She's got the devil's eyes
She had tried to warn Castile once. Had told him anything that might affect her kingdom would always be a concern of hers. He had chosen not to heed that warning, however. Either that, or he genuinely believed her weak. Either way, he had made is lack of regard resoundingly clear.
So really, it should come as no surprise that his allies are discovering this and fleeing left and right. Whether or not it is with the help of her whispering in their ears is irrelevant. She only speaks the truth, after all.
He really should not have made the mistake of underestimating and dismissing her.
In that way, Ilma and Heartfire share a great deal in common. So, really, it comes as no surprise to the roan queen when the lovely former queen seeks her out. While they might differ a great deal in how they choose to attain their ends, ultimately, they each have the same goal. Heartfire merely has fewer qualms about using the more… unsavory methods of bringing that about. Still, she knows Ilma is an intelligent woman, despite their relatively brief acquaintance. And in the end, the only conclusion she could come to as that in some things, there is no middle ground.
Sometimes one has no choice but to choose a side.
For Heartfire, that had been simple. She had made the decision not to involve herself in the petty squabbles that had come before. But Castile, in his infinite wisdom, seems to have taken that as an invitation to set his sights on Nerine. A mistake on his part. He seems to have so easily forgotten just how long her reach truly is. Brawn is not the only strength (nor even the best, in her opinion) one can possess.
Ilma locates her easily enough. But then, she had already been aware of her arrival. Had moved to meet her even before the soft call sounds. Heartfire may not lay claim to the ability to see into the endless possibilities of the future, but she has an insight, and an intuition, of her own.
“Hello Ilma,” she offers in greeting as her easy steps bring her to a halt a comfortable distance from the pale woman. “I was wondering if you’d come.”
Perhaps they did not know each other well, but that has never prevented Heartfire from gleaning any information she could. And what she knows of Ilma had told her long ago she would never be content remaining on the sidelines. After all, one doesn’t rise to the role of queen if one doesn’t house at least some ambition in their heart.
and they'll cut you like a weapon