Somnus had never been to Solterra before. The closest that he had come to these desert wastelands had been when Maxence and his entourage had come to the Harvest Festival last fall. Their meeting had been brief and a poor mockery of a political meeting, but that had been one of Somnus’ first tastes of those who braved the harsh desert terrain and called it ‘home’. It had been an interesting engagement, for sure, so he could only assume the type of individuals they would encounter on their journey to the Day Court capitol.

The journey had been an arduous one; unaccustomed to the heat and the elements as he was, Somnus’ glistening, golden coat grew to a dark copper when damp and slick with sweat. It was easy for him to tire when faced with such unforgiving brutality. The intense heat and rolling sand dunes were nothing like the cool shade and plentiful water of Delumine. He surely looked frightfully disheveled and in no physical state to hold audience with Solterra’s fierce Queen, yet he kept pace with Ipomoea and even during the height of the noontime hour would hold his wing high in the air to provide shade for his beloved Regent. After all, the last thing that Somnus wanted was for Ipomoea to burn beneath the rays of sunlight. It was a small favor, and he wished he could do more, yet their resources were limited.

As they arrived at the capitol, Somnus held his tongue while silently observing. Keen verdant eyes roamed the lingering destruction, the dusty walls and ramshackle structures. News of the Davke attack had reached them, yet by the time that the news had arrived, they had been too late to offer any form of immediate reprieve or assistance. Would Solterra view them negatively because of it? Hopefully their visit and offerings would clear up any potential bad blood between them… Yet only time would tell. The laughter of children amidst the destruction was a welcome sound, and offering the group of foals locked in their game of tag a sidelong glance, the Dawn King remained in-step with his Regent, advancing as far as they could before their path was barred.

The words spouted their way were unpleasant and unwelcoming, and Somnus did not appreciate the tone in which they addressed Ipomoea. The Sovereign’s gaze narrowed, dark lips twisted downwards into a pensive frown. From their journey he was hardly in the mood for such aggression, yet could they really doubt the citizens of Solterra for being so cautious? No. No, they really couldn’t.

Before he could offer a reply which may have risked a tongue lashing, Po was beating him to it, speaking with the skills he had surely developed during his servitude as Emissary. The Dawn King shifted and idly brushed the back of one mottled wing against the appaloosa’s side, a gentle caress of affection, of reassurance that he was not alone. The young man held such a gifted, gilded tongue, that Somnus did not doubt his abilities to get them by the doubtful squire. As it turned out, his faith was correct. As the squire turned away, the dunalino’s lips lifted in a furtive smile. “Well done, little brother,” he murmured approvingly, before once more falling into step at Po’s side as they were lead further into the capitol.

They came to a stop before a set of double doors, intricate yet modest in detail. Somnus drew himself up to his full height, rolling a shoulder as he lifted his head, posture collected and poised. Alba, who had been fluttering overhead alongside Odet, spiraled downwards to take up her customary position upon the dunalino’s broad croup. The barn owl landed effortlessly, tucking her wings close to her feathered frame, and watched with both curiosity and scrutiny.

There was nothing to do but wait. Either the Day Queen would see them, or they would be sent back the way that they had come. For the gifts that had shouldered and the hope of their visit, Somnus hoped that it was the first.

Once more he reached out, the point of his muzzle brushing against the appaloosa’s shoulder. “Peace.” Fleeting and small, but he hoped that his word would help reassure Ipomoea’s state of mind. There was little else he could do, but he would try.

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