and I discovered that my castles stand
upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
He watches carefully as Nixie steps into the water, and when her elg is submerged he concentrates, willing the water as best he knows how. It works, it seems, and the mare emerges from the water just as Cymbalta admits that she’s unaware of the complicated going-on of kingdoms.
Nixie reaches out and then recoils, and Texas tilts his head curiously at her reaction, but doesn’t comment.
He is far from opposed to touch – especially from the fairer sex – but he has learned long ago that what he considers harmless fun is often construed quite differently by women. Best to not let them get attached, he’s found. That’s why Texas tends to seek his company outside the Falls; though it’s more work on his part, it’s infinitely better than being forced to have actual conversations with mares that he may or may not have gotten pregnant. The bay stallion had rather enjoyed his first reign in the Falls, when the kingdom had been run as a large herd rather than the political behemoths they’ve become today.
In other words, she can touch all she wants and Texas will gladly touch back as long as there are no feelings involved.
But they’d both said they know little – if anything – about castes, and he supposes that’s more important for now. “There are two castes. One is based around diplomacy, finding peaceful solutions to issues and organizing the relationships with other kingdoms. The other caste is made up of fighters, trained for battle and war when diplomacy fails.” He pauses and glances down at the pink mare’s legs. “Are either of you warriors – or interested in learning to fight?” Asks the bay stallion, doing his best to not sound skeptical. “Or does diplomacy sound like an area more suited to your talents.”
texas
