S O M N U S
"What if I fall?"
"Oh, but my darling, what if you fly?"
Despite the wind rushing in his ears, the old scholar's words still echoed in his head and held promise that they would not vacate his mind anytime soon. This place, this world, this
Novus... It was as new as it was old. It was grandeur and adventure, glory and redemption. It was mystery, promise, and
hope all in the form of rolling hills, vast prairies, marvelous mountains, and scorched deserts.
Somnus had felt
a little guilty that his inquiry, his thoughtful question of, "How did this place come to be?" had resulted in the elderly scholar to be so worn out, but his tale had spun a world so vast, so
ripe for the taking that the dunalino stallion had been unable to ignore the desire alight in his breast. He wanted to know
more of this place, this
Novus, a land wrought and ravaged by one hundred years of darkness and that had, so recently, once again seen the light of day.
'Dawn in the northwest, Day in the northeast, Dusk in the southwest, and Night in the southeast.'
... The Dawn Court.
Leaving the old storyteller to his nap and his clearing of trees, Somnus had taken flight, mighty amber wings stealing the golden tactician away and into the sky, towards the northwest. Lands passed beneath his hooves, steppes giving way to grand mountains, mountains giving way to forests. Flashes of color passed beneath him all ripe with the thralls of summer, and sharp, crisp emerald eyes missed no detail as he soared overhead, mighty wings beating in tune to his pumping heart, propelling him towards his goal, his heart's desire.
First, he would land there, at the Court of the Rising Sun. There, he would greet whoever was in charge, introduce himself with the poise and eloquence required of a studious gentleman, and then proceed to inquire
more about this land. After
that, well... There were still three other sections of Novus to explore, to learn, to map, and Somnus had every intention on grasping it tight within his maw and never letting it go. This was a new challenge, a new opportunity to
prove himself, and had never been one to squander a chance.
There!
The dark twisting spires were the first physical evidence of the Dawn Court in the distance, the tawny brick and mortar structure looming ever so proudly amidst the treetops. The closer he grew, the more easily he could spot it, and it was with breathless anticipation that the golden tactician spread his wings for the landing. The landing was smooth, with noticeable grace of the seasoned flyer, and Somnus' hooves landed upon the stone ground with a rhythmic staccato, gradually slowing until he came to a halt before the Court.
Sharp emerald eyes roamed every nook and cranny of the structure before him, the onyx of his horn glinting in the bright sunlight as he tucked strong, amber wings against broad, golden sides. There, standing at attention, he settled.
This was the Dawn Court, and
this was where his story truly began.
