"But the dream, the echo, slips from him as quickly as he had found it and as consciousness comes to him (a slap and not the gentle waves of oceanic tides), it dissolves entirely. His muscles relax as the cold claims him again, as the numbness sets in, and when his grey eyes open, there’s nothing but the faint after burn of a dream often trod and never remembered." --Brigade, written by Laura
Darrow passes into the kingdom of perpetual autumn, pausing just beyond the border to smile wryly. He too is in perpetual autumn color, and some of these ever-turned leaves even rival his coat in the vibrancy of their hue. He has been warned that this is a place suspended in this season of decline but seeing it is somewhat different. This had been a kingdom of darkness? Perhaps he could imagine it, as he delves into the deep shadows beneath the hardwoods. The bed of desiccated leaves on the forest floor is leached of the brightness they held when they hung overhead. He imagines that some kind of pollution has turned them forever from their greener nature. That would be quaint in a fairy-tale way.
Lepis had shown him the way, but a queen surely had better things to do than escort him here and there. Now he stood alone in a shadowy clearing. Were he in possession of greater vanity he might have been disappointed in the way the varying depths of shadow failed to show his carmine hide to an advantage. He could get used to a place such as this, a forest in which he could conceal himself and return to solitude as he wished. Though that is not his original reason for coming. He is a vagabond prepared to sign his name to a roll, but not quite ready to relinquish the unrestrained manner with which he lives his life.
He is not so bold to seek out a King, or to summon him. Though he does feel it is necessary to make proper introductions, and so calls out in the traditional manner, his masculine tones reverberating through the trees. I am here, but not to make trouble (yet). He didn’t usually make himself known when he crossed sovereign boundaries, but he was trying to change it up, wasn’t he?
Darrow
i've been a teacher and a student of hurt
i've kept my word for whatever that's worth
never been last but I've never been first
no, I may not be the best but I'm far from the worst
It has been some time since he has seen Lepis, the last time they had spoke, they had fought. It was a pointless arguement, but one that left them both feeling sour. Both stayed away from each other, he only wondered where she spent all of her time.
It may have been easier to seek her out, but instead he decided to head out to the river, perhaps he could find someone to recruit. As he leisurely strolled through the kingdom he picked up the scent of another....someone who did not bore the kingdoms scent. He came to a halt and gazed around, the stranger was not within sight so Arthas adjusted his route towards the scent.
As he grew closer to the scent an equine who was as bright as the autumn leaves lurked through the kingdom. He was curious if his daughter brought home this brute as well, his eyes roll at the thought of it. No sense in letting a stranger lurk any further, he approaches the stallion with a small dip of his head. Enjoying Sylva? May I inquire for the reason of your visit? His tone much gentler than it would have been at an earlier time in his life. Perhaps another had recruited him already, and the two had yet to meet.
It is a good sign to Darrow that he is not long alone within Sylva. In earlier years he had often tested boundaries, taunted leaders, and fooled around with mares and fillies left unguarded or poorly chaperoned, never lingering to fulfill promises or check on wild oats he had sown (probably leaving scarlet children in his wake as a reminder to mind the boundary better). He hasn’t come deep into Sylva or been too long unnoticed and this is promising, he wouldn’t want to be a party to some ramshackle operation where folk weren’t minding things properly.
When the dappled stallion appears in the open space between the tree trunks where Darrow lingers, the red beast sizes him up discreetly, without disrespect. The two stallions are of equal height and similar build, though the grey has a few years on Darrow, not that he judged him for it. He speculates that this might be Lepis’ counterpart but doesn’t voice his assumptions aloud. ”I am. My name is Darrow, Lepis extended an invitation to settle here if it suited me.”
The carmine stallion has a friendly and direct manner but his looks do have a roguish tilt that rightly suggests he could have come here as a troublemaker just as easily. He hasn’t, but perhaps if no one had come to find him he might have rustled up some trouble instead. Deciding to follow his earlier assumption that he stands before a king, he adds... ”I would guess that it might be up to you as well.”
Darrow
i've been a teacher and a student of hurt
i've kept my word for whatever that's worth
never been last but I've never been first
no, I may not be the best but I'm far from the worst
The two stags were similar in size, though Arthas was curious of what kingdom he was born in. He was certainly a color that would stand out and draw in anyone's attention, though the minor details were not as important as to his visit. He introduces himself as Darrow, noting that Lepis invited him to settle into Sylva. Ahhh of coure, Lepis was a fantastic diplomat, of course she was bringing in equines to Sylva already. They might not be talking...and he won't admit it at this point but she brought great pride to Sylva.
The red stallion seemed to be much kinder than the original equines of Sylva, it is not a bad thing though. Of course looks are not everything, he may be the most dangerous of them all. I would guess that it might be up to you as well he says breaking the silence. He wanted to chuckle, but held his humor in, instead a smirk grows on his maw I am king if that is what you are inquiring. If Lepis extended you an invite I trust her judgement, are you coming from another kingdom? He inquires, the dapple stallion starts walking, a small gesture of his head was given for Darrow to accompany him.
Arthas slowly trailed deeper into the heart of the kingdom, on the other side a river lays. The cool water would provide relief from whatever journey the red stallion had ventured on, Are you here to stay? Arthas asks another question, he did not have time to escort around visitors, nor did he want a visitor lurking around the kingdom. He hoped the response would be yes, for it may fall awkward to cut there travels short, an escort to the border would be all he can continue with.
