She listens as the others speak. There’s plenty to be learned in the field if you pay attention, and she doesn’t even need to use her friends as spies in order to gain some information. The Valley, it seems, has grown weaker since her last visit there. What a shame. Straia had rather hoped the two of them, as allies, could become powerhouses. Perhaps she’d have to go visit the Valley and find out exactly what’s going on in that kingdom. Eight might need a woman to help keep house, and all. Not that she could help, she had her own kingdom, but she could yell at him. She was far more his equal now than she had been the last time they met.
Though still, what the Valley offers isn’t that different from the Chamber. The Chamber was stronger than the Valley it seemed, but not without plenty of room to shape it’s future. She still needed an advisor and a general, and potentially a new ambassador if Kavi didn’t get off his love puppy horse soon and come back to his own kingdom. She didn’t tolerate disappearances forever. Certainly, there was a grace period. But her grace could only last so long.
Wichita, who barely seems like she wants to sell her own kingdom right now, admits that the boy will do most of his own training, and that he’ll gain a loving home. She isn’t surprised by this bit of information. The Gates has not been strong in decades, and her ravens tell her little has changed. It’s grown slightly under Fiasko and Mast, but not enough to be much of a threat yet.
The boy speaks again, wanting to clarify the issue of training. She grins slightly, because he had a fair point. They hadn’t answered him much, except Wichita. And she’s rather enjoying seeing someone so determined to train, to learn. If he chose the Valley or the Chamber, he’d be an asset to her either way. Though she can’t say she wouldn’t prefer he choose the Chamber. And he could certainly choose the Gates, she can’t read his mind. She can only answer his question.
“The Chamber can offer you training. In war, Erebor is reasonably well trained, but could use more practice and would help. And we have a newer recruit, Killdare, that is ready and willing to mock with anyone. In diplomacy, I’ll train you, and Kavi as well.” Hell, if she had to, she’d train the boy to fight too. She was no amazing fighter (Erebor would be a far better teacher), but she had served her time in the army when she was younger. She wasn’t entirely useless, at any rate.
straia
the raven queen of the chamber
Use of mild power playing is allowed; no injuries without permission