The mist clung to Tamlin’s body, making his coat and mantle damp and from the sea salt blew over him - sticking uncomfortable to the thin parts of his skin. However uncomfortable he was under the cliffs he began feeling more secure about the black mare. He could not see through her mask, could not interpret her thoughts and read her expression so he saw only the motherly smile. He was after all a young soul not trained in the art of detecting lies and telling sincerity from acting.

”Ah, a prince? Well, aren't I a lucky one, to be meeting such a handsome little prince this night? But surely your mother must be worried about you? Do you wander from her side often, young Prince?" Ever so slowly a smile spread on his lips. Even if he didn’t appreciate her comment about straying from his mother he deemed she at least knew how to treat a prince. And she was right about the handsome part too! Tamlin proudly arched his neck, pointing his little knob of a horn towards the mare, who still hadn’t spoken her name. But Tamlin didn’t need to wonder long about that…

"You need to learn to temper your tongue, son,"

The young prince jumped high at the sound of his father’s stern voice. The little nip landed on the backside of his thigh and he yelped as Mauja’s teeth pinched his hide. The yelp came mostly of surprise, but also because no child as young as Tamlin wants to disappoint their parents. He lowered his neck and chewed and white foam started to show at the corners of his mouth as he backed up. ”Já, faðir. Fyrirgefið mér." he whispered before his father directed his attention to the mare. Psyche.

The last words of the ice king however echoed in the young colt’s curious mind, they were etched into the back of his head, showing no sign of wanting to leave him - ever. ”A great King is not arrogant, but humble.” Silently and without following what was going on between the black mare and his father the colt pondered the words. He knew not the meaning of humble nor did he quite understand how one was arrogant, but nevertheless the little lecture stuck with him. After all he always listened carefully to his father. And to learn something from this seemed vital for earning Mauja’s approval and respect, which was something very important to Tamlin.

”Hver er hún?" the colt quietly asked his father and gestured towards the mare he now knew went by the name of Psyche. Mauja seemed to know her and the heavy voice of his father made Tamlin feel a little uneasy. Maybe the mare wasn’t welcome here?

Tamlin