Eyes of molten gold roamed over the steed before her, drinking in what she could of him, piecing together everything he proffered. Of course she noted his own pupiless gaze, but it was something she adjusted to with fair ease - her sister was similar, but instead of a white, blank page, she held eyes of dark, deep, fathomless black with no identifiable pupil in their depths. He was marked most curiously, his body held the tone of a fit soldier, who had perhaps taken a beating in his last war and while had been healed, was still healing from the effects of said war.

He bowed to her, going so far to just about kiss the ground she stood upon. The mare herself merely took this in her stride - there were many in this land who bowed to her, who gave her respect when she did not demand it. Her entire herd followed her despite her initially not deigning to ever 'rule' over a gathering of souls. And yet, here she was, a leader composed of followers all striving to spread their equalist thoughts and desires across the world. As her dragon watched the actions through her own eyes (Akaith was currently engaged, busily entertaining the draconic twins Mirage had birthed almost a season ago), Mirage felt a swell of vanity rise in her chest. It always did amuse her when Akaith so readily accepted the grovels of others - there were few others in this world that the little queen thought to be deserving of respect in this world, but she felt that all should bow down to her bonded, even if her bonded felt differently.

Words began to trickle from his mouth then, and the mare ensured her ears were directed forward with mild interest to capture them all. Amusement flickered behind her eyes as he mentioned her not being what he expected - what did he expect? What sort of reputation had she earned for herself that she would be expected to appear any differently than she did right now? It would have been interesting to know - but he continued speaking, and thoughts of all that were left for dust as he brought up a very interesting piece of information.

"Tio." She repeated the word, clearly enunciating it, her voice carefully guarded to be nothing but a monotone expression. The steed was a threat, not necessarily to their lands directly, but to their kin in the South, the Dragon's Throat, Kri, Onni, Cirrus, and the rest of those she had come to know and treat like members of an extended family one only saw at major gathering events. "What information might you hold, Tharos?" It was now that the mare saw him with renewed eyes, wondering at how and where he might have gathered this information - the same way she had, by sneaking about with her magical cloak hiding her figure, and simply using her eyes and ears? Or was it something more, personal? Did they share a past, a history? The stallion knew the commerce that Mirage worked with, at least - knowledge to her, was just as powerful as the most potent magic. Though she had been the reason for his survival after he so foolishly fought in a battle that was already lost, she had done that back then with no thoughts of payment nor repentance - but she was not foolish enough to turn down an offer of redemption when it was offered in return.