No man was ever wise by chance.
In the days that followed discovering the bodies of Moore and Casper, Somnus had little rest. Meetings were had, orders were given, and patrols were carried out under Ulric’s dedicated and keen eye. Borders were closed, much to the fears and uncertainties of some of the court members, but it was more to keep more potential threats out of Delumine than lock them all inside with the would-be killer.
A breath left the dunalino’s grey lips as he carried himself elegantly through the citadel courtyard, his gaze dancing across the familiar cobblestone at his feet and the ivy-coated walls that kept the capitol protected. Walls. So useful in theory, but in the end they did very little to those determined enough to reach the other side. With a blink the Dawn King tore his gaze away, focusing instead on the path in front of him and the individuals that he passed on his morning stroll. To each of them he offered a nod and a smile, pausing occasionally to engage a few members of Dawn in conversation if he could spare the time. Eventually he would leave them with a few parting words, knowing that they all had business to take care of.
Above Somnus’ golden, glittering form in the early light of day, Alba whirled about. The barn owl glided through the cold autumn air rather effortlessly, having just returned to her bond-mate’s side after enjoying a hearty meal of vole and field mouse from the prairie. The owl’s beady black eyes scanned the individuals a few odd-some paces down below, and a roan figure caught her eye. Red roan. Wings.
’Your brother is back,’ Alba mentally called down to the golden stallion down below, and there was no missing the previously lax demeanor change and positively bristle with anxiety as Somnus’ head shot up to attention. ’Just ahead, to your left. Speaking with a few guards.’
Somnus’ verdant eyes immediately cut through the courtyard gardens, spotting the individual in question. His gaze went from a mixture of caution and displeasure to pleasant surprise and relief. Ah. Oriens be praised, Alba. It isn’t Atreus. This fellow was not his brother’s build, nor were his eyes stained with black ichor. Where Atreus’ face was always done up in an expression of contempt or macabre amusement, this stranger seemed far more earnest and humble. And thanks the Gods for that. Somnus wasn’t certain he could stand his brother’s company that morning.
Still, the red roan was not a familiar face, and that was a rather queer thing considering their borders had just shut. Veering from his path, the Dawn King stepped closer, the sound of his hooves clipping against cobblestone enough to drown out the murmurs of the conversation ahead until he grew close enough. Alba swooped down from above and took her customary perch upon the dunalino’s croup, just upon his dorsal stripe.
Hearing the words being exchanged, Somnus came to a halt just before the group of conversing equines. An ear tipped forward in curiosity, but his smile was warm and welcoming. Clearing his throat, he spoke.
“It’s alright, Aventus,” he said to the nearest soldier that had just stepped up to the roan fellow. The soldier immediately stood up a little straighter and nodded to the dunalino with a word of ’Majesty’, before stepping back to give the Dawn King some space.
Turning his head, Somnus regarded the stranger warmly, genuine welcome shining within the stallion’s emerald eyes. It was nice to this fellow’s blue eyes and not the warped gold and sickly ichor of his brother’s. Aside from their colors, they looked completely different in features and structure both, and he was grateful for that. The Dawn King spoke, his voice clipped and polished as it always was with his accent.”Be welcome to Delumine, stranger. You said your name was Rouge? My name is Somnus. It's a pleasure.”
tag: @Rouge
A breath left the dunalino’s grey lips as he carried himself elegantly through the citadel courtyard, his gaze dancing across the familiar cobblestone at his feet and the ivy-coated walls that kept the capitol protected. Walls. So useful in theory, but in the end they did very little to those determined enough to reach the other side. With a blink the Dawn King tore his gaze away, focusing instead on the path in front of him and the individuals that he passed on his morning stroll. To each of them he offered a nod and a smile, pausing occasionally to engage a few members of Dawn in conversation if he could spare the time. Eventually he would leave them with a few parting words, knowing that they all had business to take care of.
Above Somnus’ golden, glittering form in the early light of day, Alba whirled about. The barn owl glided through the cold autumn air rather effortlessly, having just returned to her bond-mate’s side after enjoying a hearty meal of vole and field mouse from the prairie. The owl’s beady black eyes scanned the individuals a few odd-some paces down below, and a roan figure caught her eye. Red roan. Wings.
’Your brother is back,’ Alba mentally called down to the golden stallion down below, and there was no missing the previously lax demeanor change and positively bristle with anxiety as Somnus’ head shot up to attention. ’Just ahead, to your left. Speaking with a few guards.’
Somnus’ verdant eyes immediately cut through the courtyard gardens, spotting the individual in question. His gaze went from a mixture of caution and displeasure to pleasant surprise and relief. Ah. Oriens be praised, Alba. It isn’t Atreus. This fellow was not his brother’s build, nor were his eyes stained with black ichor. Where Atreus’ face was always done up in an expression of contempt or macabre amusement, this stranger seemed far more earnest and humble. And thanks the Gods for that. Somnus wasn’t certain he could stand his brother’s company that morning.
Still, the red roan was not a familiar face, and that was a rather queer thing considering their borders had just shut. Veering from his path, the Dawn King stepped closer, the sound of his hooves clipping against cobblestone enough to drown out the murmurs of the conversation ahead until he grew close enough. Alba swooped down from above and took her customary perch upon the dunalino’s croup, just upon his dorsal stripe.
Hearing the words being exchanged, Somnus came to a halt just before the group of conversing equines. An ear tipped forward in curiosity, but his smile was warm and welcoming. Clearing his throat, he spoke.
Turning his head, Somnus regarded the stranger warmly, genuine welcome shining within the stallion’s emerald eyes. It was nice to this fellow’s blue eyes and not the warped gold and sickly ichor of his brother’s. Aside from their colors, they looked completely different in features and structure both, and he was grateful for that. The Dawn King spoke, his voice clipped and polished as it always was with his accent.
