SOMNUS

Since parting ways with Kasil, Somnus has known exactly who he had wished to speak with first about the matter. It simply came down to finding the joyful Emissary. Delumine was changing, and they needed to be prepared. The command had shifted, the mantle of Dawn King now resting upon his shoulders. It was a heavy weight, one that he did not feel worthy of, but one that he knew he would not need to carry alone. The tactician would do whatever it took to see that his Court was well taken care of, that they would want for nothing, but he could not do it alone. He would need help, and while the list was remarkably small, Somnus knew best who could help him tend to the needs of his Court.

His Court? No, no… It was not his Court as much as he was theirs. He was their servant. His body was their vessel, a means to do their bidding. A means to keep them safe. That had been his promise.

Having stepped out into the courtyard, Somnus’ eyes had wandered until they had spotted Ipomoea standing amidst the blooming hedges and flower bushes. Alba fluttered from her perch upon his rump, silently taking to the skies and darting about the spotted fellow, clacking her beak in loud pops! to get the Emissary’s attention, before wheeling about in the air to return to her roost. Somnus’ eyes remained upon the Emissary, waiting and watching for his reaction.

When their eyes met, keen emerald meeting joyful magenta, Somnus gathered his strength to offer the Emissary a kind smile. It was an honest expression at least, sincere despite his trepidation, but noticeably strained. This was not a happy visit between friends, as much as Somnus wished otherwise. Would that it could be so easy…

“I had hoped that I would find you out here, good Po,” the golden murmured by way of greeting, deciding to jump straight into it. No point in dawdling, and Somnus was never the type to beat around the bush, anyway. Oriens’ beard, had Kasil even told this kind hearted young man about his thoughts of leaving Delumine behind? “... There’s been a development, and if you’ve the time, I need to speak to you. Urgently.”

What would Ipomoea say? How would he react? They were amicable, certainly. Somnus would even dare to say they might be friends, or, at the very least, almost be to that point… But Po was fiercely loyal to Kasil. Would he trust Somnus’ words as true? That Kasil had passed the crown to him? That the Regent hadn’t acted a traitor and usurped their beloved King? No. Please, stars above, no.

Please let him listen to reason and truth. They needed each other now more than ever.

SOMNUS

’Is everything alright, Somnus?’

An innocent question, but one that weighed an unfathomable amount. Was everything alright? Well, no, but it was manageable. Salvageable. To his knowledge, Delumine was not in immediate danger despite the rising tensions between their sister-provinces. Everyone was safe and healthy. They could overcome this drastic, sudden change, so long as they all stood together. Just as the sun would inevitably sink beyond the horizon and end the day, the dawn would inevitably rise. Life would continue, just as they would. This was merely a setting sun of one era, preparing the stage for another to rise.

Still, he found himself hesitant to speak. Fearful, almost. How could he say the words that so desperately pushed for supremacy behind his teeth? The new King let out a slow, measured breath, allowing for his eyes to drift shut in an attempt to collect himself and his thoughts. Losing himself to his warring emotions would do them no favors. The spotted fellow in his company now could be trusted. That was why he had sought him out in the first place. Po was a man of reason, a champion of the mind, of the spirit, of knowing. He would understand, and Somnus knew that he had nothing to fear.

“As well as they can be, I’m afraid. Po,” Somnus breathed out, as though the Emissary’s name was dry land and he had been drowning, lost at sea amidst water and flotsam. As he spoke, however, the dunalino’s voice grew in strength, in confidence. Determined emerald eyes slid open, glittering fiercely in the sunlight as he met the gaze of concerned magenta. Together. “… I’ve just come from a meeting with Kasil. He has shifted supreme command of the Court to me. He has named me Sovereign in his stead.”

