Solace
. . .
Solace had tried to find him; her one-time lover and the father of her children deserved to know of the twins existence. But Loess seemed to rearrange its government annually, and Castile seemed to have been lost in the shuffle.
It seemed impossible to her that such a man could disappear, and in the beginning stages of her pregnancy she had flown as close as she dared to Loess heart - but never did she glimpse him. After their children were born she had made another effort, this time also searching the Riverlands, but not even his acidic scent was to be found.
She told herself her effort was only for their children, but she also wanted to know that he was alright.
But finally, Hyaline's Caretaker grew resigned that he would show up in his own time, and she made sure her children knew his name and what he looked like. But what is a name to a child? If they asked anything else she indulged them to the best of her ability, but if she was honest, there were many parts of his life that she was unaware of. Castile was a drifter, but he was also the son of a former Queen of Nerine - The Iron Queen - and she made sure they knew that one well.
Today, the young mother watches Velk slip away out of the corner of her eye, and she allows him his space for some time before following. She finds him grazing peacefully, and she begins to do the same as she watches his lanky form drift across the little meadow.
Finally haven eaten her fill, Solace lifts her pale head and swallows her last bite, bringing up a topic she had on her mind as she steps forward to close the space between them. "Recently I've been thinking that it is time for you and your sister to begin your education." She speaks in a gentle tone, running her muzzle along his sapphire mane to pick out a stray twig or two. "I want to try both diplomacy and sparing, and then you can decide which you would prefer to focus on."
Pulling her muzzle away so she can look to his youthful face, she tries to read his reaction. "I would like you to start with physical training, and then in the spring or summer, we will take a trip to show you the other kingdoms and give you a sense of diplomacy. How does that sound to you?"
@[Velk]