[open] peace is a bird who sings

[Anaxarete]

HELLO DARKNESS, MY OLD FRIEND “Well, well,” the shadowmare says as she makes her way to the visitors. Familiar shapes, the pair of them.  One, a new acquaintance.  The other, a figure familiar to the Beqanna of old.  She hadn’t expected to see the two of them together.  There is a third with them too - a younger boy, she does not know, but she dips her head in greeting to him all the same. She’d be unsurprised to find Isilya at the border after the previous encounter with Ripley in the forest.  The plant magician seemed intrigued by the alien creatures and Anaxarete still could not determine if the pale mare was incredibly brave or incredibly foolish.  She was, however, surprised to see Ryatah at her side. It seemed that the pale mare had done a better job at carving out a home for herself in these new kingdoms. And it seemed that this new Beqanna had been kind to her as well - she certainly didn’t remember Ryatah as someone quite so angelic.  “Fancy seeing the two of you here,” she breathes, her gaze flickering between the two mares.  She had been expecting an envoy from Tephra, but did not know who would come. “And welcome to you as well,” she says to the boy, “I am Anaxarete.”   Loess had already made an appearance - she knew it was only a matter of time before the others made their way to Pangea. Anaxarete has no intention of alienating Tephra when a fellow magician sits upon the throne. So she knows she must play the game. “Isilya, Ryatah - what brings the two of you to Pangea?” she asks, inclining her head in what would be considered to be polite. “Come, please, it is more comfortable by the river than it is out here,” she adds, beckoning them into the heart of Pangea. A N A X A R E T E

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