Family reunions are my favorite thing to mentally eavesdrop on. Rarely is a family in Beqanna anything near approaching normal or well-adjusted (present company included) and this pair is no disappointment. A screwed up uncle who has been king of a place that I consider only slightly better than a swamp and his equally screwed up niece who has been whisked away for not one, but two games by twisted minds. Not that I'm judging. I have a family history that includes unrequited love, rape, incest and plain old power hungry ambition. And there's my relationship with my children, particularly my son. That would not be considered normal by even a first year psych student. But do I care? No.
Normal is for the boring and the lifeless.
I guess you could say I'm a sucker for a soap opera. But that doesn't change my main objective; finding guests for the sure to be fun filled party in the Valley. My lips quirk into an amused grin as I approach the indigo mare and her golden companion. She is almost hidden under the light of the stars, but a row of four horns climb the bridge of her nose, and I wonder if she considers what she went through worth it for that particular gift. My own gifts were a present upon my ascension. First ascension.
I ruffle my red and black hawk wings before tucking them tightly across my sides. They are the only thing physically impressive about me. In every other way I am an average dark bay mare with golden-brown eyes. My voice is lazy, betraying no eagerness. Although damn would I love to see this girl hanging about the Valley. A twisted history like hers practically screams for acceptance in the original home of the darkly hedonistic.
“Magnus of the Gates.” I grin darkly at him. Valley hater. I contemplate answering his unspoken question but I don't want to ruin the fun in the first act. Better to see how this plays out.
“Our companion here is Malis and I'm Gallows from the Valley. Might as well get the introductions out of the way and move on to what we all want to know.”
They can try to block my mind reading of course, but it takes quite a talent to do so. Besides, I'll only torment them just a little.
I turn my expectant look onto the indigo mare. “What is it you want, dear?”
G A L L O W S
We must all hang together or, assuredly, we shall all hang separately.
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