She lies on the outer rim of the ramparts. Healed by the queen of Terrastella since the last herd meeting, her position is one more of comfort than the need to baby an injury. Not everything is perfect of course. She has a scar from the gash she'd obtained, mostly healed but imperfect on her glossy obsidian hide. Her fracture has set and is healing, but not one hundred percent, and the leg as a whole is still stiff. The sun setting in the west casts her in its bright orange and red light, the shadows of her body buried behind her back against the stone wall. Her legs are tucked under her as she remains propped up, but her injured right leg remains out.

She stares out toward the sunset, watching the sun slowly descend toward the horizon. Her mind lazily wanders through a menagerie of thoughts. The healing. The gathering of soil to start growing things in the rain-forsaken desert biome. Becoming the Champion of Wisdom. There's a lot to think about, to plan, but constructive thoughts aren't connecting. The inked mare, self-proclaimed prophetess of Solis, desires to build a shrine to their God. That will take some time and effort. Gathering information will be part of her job as well, knowledge for their realm. The question is.. what should she learn? Plants, customs, religion..? At least she has a head start on the religion aspect.

A sigh slips past her velvet lips. She needs to talk to Maxence, or perhaps his regent or emissary, and learn what his specific goals are regarding her. What does he want from her? Then perhaps she will have a better idea of what sagely wisdom she should pursue. As it is, she only has eyes for Solis. As always.

@Seraphina

GUESSWHO

Of course, no quiet moment goes without being interrupted. Perhaps it is because she is the Champion of Wisdom, perhaps it is because she lies so close to the court. Or, perhaps it is because horses are herd animals and are naturally drawn to each other. Soon, a silvery figure approaches me, her lighter mane, tail, and stripes glinting in the sunlight. The dark mare doesn't look at her at first, at Seraphina. She haven't seen much of the emissary since the Teryr battle and subsequent herd meeting. Her ears catch the greeting, and she's surprised at how... polite and respectful it is. Not kind, but Inkheart does not expect kind from the emissary.

She turns her crown upward, glancing at the mare, and sees that Seraphina's gaze is fixed on the setting sun, then turns back to speak. Inkheart stretches her legs and rises to stand, wings assisting her. Upon standing, she returns her gaze to the silver mare. She's silent at first, measuring the other, but speaks before the silence becomes too awkward. "Indeed, close to healed. I see you're doing well, too." And how is she settling in? It's harder to answer that one. She does not want to admit that she had not done much settling at all, and is rather lost on how best to start. She considers her words carefully. "I have had to focus on healing my leg, and have not been back long since the announcement of our positions." That much is true. "It sounds to me like you have some suggestions. Or perhaps a message from Maxence?" Her golden gaze narrows slightly. She does not hate Seraphina, but there's a certain level of distrust, started from the moment they met upon Inkheart's arrival. It has not improved since then. Perhaps they can work on that relationship in the future. "And you, how are you settling?" She tacks the question on at the end.

@Seraphina

GUESSWHO

A nod of confirmation is all she gets as for Seraphina's wellbeing. And that's okay, because it occurs to Inkheart that there isn't much to be said between the two. It's like an uneasy agreement, unspoken between the mares, that they should work in cooperation but not with the joy of companions. It's a union of necessity. The emissary has her duties and is likely suited to deal with them. Just as Inkheart has hers. No word from Maxence. That is to be expected, she supposes. After all, he is the sovereign and must be dealing with many aspects of his new rule. She is aware of the attempts to grow a garden, to obtain fertile soil to produce for themselves. All the same, it's rather curious that the leader would not have many direct orders for the followers he had just named into positions. It sends a twang of irritation through her, but she puts the reaction aside so that she may focus on the now, with Seraphina.

Her golden gaze returns to glance at the silvery mare. "The material." She repeats the words of the emissary. "Indeed there is much material, much knowledge for all of us to cover, it would seem." She gestures with her crown back toward the inside of the court. "I am not sure of the location yet, but I would like to build a shrine, a temple to Solis." Then her gaze scrutinizes the emissary, and she begins to think more critically about her own mission, and how she can use the emissary to her advantage. "As the emissary, I am sure it is more appropriate for you than I to spread the word of Solis among the realms. Unless I were given permission by our sovereign, of course." The smile she gives is genuine. Though Inkheart has no problem with traveling among Novus to proselytize, and would enjoy doing so, it is probably for the best if she wasn't - to keep community ties of course. Plus, there were always demons to cleanse, and why not start with her homeland. "I believe I will start with learning more about the histories of Novus, and Solis in particular. If you hear any word from our sovereign, you will pass it on, yes?"

@Seraphina
Sorry this sucked and took me so long!

GUESSWHO

Inkheart is surprised to find that Seraphina is not just accepting Inkheart's proposition, but agreeing to it as well. Part of her mind deviates, distracted with clouts of suspicion. But the other part of her mind remains honed on her goal. It works furiously, thinking of where the shrine would be, what materials would be used, what the design might be. She's torn from the thought by Seraphina's next question. How would she spread the good word of Solis? 'Religion is touchy.' Her lips slip into a smirk. "Of course religion is touchy. There are many lost souls in this world, nearly as many that are weakened and possessed by darkness and evil." It's the first she's let slip to the Solterrans of her belief in demon possession. But it is the truth, as real as the sand below her. Fear not, Emissary. I come bearing solutions. She glances out into the horizon, as if she can see to the courts far beyond. "Speak to them of the Gods, of Solis. Enter a dialogue - anger, force, and hatred are no good and will only make others more resistant. Preach the good word and encourage them to see the light that Solis brings to our lives, the world. Raise the positives until goodness is all they can see."

Indeed, that is the approach that Inkheart has taken before. It has engaged her intellectually, philosophically, and spiritually. She reflects back on her conversation with Florentine, and the idea that Time is something that should not be controlled. It was a wonderfully profound, prodigious talk that rocked Inkheart's world. It has not changed the way that Inkheart approaches the world, but it reminds her to keep an open mind and heart. Seraphina's offer to help surprises Inkheart, and a glimmer of that emotion floats across her face. "I will take your offer into consideration. Thank you." She speaks genuinely, and finds a moment of peace and coexistence between them. "I think I would like to use some form of bricks, clay formed from various materials. All things we can gather here in Solterra or in Ruris. But later I would like to perhaps gather precious gems or glass to decorate it. Humble beginnings, though, for our faith does not need glamor." She smiles more to herself in consideration of the idea. It will be a glorious undertaking indeed.

@Seraphina

GUESSWHO