He paused long enough to take another steadying breath, all while carefully gauging the Emissary’s expression. The new King stood poised and firm, holding his ground against the harsh truth of his own words. The weight of his promise felt like lead in his breast, but just as much as it was heavy, did it make him strong. “Kasil plans to leave Delumine behind, if he hasn’t already. I won’t speak for him in regards to why. He is my friend, and I will not try to explain his reasoning… But that brings me to why I’ve sought you out. I know that this is sudden. I know that you and Kasil were very close, in manners of the Court and in friendship, but we must carry on. For our Court, and the ones who love this place just as much as you and I do.”

“I would like for you to be my Regent, good Po. Your influence within our Court is great, and they respect you. I respect you.” He hoped that Po understood the importance of it. Somnus did not give out his friendship, his trust, or his respect that easily. “You are determined and astute, and loyal to Delumine and Oriens’ teachings. I believe that your experience as Emissary will serve us well, standing by my side as Regent. I also know that this is a lot to take in at once, and by no means am I pressuring you to accept such a weight. Nor will I think any different of you should you decline.”

Somnus wouldn’t blame him, not one bit. Ipomoea made a fantastic Emissary. He was personable and bubbly, vivacious in all manners of life, easy to laugh and talk… But it was those things that made him a grand Emissary that made Somnus hope he would accept the promotion to Regent. The new King could use such feats in his second-in-command. Hoping to alleviate the tension in the air, he attempted a smile, but Somnus was fairly certain it looked more like a grimace.

“… If you need to think on it, please, do. I can wait.”

But could the Court?

SOMNUS

Somnus did not rush him. He remained silent and thoughtful, stationary with his erect posture, expression open and unguarded. Dark lips remained pressed firmly together, brows furrowed, and his eyes swam with an infinite sort of emotion. Grief, stress, hope… This was no game. It was not a moment to make a rash decision, and he understood Ipomoea’s need to take a moment for himself and think.

Pride did not drive them. They were beings of knowledge, seekers of truth. Glory and strength were not things that they yearned for. They did not wish to move mountains, to make others kneel or cower, to hoard away rare and exotic riches. Instead, they desired understanding to the mechanizations of the world, to have answers to the mysteries that surrounded them. Strength of the mind was far more desirable than strength of the body, and Ipomoea understood that. Somnus could think of no other to uphold Oriens’ teachings by his side, and so he stood silently, hoping, waiting.

The murmured ’Me…?’ was enough to make Somnus’ heart stutter within his breast, hesitation drawing him back to himself. The role of Regent was a tumultuous one, and while the Appaloosa was learned and dutiful, loyal to their home and their tutelary deity, he was young. Could Somnus willingly sleep at night knowing that he had placed such a heavy burden upon the shoulders of one so young? Almost immediately upon thinking it, the new King shut it down. Foolish. He was being foolish. The physical age meant nothing in the schemes of deeper intelligence, of intimate brilliance. This younger soul before him had already proved his worth as Emissary, and then some.

He would ask no other. Not yet. Not ever, if it all worked out. Po could do it. Somnus had the faith in this young man, that he would defy every expectation and rise.

Then, a breath. A decision reached. ’… You honor me, Somnus.’ Oh, no. The honor was all his. How could he make Po see? The dunalino, however, held his tongue. He could not rush this, would not rush this, could not breach the sanctity of this precious moment. Po continued, his voice growing in strength, in determination, in fealty, the tears that Somnus had spotted seeming to disappear beneath thick lashes with the blink of an eye. ’If you wish me to be your Regent, I will stand by you. Delumine is my home – I will never abandon our people, nor you, my King.’

My King.

A fleeting moment of terror chilled the golden Sovereign to the bone. No. No. It was wrong. So wrong. He was never meant to be a King. Somnus had been satisfied to serve his monarchs. It was his calling; servant, tactician, advisor, regent. Now? King? Him? Could he truly? Then, a thought. A memory; a different land, a different King, but one who was uncertain of how to press forward. One who doubted himself. Somnus’ own voice echoed in his mind, elegant and rich and full of a conviction he no longer felt.

One cannot lead by standing still. A king pushes onward, always, accepting the consequences and never looking back.

