Straia had only met Noctural once. The mare, if Straia remembers correctly, had been half dragon at the time. Or least, had been acting like one, and Straia remembers dragon. Either way, that is the imagine in her head. She had been a child then. What, a year old? Maybe not even that. She doesn’t remember much, truthfully. Most of it she thinks she’s dreamed up in the years that have passed, some story concocted in her head to fill in all the blanks her father purposefully left.
The one thing she vividly remembers is the news. Your mother was murdered. Maybe there had been more words or less words, but the point was still the point. She remembers the feeling of her heart being ripped from her chest. She remembers Nocturnal the dragon, more rage than sorrow. But in that moment, Straia knew nothing but sorrow. It is the only moment in her life death has touched her that way, and likely will be the only moment it ever does. Unless Erebor dies before her, but then, she’ll simply tear the world apart in revenge.
He is causal when he greets her, like she should know him. And then he mentions family. She cocks her head slightly, wondering why the ravens didn’t bother to fill her in on any bit of information regarding this stallion. Every once in a while the ravens had a strange sense of humor. Or maybe they knew she would appreciate this discovery on her own, that it would keep her from racing to the stranger on the border and neglecting her own kingdom. Because the ravens knew her well, and they knew what information she sought.
Despite her bubbling excitement, she can’t help but laugh. “No, they definitely do not.” Oksana lurked around now, which Straia was glad for. Rodrik as well, though he certainly didn’t seek out his daughter. Lu wanted nothing to do with her. Straia wasn’t exactly that popular with her own family. Even Kavi, who tried to preach peace to them now that they were not “officially evil.” They never needed to be officially anything to simply do as they pleased here. And Straia sought power for her kingdom, and the knowledge of that power throughout Beqanna. Maybe that made her evil, but she didn’t care. She’d collected quite the crew of horses here that seemed to agree with her goal. Though they all had different ways to go about it.
He continues, and she nods slightly, tossing her head a bit to indicate that he should come in. They have no secrets to hide from spies anyway. The kingdom is bustling and alive. She doubts he’s a spy, but even if he is, the only news he’ll leave with is that the Chamber is a formidable foe. She studies him for a moment; trying to think of anything she may know about her mother’s side of the family. But her histories lessons were horribly sparse, and there’s very little. Though she does remember the dragon mare that told her of her mother’s death, and she has to ask. “Nocturnal’s son?” but she could be entirely wrong. She knows Nocturnal and Araby are both her aunt’s, but she could have others she’s never even heard of.
“My father did a bang up job of making sure I never learned about that side of my family.” He murdered her mother and ran the rest of the family out of the kingdom. At least, that’s what she suspected. But time has a knack for erasing even the best of efforts. Because here was her mother’s side of the family, waltzing through the pine trees with her.
straia
the raven queen of the chamber
Use of mild power playing is allowed; no injuries without permission