"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
Raising his head high, the red and white king summons the members of the Waterfall to him. He has tailed diplomats twice now to soothe out issues, and while he feels that he must trust Ygritte with the diplomats, he knows that failed diplomacy will force their still-small army into action. That he cannot allow.
“Please cease all diplomatic missions immediately. Some of you are bold and wished to take matters into your own hands, which is an admirable trait. However, it seems that somehow what is truly needed in terms of diplomatic trips has become murky.”
Stop putting the Falls in harm’s way because you’re no idea what you’re doing, is what he does not say. Stop offering alliances when you should only be investigating the current state of the kingdoms. Stop making promises you can’t keep. Stop going places without permission. Stop. Just Stop.
After he looks to the gathered members, he glances to Ygritte, wondering if the salmon queen is aware of what he diplomats have been up to. They both - Kreios and Ygritte - have taken time away from their duties to raise their children, but it seems that the time has come to put their family aside and focus on their kingdom. Krieos, born and raised with self-sacrifice, is more than ready to do so. He hopes Ygritte is ready as well.
The painted stallion was relaxing off by the pool of the waterfall when he hears his king beckon the kingdom. It was such a familiar sound, and one that was great to hear again. A smile curled on his lips as he made his way to hear what his king had to say. At the top of the waterfall stood Kreios and Ygritte, he gave a dip of his head to the two and took his place at the bottom of the waterfall.
He awaited for the rest of the kingdom to gather as well, they seemed thin in numbers but when the kingdom held a meeting he saw just how many members really belonged to the Falls. Finally when all the members gathered the King began to speak, although this was a different meeting. His tone had a hint of anger, but remained professional as Kreios is. He noted that diplomat trips should come to a halt, and this means that with the position Jedi holds he should be more curious to where the diplomat members are leaving to, and perhaps even following a few. The king looked to Ygritte and he awaited a possibility of words from the Queen.
BETTER BEWARE, I GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT DEVIL-MAY-CARE WITH A LUST FOR LIFE
She has failed them.
The guilt creases her features as the shame fills them. She was to blame for Kreios' displeasure. She had not kept a close enough eye on the diplomats but instead stole away to birth Zai. Her first and precious son. The new boy hugged against her side when she emerges next to her king. The honey pools are softened with embarrassment and it is hard to look to the male.
With a large lungful of air, the queen mare pushes away the self pity and raises her head high. A eye of unrelenting strength and depth is offered to the king. "I am with you, my king." Her voice is low but hard as tempered steel. Her focus shifts to her tony son then back to his father. Marlyn was out with the crowd, having blossomed to a lovely yearling that resembled so much of her father.
Ygritte does not speak but instead wants to hear from Kreios. He would know what to do. Her gaze moves back to the spotted stallion, listening for his guidance.
The young stallion was always out and about exploring the lands that Beqanna offered, although when he returned he heard the king call out to the kingdom, a meeting he supposed. He quickened his pace and made his way to the base of the waterfall. This was his first meeting and he was excited to see what it was all about, he wondered if his father would make an appearance but he was probably to busy tending to the herd mares, foaling season and all.
When he reached the base of the waterfall Jedi was already there, he gave a dip of his head to the equine who held the highest position in the kingdom for warriors. Andras hoped to one day share the spot with the equine, he was working so hard for the kingdom and to be someone to look up to. He stood beside the spotted comrade and looked up awaiting the rest of the kingdom to appear. Eventually the slow pokes came and the king began to speak, he said that all diplomat missions needed to come to a halt, he gave a nod of understanding and was curious as to what happened to have this meeting be called. He looked around to see if anyone else would pipe in, or even if the queen had anything to add.
Let Go Of The Thoughts That Don't Make You Stronger
OOC: im killing off archam later this month so im not gunna post him to this, if thats coool.
Oh, this couldn't be good news. Raxa had heard of things happening recently in the kingdom, and it troubled her. She also had a bad feeling a number of days ago, when the land had changed. Obvious evidence of that was how the Falls here had lost its magical healing water property. Not that Raxa had ever taken advantage of it, but that was beside the point. Did that change in the kingdom have to do with what Kreios could be calling them for?
