighbours. What are they like and more importantly what do they want?

Either way, it’s time to meet them, and so the white-and-light mare passes between the two kingdoms. She announces her presence with a politely outed, bright whinny, and takes small, slow steps so as not to give them the impression that she is trying to invade or spy on them.

There’s not much that Ilma knows about Loess - when she joined Hyaline, it was already a silent kingdom, and both Solace and Kagerus had deemed their connection to Sylva too dangerous to mingle with them. So it is that she does not recognize the young mare who apprpaches her, nor the name she is given. The title however suggests a diplomatic caste or an advisor, rendering them equals.

The white mare waits for the perlino to join her, noticing from a distance her round belly and -ouch- broken, badly-healed wing. This is why she dares not to congratulate the mare with her pregnancy, fearing that something similar as Llowell’s conception might be the cause of both changes of appearance.

Her diplomatic face remains unchanged and polite as she recieves the other mare and introduces herself. ”And I am Ilma, Ambassador of Hyaline.” she announces - after all her title is the reason for her visit, as Lepis will surely understand now. ”I’d like for us to be good neighbours, if you’d agree. Arthas and Solace have agreed on a cease-fire before, but perhaps with your new leadership some things have changed regarding Sylva as well? In which case I’d be happy to work out further details to present to my queens.”

Lepis is quick to answer her question regarding Sylva, and although her face doesn’t change much with the dip of her head that she gives to acknowledge the new situation, Ilma is glad that Wolfbane has chosen a different path for his kingdom. With an unchanging friendly demeanor she lets her conversation partner finish, then takes on a bit of a doubting look. ”What you’re saying implies that every other year, we should either be on guard for our southern border or not at all, depending on what kingdom - an enemy or ally of ours - you are currently aligned with, due to contract. You’ll see that this is hard for us who try to remain neutral in all of this, and I’m not sure Solace or Kagerus will be happy to hear about it.” she explains her doubtful look.

Her ears swivel and her tail moves while she thinks it over again and again. ”What could we offer you, to secure our common border forever?” she then asks the perlino and blue mare. Not only for this situation, but she would also like to have a general idea on what they should offer Loess as payment. It’s a new idea and, as often with new ideas, the details might still need to be worked out. ”I’d rather not be invaded via that route even if you were under contract with an enemy of ours. Could we work something out, that in such a case, you would only come through common lands? Or would you be so kind as to inform us every time you switch contracts?” It’s just an idea but, it would mean not constantly having to keep tab on the other kingdom herself. Having to be on guard all the time would not only be inconvenient for Hyaline, and their status as a welcoming but neutral kingdom, but would also give Loessians the impression that they were distrusted because of the way the kingdom worked, which was something Ilma would really rather avoid if possible. Perhaps Lepis could understand there were reasons for them to work out a little something regardless of Loess’ contracts, being neighbors and all.

Good neighbors were preferable over allies far away, always. Even Nerinians would need time to come to Hyaline’s ‘rescue’ if need be, seeing that they would he on the other side of the kingdom. Eagerly, the white-and-sunlight mare looks at her Loessian counterpart. Hoping they could work something out that befits both kingdoms.

Lepis shows a controlled face - one Ilma could admire had she not been utterly disappointed by her answer, which was basically no answer to her question at all. While she talks, however, the white mare sinply nods. ”I assumed the same thing. As for the contract changes, would you not want to know how Hyaline standa with your new allies? Presuming you would like to know if your direct neighbour might feel a need for retribution?” she offers smoothly; sure, information for information; a basic name for basic knowledge as it were, might be an arrangement she could agree on.

She smiles only when Lepis says she does not have to break the presumably negative news to her own monarchs; a look that says not to worry. Ilma’s relationship with her queens is clearly different from Lepis’; older, and securely based in longstanding mutual friendship, where Lepis and Wolfbane are like children to Ilma. Both only a year older than her own daughter. Of course, Lepis might have had diplomatic training young in her life; that means she was about as experienced and skilled in this as Ilma. But the white mare doesn’t fall for Lepis’ supposed or true compassion. She does not know the younger mare well enough for that. Still, she offers nothing but thanks anyway.

”I will talk to Solace or Kagerus soon. I hope to meet you again - would you please discuss my concerns and question with Wolfbane? There must be something that you want, otherwise I have no true idea of what you’d value for a trade. It would be a shame if we came up with something you already have.” A way of emphasizing her disappointment in the not-answer without saying so, but she is sure Lepis will catch that.

With a polite, smiling dip of her head she turns. The sun is now high enough to use her wings, and so, she flies home before the sun begins to lower.