K A I S A R

You will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you never had the courage to commit.

Once one learned to master their secrets, they were armor, a weapon. A smirk in the dying light of the sun, the dagger in the dark smeared with poison and the wispy, exhilerated breath at the expense of the unassuming. They were a rebirth, the pheonix rising from it's own ashes to seize the day with renewed vigor. Kaisar had long become that pheonix, or rather a Dragon, for he was more scales and jagged teeth than feathers and sharp beaks.

Family had always been a complicated and ultimately ramshackle affair. His father, his brother, his nephews and ultimately his own children. His family had been rife with fractures even when he was but a babe, flitting away days with Marrod. Peace and togetherness had never been in their blood, it simmered and boiled beneath the fiery planes of their skin and reflected in their inferno gaze. They were prone to greatness and great folly, whenever they congregated it was not meant to last. Kaisar had long come to accept that togetherness was not for them, the brief moments they ended up on the same side and working for the same goals were to be savoured for their fleeting life, and left when the birds wings began to burn.

Even his own son, who had followed him here, was not immune to the chafing the sons of fire often felt in the presence of their blood. Perhaps there was a touch of envy in the volcanic stallion's heart at those who could maintain such familial closeness without it becoming a burden to bear. He had filled his halls with duty instead, with shadows and poisons, careful words and bitter sweet triumphs. The Night Court was just the most recent to set up it's banners, the current song he marched to.

Their thirst, their greed. Their secrets, and lies. Little victories and sour losses. The odd way they stood as a picture, in the low light of the night court, they matched.

"Novus will reward you richly, then." He huffed, amused, lapsing into a contemplative silence as Arah spoke. "Your home was not as advanced as Novus then? Or the place where I was born for that matter." Kaisar stated, still thoughtful. "There are others who have come from other such places, here and in the other courts too, I imagine." It often perplexed him that such places existed, given the nomadic nature of many other individuals from other lands. Surely, they would of brought with them their secrets and magic? Brought their experience and culture to integrate with the one they were currently residing with. "Speaking of Courts, and others. I should at least inform you of them in more detail. Denocte, our realm, is known as the Court of Thieves and Assassins. We are a fairly free Court, we do not particularly place weight on any one path, and we're rather infamous for our parties." It was a Court of intrigue and freedom, and many thrived for it, protected in Calligo's embrace and their mountain barriers. Theirs was a World not many were privy to, or welcomed within, but oh did they revel in it themselves. "Then there is the Dusk Court, who pride themselves on their healing arts, their potions and herbal remedies are without equal, their patron Goddess is Vespera. Then there is Dawn, who are known for their Sages who worship Oriens, I have not met much of them, they're too busy in their books I suppose. Then there is Day." Kaisar cannot help the deadpan in his voice when he reached Solsis' Court, nor the way his brows furrowed. "Desert rats with an attitude. They are Warriors by nature, and their God is Soltis."

His attention is soon drawn back to her jest, and he huffed a breath. "Indeed, I must admit, it is rather satisfying to watch a stallion revert to being a yearling over losing. Makes me wish I could immortalize their faces in marble, with the look they often give." Grace in loss was not everyone's cup of wine, or favorite sweet to swallow. Kaisar had been a poor loser in his youth, but age had refined it to a bitter tasting wine he would drink to better appreciate later. "Oh, definitely." Kaiser replied with a grin. "Sore losers have nothing left, to well, lose. Makes sense that they lash out and try and inflict as much damage as they can." A roll of a muscular shoulder accompanied his words. "Most of these were gifted in the service of my brother, and then in the Court of my Nephew. The particular gash on my shoulder was received after a ball went awry. The burn on my left hind from an poorly timed fireball."

Gods had been a very delicate thing within his family. Gods had been the rise and ruin of his House, the tumultuous wind howling outside the palace, threatening to scour the stone pillars into tooth picks and send their legacy crashing into the waves of the desert ocean. "Whatever comes from your visit to the Sages, and the Dusk Courtier, I'm sure it will be at least interesting." So far, every other equine he had met who called Novus home as been as varied as the last, no two were the same. Refreshing, and challenging, one could not simply lump them into pigeonholes on first meetings. At the mention of a festival, Kaisar gave a deliberate pause. "There is one happening now in fact, I'm due to head there myself shortly. The Dawn Court is honoring the changing of the seasons, perhaps you would like to accompany me?" He offered, no weight or expectation lined his face. They had just met, and a stranger despite a name given, offering to escort you anywhere would give many pause. But he was genuine in his offer, he was duty bound first and foremost to safeguard the people of his court — it was merely an enjoyable side benefit that Arah was the moon personified.

"The apartments it is." Moving his bulk with practiced ease, he turned toward the hallway that would take them to their destination. "Anyone is entitled to a room, one only has to ask and they will have it, there are no real requirements to who and who isn't allowed one. Some prefer to live outside the protection and safety of the Keep, but most, including myself — prefer the security and luxury of stone walls and comfortable pillows and blankets, especially when the season changes. Makes the cold mornings a little more easier to deal with." The warrior explained, chuckling under his breath. The rows of doors were mostly shut, the solid wood decorated with various iron depictions. Occasionally one would be open just a crack, giving a brief glimpse to the accommodation's inside. "Unfortunately, I cannot simply let you wander into others rooms. But you may view mine, to get an idea of what you may expect when you have your own." The last part is said with a  knowing smirk, eyeing the mare slyly. Pausing outside of a iron clad door decorated with dragon motifs, the creature coiled in it's own grasp. Reaching out with a gentle push of telekinesis, the door swung open at his insistence, revealing the well lit large room within.

Black and red tapestries lined the stone walls, embroidered with gold and the faint smell of incense lingered, still rich and just a little bit spicy in the undertones. The braziers warmed and bathed it in an equally warm glow, the soft orange and yellow removing the dark and foreboding presence the keep often had. Personal objects lay scattered on tables and against the wall, from trinkets of his home to a particular sword engraved with foreign runes. Books leather bound and slightly frayed from too many long nights awake with no sleep in sight. Lingering remnants of a life of a well educated advisor, a cunning player of the game and it's thirst for higher prizes and deeper knowledge. All of it framed the plush amount of dark pillows and blankets which made the bed he laid upon. "You may decorate the rooms as you wish." Kaisar hummed thoughtfully, his was more darker than some of the more star spun palette's he had spied. His was the earth and it's volcanic blood. "Ah, you mentioned the dungeons. Our home is not immune to the blight of other lands, there are thieves, vagabonds and unsavory courtiers from other lands who we have to contend with. But, let's not spoil a rather lovely tour of the keep, no? When you're done here we can move off to the Gardens."

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"kaisar talks"
TAG: @Arah