Darrow falls into step with the dappled king without hesitation, following his lead deeper into Sylva.”No, no kingdoms in my history. At least none I belonged to. I’ve only recently arrived from outside Beqanna.” He says honestly, without elaboration. There wasn’t much to tell anyway, no names or places that meant anything here. So much of the past was meaningless to Darrow, and it would mean even less to Arthas or anyone else in this new country. The absence of meaning had likely driven him to this point. Though he couldn’t define what he was looking for. Earlier while in the field he had dryly remarked that it likely involved women. That wasn’t purpose, but he’d find that it he stopped moving long enough, right?
For the most part Darrow is good natured, without the traumas or mental and emotional deviations that altered many personalities. He was untouched by the things that blackened hearts and turned men and women cruel. Not that he was good, or perpetually kind. He’d done things that would bar him from the pearly gates.
The stallion’s gaze roams over the winding gaps between the autumnal trees, but he yields the greater part of his attention to Arthas. Are you here to stay? When Darrow agreed to come here he hadn’t been sure, and maybe it was premature to make a decision without knowing more about the other kingdoms and their credos but he doubted any of the others would permit him the kind of freedoms that Lepis had explained he would have here. ”Yes. I am.” He decides with a conviction behind his words that tastes unfamiliar but erases any idea of poking around other kingdoms in search of something he wasn’t going to find. ”Is there anything I should know?” He inquires over the soft rushing sound of grass and dead leaves beneath their hooves.
Darrow
i've been a teacher and a student of hurt
i've kept my word for whatever that's worth
never been last but I've never been first
no, I may not be the best but I'm far from the worst
Arthas could be hard to strike a conversation with, he was not only grumpier these days but he was never good at small talk. Today was a different day, this younger stallion was able to give some company to Arthas that he sought out, a conversation that did not seem forced on his end. Arthas inquires about the red stallions history, but he notes that he had never been apart of a kingdom. Interesting he thinks to himself, but further details the stallion had just recently arrived in beqanna Makes sense he mutters aloud. He was slightly honored to have Sylva be chosen for his first kingdom, first and hopefully only.
They continued to travel, the river was just a short distance away now. Lepis had extended an invite to Darrow, but the real question was, was he staying....or just checking out his options? Arthas inquires on his intentions of the kingdom, to a relief the red stallion was here to stay, a small smirk appeared on his maw. Glad to hear it he says, his gaze quickly flicks to the red stallion before returning to there surroundings.
Is there anything I should know? Darrow asks and Arthas was only curious exactly what he wants to know. The tall grass slowly faded until it was short grass overthrown by moist dirt, and soon enough the river was before them. Arthas wasted no time to lower his head into the cool water, it was refreshing as it trickled down his throat. I am not sure exactly what Lepis told you He says as he finished his drink, his orbs looking for Darrow's I really do not care what you do in your free time, we are a kingdom for hire, so if a task comes about I do expect the kingdom members to participate. He pauses for a breath of air You are more than welcome to be either a diplomat or a warrior for the kingdom, extra tasks such as stealing, mocking or visiting another kingdom will help you into a higher position. He tries to feel out the reaction of the younger stallion, was he eager to be something, or settle for just living here? Is there anything you are expecting? Perhaps a promise Lepis gave to him.
The two stallions draw up and Arthas pauses to draw water from the clear, wide river. Meanwhile, Darrow watches their surroundings in his steady sharp way that somehow manages to appear careless or unconcerned while he is truly intent and alert. In the forest around him lived Artha’s loyal subjects but Darrow is a complete stranger to everyone but the King and Queen...and loyalty, he knows how variable it can be in others. So he watches, and when Arthas raises his head Darrow returns his gaze, Lepis had told him a little of what he could expect here but there is no need for him to express this because the king continues directly. The red beast does not interrupt, a slight narrowing off his eyes is the only alteration in his expression as he considers the warring and diplomatic classes, thoughts slithering down these prospective avenues.
Darrow is strong and as fast as any other horse of his size and confirmation, he is world-wise and intelligent but others are more so. He is not more suited to one faction over the other. He believes he knows this for a certainty. He cannot laze about Sylva and rust though, he meant to choose a place for his home but not to get fat and dull. Which means choosing. ”I can’t say that I’ve ever been much more than a rover.” He replies with a tilt of his head, something like a shrug. ”I tend to take things as they come and exploit opportunities as they arise.” A smirk tilts his lips and is gone again. ”Contract work will suit me fine.” He pauses, considers taking a drink himself but things better of it, choosing instead to avoid wasting Arthas’ time. ”I don’t come here with expectations outside what you’ve laid out. I’d like to establish myself as a diplomat. I’ve gotten used to being on the move.” Darrow doesn’t for a second think that his roadworthiness is a factor qualifying him for a future in politics, but he has a disarming personality that just might serve.
In order to seal his allegiance in good faith the carmine stallion squares himself and says, ”I’ve no need for rest before I begin, if there is an assignment you have for me I would take it now. Otherwise I will take time to get to know Sylva so I can be better prepared to meet her needs.” He’ll be no good as a recruiter or liason if he can not present all of the autumn kingdoms charms.
Darrow
i've been a teacher and a student of hurt
i've kept my word for whatever that's worth
never been last but I've never been first
no, I may not be the best but I'm far from the worst
;
