The Day had grown too hot for even the devout crusader to labor beneath Solis' golden eye. Out in the courtyard where the dilapidated smithy and outbuildings stood collecting sand and dust, the air shimmered with the heat of their god's embrace. Up, beyond the sandstone walls of the Sunhall and the endless wastes of sanded dunes rose the cloudless dome of sky, the color paling as it kissed the horizon and deepening as it climbed toward the apex. Breathing deeply and letting those amber eyes slide closed, the paladin found herself rejoicing for the heat and the slow, languid sort of exhaustion that it carried upon it's back - for while the young warrior was loath to refrain from working to better her court, she knew when her body needed rest.
Taking another breath, eyes still closed, the lass focused on the scents that swirled about her as she stood before the wide windows of one of the temple's side alcoves; sun baked tiles and sand, mojave aster and yucca blossoms, sweat and water, blood... Yes, always an undercurrent of blood. It had never been an unfamiliar smell to Eden, but it had taken some time to get used to the constant tang of it in the air, as if she were living upon a permanent battlefield. With a slow exhale, the lass shifted her weight to her right, her twin trios of bangles clinking softly with the slight movement. Of course, the maiden did not mind the scent of blood or the sensation of toiling beneath the promise of another battle, and she thrived instead of struggled beneath the brutality of her chosen path.
But she couldn't help but wonder what sort of storm lurked on the horizon, preparing to take from Solis what they could not provide themselves. The mare had heard cruel stories of the Dusk and Night Courts, that their citizens conducted lurid and grotesque experiments on citizens from other courts, that they were bloodthirsty and bred with their kin. Eden suppressed a shiver at the possibility of such corruption and sent a silent prayer to Solis for guidance - Let them follow the light or let me lead them to it, through blood or death.
A shrill whinny interrupted the remainder of the lass' one-sided conversation with her God and caused those golden eyes to open. Turning and peering around a towering pillar, Eden found that a blue stained stallion had entered the keep and was bellowing his summons. The scent of sand and heat and toil rested about his shoulders and as the minutes passed and no one approached, the lass took it upon herself to serve as the welcoming party for the unicorn. Stepping around the pillar and into full view, Eden gave a low whicker to notify the stranger of her presence, her wildflower adorned head held high. Approaching and slowing to a stop directly before the azure unicorn, the paladin had a fleeting thought (He looks like the sky) before letting words drop from darkened lips, "Welcome to the Seat of the Sun, stranger. My name is Eden, what brings you to Solis' doorstep?"
@Voltaire hello!
