so i listen to the    wind for an answer

Change never brought peace, and if nothing else, Kaos was brought change. No, Kaos was change incarnate, an alternative to the status quo of Helovia. Whatever his plans, it certainly would not begin with peace, a fact that’s already been demonstrated. The Edge lost Nyx in that first battle, and though Lyanna had never known the woman, that didn’t mean she was unaware of the Edge’s lost. Kaos had warned them though, hadn’t hurt those that didn’t try to fight. Her mind and heart both are torn, uncertain that Kaos is bad, curious what plans he has though she feels like that thought alone must be sacrilege. Their own Goddess had told them to use their heads and not their hearts, and if she used her head, she did not find herself against or for Kaos. She simply didn’t know enough to make that judgment.

Alysanne’s reply is brief, giving Lyanna little indication of what the other Queen thinks, though the tone of her voice implies more. If Lyanna knows her friend at all, she doubts the other mare is quite as forgiving as Lyanna on this topic, which seemed like a much better stance for a Queen of a herd. In the end, Lyanna’s only choice would be to protect the herd, whatever that meant. She can only hope that choice is easy, but she knows how unlikely that is. Choices are never easy.

Lyanna listens as the other mare’s speak, watching Amaris’ reaction. Part of Lyanna doesn’t want to ask her to follow a path that is not the one set by her heart, but Alysanne has offered that she can stay in both if she wishes. That, at least, is something. In a perfect world, they would have enough healers and warriors that having a herd full of philosophers would be acceptable, but even Amaris knows that in the real world, this fact is unsettling. There is value in history and stories, without a doubt, but they needed healers. A history lesson cannot save a life once the damage has already been done.

“Lessons we can do. That is easy, and I think you might find you need less than you expect.” she says warmly to Amaris, nodding between herself and Alysanne. After all, they had both served as Moon Doctor previously, and Lyanna rather recently. They could impart knowledge of herbs, of how it felt to call on the magic, though no one had taught Lyanna that part either. The magic was something you could figure out easily enough. “As for the ranks you will be joining, they are woefully empty. A young nurse is the only one I’ve seen around lately. I don’t see a reason why anyone would bedruge you the rank.”

Tilney was gone, and she’d seen little of Sacre. Kaida had been at the birth of Raeden’s children, and the girl was capable but young, and perhaps not overly motivated. Amaris was active, calm, and in control. She was everything a Moon Doctor ought to be. Lyanna stops there, letting Aly fill in the other gaps, hoping it would be enough to convince Amaris that she’s more than qualified to sit the roll of Moon Doctor.

lyanna