[private] to the lonely sea and sky

[Tarian]

If the shadows permitted to read her facial expression (or if he knew her better), Tarian might have seen the way that they cast across her opalescent face; the way her face briefly parted like she left room for doubt between the cracks. There are two emotions there that conflict and then intertwine and the silver pegasus can manage a guess of the maelstrom of thoughts that might linger beneath her blue-sheened coat.

He has had a whole year to contemplate why no word came from Loess.

There is no anger within Tarian (at least not at Oceane, none of this had been her fault). There are not many horses within Loess and their precious numbers couldn't be put at risk for just one. Not while they were rebuilding, not while the South was still healing from the fires that Pangea had inflicted on them. If there is blame to be laid anywhere, the gray pegasus has left it with canyons and ravines that cut across the Wasteland.

(Perhaps in his youth - when his temper had been immature and volatile - this might have been a different story. But now, Tarian is merely glad to be home.)

Tarian lifts his proud head to meet his eyes with hers, finally allowing himself to relax within the borders of his kingdom. His wings settle comfortably at his sides and the older stallion studies the remaining Loessian queen. There is a moment that he considers telling her No, that he will not accept her apology because she has nothing to apologize for; but the gray pegasus is quiet because she is a monarch and it is not his place to tell her what to do. It is his place to listen - as he remembers from his etiquette lessons all those years ago - and he does with his light-colored ears flicked forward in her direction.

"My lady, I no more hold you accountable for my captivity than I would think you responsible for breaking the sun," Tarian tells her. It's an attempt at humor (black humor for dark times) but he hopes to ease the sadness that he hears in the quiet of her voice. The boyish smile quirks again - the one that makes him look like his father, Malachi - and he shares with her that his time in Pangea was not wasted. Hesitantly, he tells of the events that occurred during his time there. The rise of one leader - Straia - and then he explains that the Magic had turned on her; the ground itself opening and dragging her into the pits of Hell. Carnage (a God? A Magician?) had come, full of ominous warnings that made Tarian glad to leave.

The pegasus listens as the Queen of the South tells him of the year that had passed in Loess. He learns of her trip to the Mountain and the barter she made with the Fae. He learns that she had stolen the Eastern monarch and some part of Tarian feels a prideful tug of retribution at the admission; he hopes as she does though that it will end the tensions between the two kingdoms.

(It reminds him of when he first met Lepis, patrolling the borders of her kingdom instead of leaving the duty to a sentry. The Southlands and their Queens are certainly things to be admired.)

Despite their current trials, Tarian feels as Oceane does. The winds of Fate might start to blow in a different direction, one finally in their favor. He gives another small nod of his head when she says this before she catches the stallion off-guard. Him? Champion of Loess? He dips his head lower. "If you think it fitting," he murmurs from the back of his throat. "I would serve you and Loess to the highest regard."