I’m a queen bee - any

[Fennick]

Fennick smiled faintly, wrapped up in the comfortable purpose of discussing home. It was one of the few topics that came easily to him. There was much to say about the Valley, and he felt secure in his place there. Purpose was easily found among the heavy mountain fog and tall, towering pines.

Already the weather was changing. Soon those pines would be snow capped, and the autumn grass would be encrusted with a layer of ice and snow. Fennick listened to Magnus talk about the Gate’s, and not for the first time, Fennick wondered if it wouldn’t be a much kinder place to live. He wouldn’t have to keep trudging up and down the mountain, that was for certain.

But still, there was something about the Valley, something about the tall, misty mountains that couldn’t be denied, that wasn’t easy to toss aside. For the first time in his life, Fennick had a child to consider, and still he was happy to place her in the Valley’s rough but secure hands. He gave the mare and stallion a rye smile.

“It’s hard to compete with Heaven.” He wasn’t even being sarcastic. Fennick was almost never sarcastic, a saving grace perhaps, that he didn’t say much but he meant what he said.

“I’m from the Valley. It can get a little chilly, but life is never dull. We’re ruled by Demian. There are plenty of opportunities, whether you’re ambitious or like to take life as it comes. As Magnus said, I’d be happy to show you around.” Fennick was well aware that the Valley wasn’t for everyone, just as every kingdom catered to a different sort. Fennick had long since given up the idea of recruiting. He felt more like a facilitator. If people wanted to come to the Valley, they would, and he would be happy to escort them through their firewall.

The firewall, while useful, could be a little intimidating. There were days he wondered if it didn’t make them see a little insular. A cosmic wall of fire surrounding your whole kingdom tended to give off the impression that you weren’t looking for visitors.

It wasn’t true, and Fennick took it upon himself to make sure everyone knew it.