I'm so excited, delighted - Magnus, any

[magnus]

you and I both know that the house is haunted
and you and I both know that the ghost is me

If anyone is to understand a sense of debt driving actions, it is Magnus. He had never truly loved the Gates—not at first, at least. Instead, he had loved the gentle-smiled mare who had called it home and who had loved it; and he had decided to love it for her. He had put aside his own desires (dark and tangled as they were) for her, and he had poured himself wholeheartedly into the kingdom—giving it his everything. Eventually, he had failed the kingdom, some would say failed it spectacularly, and the guilt was corrosive.

When he had found himself washed up on the shores of the beach, saltwater spitting from his lungs, it had not taken him long for his internal compass to point him here once more. It had not taken him long for a sense of debt to drive him into work for the kingdom once more—throwing himself into recruiting and building alliances and watching over Mast’s flock quietly at night out of a sense of debt to Joelle.

Time and again, he would love this kingdom because he loved her.

Of course, he does not think of any of this when Felinae finds him. All he sees is the brightly colored mare who had been brave enough to escape that morning with the children and Minette. He had been keeping loose tabs on her during her stay in the kingdom, watching during his daily aerial patrols as he was wont to do, but he had not yet had a one-on-one conversation with her. He had not yet checked in personally, and so he is glad when she initiates it on her own, smiling gently as she approaches.

“Felinae,” he greets warmly, reaching over to nudge her shoulder with his inky muzzle. “I am glad to see that you are doing well.” It does not take her long through to reveal the true purpose of the conversation, and his expression grows more somber, lips pressing together in thought. “I think that is a noble goal, Felinae, and if you were to do that under the Gates name, we would be proud of it.” He considers her for a moment, gold eyes burning, before asking, “Are you thinking you would like to join our peace caste?”

MAGNUS

once general. once lord. once king.