From an outsider point of view, everything is always clear. From a retrospect point of view as well - Eurwen now had to make feeble and shy attempts at creating and maintaining a diplomatic bond between the lands, which otherwise she would not have had trouble with - had she not been absent, she would have done so from the start.

But to her mother at the time, leaving Taiga in Aten’s capable hooves had probably seemed a great relief and the best alternative - she had already been worried about Icicle Isle at the time. Heartfire sure hadn’t minded either; it was only when the Taiga had been intimidated into new leadership that trouble had risen. Even if that leadership hadn’t harmed the inhabitants, it did harm their political relationship.

So when Neverwhere points out the obvious, Eurwen gives a small nod and nothing more. Purely out of politeness and out of the same, retrospective knowledge. But the second comment, seemingly Neverwhere’s reasoning, makes Wen chuckle a bit. ”They were to be a lookout, not a fortress. Besides, there was but one real dragon and he was not yet king at the time.”

Her dark pools find Neverwhere’s milky ones when she asks the inevitable question. What now? ”I don’t know who remains here. If we even have Brennen or any of the males around, still. I’ll probably start with recruiting, see if we can fill the place up a bit. You could join me if you like.” The offer comes genuine, although with the knowledge that it probably isn’t something that the bald-faced mare really wants to do. But the spotted mare has developed a soft spot for tough-looking horses, as it were. Her family is just like that, even if she doesn’t know where they are.

And after recruiting? Well. Diplomacy, she thinks. ”Perhaps it’s not too late to restore ties with the Taigan residents.” she hopes.