Whatever the reason, Raxa knew there were others that had to hear this. Anahi, a diplomat, for sure had to be here. No doubt her younger daughter, Eiria would show up, since Raxa had recently gone on a mission with her to the Chamber, only to be followed by Kreios. Nerius might show up to, if only to follow his mother around. Raxa would've notified Nitika too, but the paint mare was off with her daughter in the Chamber kingdom again.
So, with that in mind, Raxa galloped off to the Cobblestone Creek, intent on finding the champagne mare. Easily spotting her bright gold coat among the bushes as Anahi grazed by the riverbank, closely followed by hew newest foal, a wobbly-legged bay colt with slight roan spotting, Raxa alerted the mare to her presence. She'd informed the mare of what was going on in the land, and the group had all left together, catching up with Eiria along the way, who had been moving toward the meeting place as she'd probably heard the call of the king.
The two mares, the filly, and the colt all came to a stop among the other kingdom residents. Raxa listened carefully as Kreios instructed the diplomats to refrain from their missions for the time being. Raxa knew it didn't really apply to Anahi, since she'd been here recently with her new foal, but it sure as hell applied to Eiria. Raxa knew that mission had been a bad idea to begin with, but the filly was too damn stubborn.
Looking out at the other kingdom members, Raxa spotted more faces she knew. Jedi, Andras, some blue roan mare she had met in passing when she'd been inducted into the warrior caste, and a few others.
As she watched the king and queen nervously, Raxa shuffled in place, knowing that the rest of this situation, and the ones to follow in the future, would only unfold in a bad way.
Neoma had been one of the first horses to show up when Kreios called for a meeting. She just had a very bad feeling about everything lately. She had been busy practicing some of her warrior training today, but threw it aside, knowing she needed to be present for this meeting. She sensed a change in this land; she didn't know exactly what, she just knew it was there.
Perhaps Kreios held the answers?
So, when the king called, Neoma galloped full-speed, skidding to a halt once she reached the meeting site. Little by little, the rest of the kingdom population showed up, including a couple faces that Neoma recognized. Deciding to say hi to them later, Neoma focused her attention on the king and queen, wanting to know what they had to say.
They wanted all diplomatic missions to cease? Not that it applied to Neoma much, since she was learning to be a warrior. But, why did they want those missions to cease?
The blue roan mare called up to the king in a respectful tone, "King Kreios, does your wish to cease diplomatic missions have anything to do with the changes Beqanna has gone through recently?"
Jedi is the first to respond, and Kreios looks up at the painted stallion with as much of a smile as he can muster in his disagreeable state. The stallion has been an asset to the Falls since the day he arrived, and Kreios is grateful for his promptness. The over does not speak, leaving the pale king free to turn toward Ygritte when she arrives. The salmon mare has their child in tow, their first son, and to Zai Kreios does offer a genuine smile. He presses his shoulder to the bay mare’s in silent appreciation for her presence at his side and her words of support.
Andras is the next to appear, and while Kreios doesn’t know much of this spotted son of Archam, he does know that the young stallion has already begun to pull his weight around the kingdom. Kreios is grateful for this as well, and it solidifies his previous decision to use this gathering for dual purposes. Rana, Anahi, and their children are the next to come, followed by the roan Neoma.
She is the only one who voices questions aloud, though it is clear from the looks on the other assembled faces that they are equally uncertain. Kreios doesn’t blame them.
“Yes, Neoma.” He replies, turning his storm gaze to the blue roan mare.
“As most of you know, the magic of the waterfall has disappeared. The entire kingdom of the Desert has flooded, and I have heard rumors that the rest of the magics in the kingdoms are faded as well. The gifts given to Ygritte and I as king and queen have vanished as well.” It might be a lot to take in, he knows, and so he waits a moment in case his answers have only given rise to more questions. He would not be surprised.
