Megaera arrived promptly, and Ampere relaxed the moment she saw the bay warrior approach, plastering a lopsided smile onto her features by way of greeting. Their relationship had been short thus far, but as most things are with Ampere, the bond had grown strong quickly. Megaera's unfaltering loyalty to Gaucho had originally caused a splinter between them when Megaera witnessed one of their tamer arguments; it had also lended Ampere some amount of jealousy. Yet time in the dirt and the dust had shown Ampere that Megaera's heart was in her work (and perhaps a black stallion), and to that, Ampere could always be appreciative of. That Megaera had surpassed her in rank did not ruffle nor surprise Ampere. She was a capable mare, and Ampere accepted her just as readily as she did the day of her promotion.
"Sunspear," Ampere greeted in turn, casual despite the weight of the knowledge she was due to share. At the dark heels of the Sultana a flame danced, drawing Ampere's eyes. She quirked a 'brow in curiosity, but was unfazed by the fire cat the moment she realized it wasn't a companion - Megaera's ability to create a pillar of blinding light was much more impressive.
Unfortunately the same could not be said of the next arrival.
On wings coated in light and flame he came, her Wildfire. As always, her gaze was torn to him, watching every movement of his well defined muscles, or the way the desert wind mussied his mane against the strong arch of his neck. Even as Megaera spoke, Ampere's ears tilted towards the song of his descent, her attention ebbing in and out like the tide, flowing between Sultan and Sultana. For an instant, Ampere wondered what had possessed her to stop loving him, or stop admitting it at least.
Then she saw it, the bird of flame, and it call crashing back.
"Why?" she wanted to beg of him, but that wasn't a path she wanted to travel down again, least of all now. Instead Ampere proffered a low snort and turned her head suddenly, jerking as if bothered by a fly.
"Why did he have to come, if Megaera is here? Typical," Ampere thought, forcing anger into herself to shield the other feelings that threatened to rise up. Still...an ear tipped towards him. He was speaking after all, in that rough and tumble tone he had that always ignited shivers in her spine.
His words confirmed one of her thoughts; he had attended to the
diplomatic group that Kahlua brought here. Amaris had been sullen on her return to the Edge, where Ampere had lingered with the warrior group. She was a different mare from the one that set out with the other hopeful horses. Had Gaucho played a role, or had it been Mauja, Kahlua, someone else? Though plenty of them had seem dejected
after the results were announced, which was inevitable with a competition, Amaris had seemed defeated before then. Perhaps Ampere should be a true sand sister and speak to the mare herself - her only other option was Gaucho and she tried to limit their words as little as possible.
At the mentioned of the spotted
king queen, Ampere nodded, sparing a flicker of blue eyes to acknowledge him.
"Yes," she murmured, replying to both Gaucho and Megaera now that both had asked their questions.
"He and Torleik both lead the Edge now." Ampere grimaced, less than pleased at the choices. She flicked her tail, trying to unwind some of that building energy.
"I've had poor encounters with both of them in my past... but Torleik did have the best responses for the warrior scenario. Still, no one fought, so I've no idea what he looks like in actual battle." She thought to mentioned how Cathun did rather well, despite Ophelia's words, but Ampere decided their time was better spent analyzing the Edge. She'd see to Cathun herself, seeing as he was under her government.
"Also," Ampere began after a pause, in which time she spied Gaucho's
other flaming bird and nearly died. Thankfully her mind was working a bit faster than her spirit in this instance, and recognized his flame creature to be like Megaera's, however odd it was. Unbeknownst to her, a badger from hell was lingering behind her.
"Kahlua decided to stay in the Edge, as their Seer, perhaps. She seems close to Mauja." Ampere had found this nearly more surprising than the kings. She had understood the whole purpose of the invasion was to escape the Moon Goddess, yet the Queen not only stepped down, but chose to live their in direct service of the god that supposedly drove her out and into violence. It befuddled Ampere - if you were going to fight for something, you had to stand by it.
"It seems they've also chosen Elsa to lead their warriors." They might not know Elsa, but Ampere liked the mare's spirit, and her prior participation in the Falls made her an interesting choice in the least. That she lost didn't matter as much to Ampere - plenty of good warriors lost (except Gaucho) - that she was half blind and seemed ill suited for battle, and that she came from a herd that didn't seem on peaceable terms with the Edge or the Basin, is what made it interesting.
So many
interesting things about the choices, given such a dull process.
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