It was all or nothing. Perhaps he could not rule alone, but that was why he was here. If Ipomoea was certain, if he believed in himself, if he believed in the both of them… Then so should Somnus.

Slowly, as though he had forgotten how to breathe, the dunalino let out a measured breath. Verdant eyes remained upon Po’s gaze, and in return of the Appaloosa’s own smile, he did the same. Dark lips curled and it was as though a massive weight fell from his shoulders. How had he gotten so lucky to have one such as Po in his Court? In their Court? He was innocent and eager and full of splendor, beautiful in body and spirit, and Somnus’ chest swam with adoration for this young man who so readily accepted such a burden.

“Certainly not I,” he murmured honestly, that smile remaining, brows lifting as the lines of stress disappeared from the new Sovereign’s face, “Oriens’, perhaps.” It was a statement, not a question, for who else would orchestrate such a turn of events but the patron God they both served? “But definitely not I. Yet I am both glad and relieved, that it is you who will be at my side.”

He went on, allowing his gaze to drift upwards, watching the sky. “Thank you, Po. For more than I can express. You honor me, my friend.” What next? What was their next plan of action? That had always been his job; preparing, calculating, planning for every possible outcome and every next step. Now? It seemed as though he was drawing a blank. His new Regent was secure. The burden seemed less. Together they would work for their Court… But, of course, their Court would need to know of the changes that had happened in so short a time. Ah, yes.

Emerald eyes once more sought out magenta, and his smile grew in strength. Together. They could do this together. “… Our first plan of action, good Po? Shall we summon the Court?”

SOMNUS

There was a confidence in Ipomoea, a rolling sense of self-assurance and silent strength despite his boyish nature and genuine personality that had surely come from the months spent as Emissary. It was a rank full of experience and self-building that would only assist the younger man now as Regent. Seeing his assurance, his confidence, the smile upon his lips and the joy within vibrant, sparkling red eyes, Somnus couldn’t help but feel assuaged, his worries drifting away to be tended to another day. Together, they could do this. They could. He had unwavering faith in their combined abilities.

Then, the appaloosa went on, and Somnus’ smile slipped. He was filled with a mixture of awe and hubris, of adoration and uncertainty. What had he done to deserve such reverie? Such respect and devotion? He had only served to the best of his abilities, throwing himself into learning about a land that he knew nothing about and serving a Court that he had not been born into. At first, it had been a coping mechanism to overcome such a devastating, profound loss, but somewhere along the way, it had turned into a genuine passion, a desire to make things better, to make things right. Now, Po’s words rang in his ears, bouncing around within his head, but could not take root. He? The best replacement for Delumine? Certainly not. He was just a man. A flawed man. He was no great King or sanctioned ruler. He was not chosen by the Gods. And yet…

And yet…

He would try to be. He would try to be the King that Delumine needed, that they deserved. It was all he could do.

“Po,” he murmured, a little choked, “I…” There was a pause, a brief hesitation, as the normally so silver-tongued tactician struggled to find the correct words to say. “Thank you. I will do my best to not fail your faith, nor the faith of our Court. I promise. I will do what I must.”

Then, soothing pressure, a soft touch. Wonderful, gentle, grounding touch, as Po stepped forward to brush against the rising crest of his shoulder. Somnus exhaled slowly, letting his eyes flutter closed, soaking in the proffered strength and understanding that such a simple action portrayed. For a selfish moment he stood still, relishing the contact, drawing from his newly named Regent. Emerald eyes opened slowly, focusing on the boyish face of the appaloosa, and his smile returned. He prayed that Po could see the gratification in his eyes, the adoration, the affection.

“Come along, then. Though I must admit, Po, I would much prefer that you walk at my side, if you would indulge me.” Despite what their new ranks dictated, they were equals, and Somnus did not want Po trailing behind, following within the golden tactician’s wake. They should face the trials of their Court together, side by side, and that is what they would do. Turning, the newly crowned King of Delumine took the first steps back to the Citadel, where they would call forth the meeting of a new era.