“The flooding and the disappearance of magic happened after the raid against the Desert.” He tells them, knowing that while the battle is common knowledge, the precise timing of events might not be. “I think this is because Beqanna itself feels the raiders were in the wrong. And since many of the raiders came from kingdoms across Beqanna, I do not feel it is safe to parlay with those who Beqanna does not trust.”
“I feel we need to work our strength up from within our kingdom rather than rely on outsiders. And with that, it is time for several overdue promotions in our Army caste (though I leave diplomacy up to our Queen).”
He turns to Jedi, and the previous disgruntled look has faded form his face when he smiles at the over stallion. “Jedi, if you would accept the position, I wish you to take over as General of the Army - our Master of War. You have been a loyal and strong member for many years, and I believe that our warriors would flourish under your command.”
As the three mares reached the meeting, Blazed saw Kreios and wondered what was happening. 'All diplomatic missions should cease immediately.' The king says, and Blazed nods once. She knew that the changes in the Kingdoms of Beqanna had happened after the Desert raid, and Kreios spoke her thoughts. She watched with her fire-maned filly, Memento, at her side, suckling peacefully. Her little calm in the noise of the Falls, Blazed thought. "Jedi. Congratulations, you will do well." Blazed says, congratulating Jedi in his promotion. It was a high honor and responsibility but Blazed believed he would take it well.
- - - - -
Sunfall reached the meeting, just in time, a bit behind her mother with Memento, and heard Blazed giving congratulations to Jedi. Master of War. A huge promotion, something that held honor and respect. She had an odd sort of love for the painted stallion, and it was ws if they had gone beyond knowing each other, into like being kin or lovers. She did not yet understand this feeling yet, and wanted to learn about it. "I think you'll do splendidly in your new rank, Jedi. Congrats, and good luck." Sunfall says happily, glad for the stallion that he achieved such a promotion. It could easily become a heavy task, if the lands fall into war again.
She had been born after it, but her mother Blazed had endured the aftermath of it as a foal and Blazed's mother endured it while protecting a family. Her family wasn't the best-known, that was a certain fact, but they did have an evil in their blood. Khaos, who had sired Raelnyx, who had sired Blazed. Both stallions were pain-lovers and somewhat sadistic.
- - - - -
Mandalocks was next to Memento and her mother, Blazed, reaching the meeting slightly before Jedi was promoted to Master of War. From what Mandalocks knew, that was the highest ranking for a Warrior. "Jedi! That's wonderful," The mare called to the painted stallion she had grown up knowing well, who she views as a father figure. She never knew who her true sire was, as he came from somewhere else. She was still innocent, not having endured any affects from the war, and didn't understand what this role might weigh on Jedi's shoulders if war arises once more.
Jedi was glad to see the Queen stand beside her King with there foal close behind. He remembers a time when the two were just friends ruling the kingdom together, but now they were lovers and there love made the kingdom stronger.
His head turns to Neoma, the blue roan mare he recruited who asked about Kreios' decision to stop any diplomat missions. He cocked his eyes at the mare who so boldly expressed her concern before turning to gaze up at the king. Kreios responded to Neoma, the missions were to stop due to the changes in Beqanna. All kingdoms were on there tippy toes, easy to become upset with any intruders on there lands. It was understandable of course, I mean who wants someone spying on there kingdom when they are at there weakest.
The king than goes into talking about promotions and calls out his name, He locked gaze with Kreios as he announced Jedi would hold the highest position in the warrior caste. The General of the Army, a humble smile grew on his face, he could not deny the joy he felt. He was a loyal member to the kingdom for many years, repaying the joy the kingdom gave to him. He stepped forward from the crowd and bowed his head to the royals Thank you Kreios, I will do my best to make our warrior caste unbreakable. He never lost the smile that grew, he held his head a little bit taller, proud to be where he was today. Backing into his original position he heard the chatter of Blazed and her children as they all congratulated him, he gave a gentle nod as he looked to each of them Thank you he spoke quietly before looking back to Kreios and Ygritte, curious of any further comments.
Ygritte
