She replied in kind to his outburst and Lace was surprised to find himself placated by the calm reason in her words. His black-masked head sunk lower and lower as tension slipped from the muscles, until finally he sighed and nodded. She was right, of course. Better a lost, exiled Psyche than a Psyche on the ice throne - one could be reasoned with, the other was just a giant pain in the ass. Come to think of it, wasn't his objection more for the sake of taking down Deimos than because he thought the black queen should keep ruling her herd? It was quite unfair of him to try and push such a daunting task onto someone else...

What he certainly hadn't expected was an apology, however. It left him blinking and struggling to find words as it came, wondering for a second if he truly could accept it just like that. Such a feeble word, so easily spoken... But yes. The simple fact that a condolence actually had been extended somehow eased a bit of the pain that always clenched the heart of the gray steed - as if a piece of the iron shackles had rusted away and left a little more room for movement.

"Thanks" he whispered slowly and pinched the eyes shut, growing silent as the images of the golden paints he had loved and lost passed before the inner vision. Eventually a faint smile returned to his face, small and sad yet a smile nonetheless, and as Lace pried open an eye and peered over at the horn-less unicorn there was a glitter of amusement in the look she was given.
"Now isn't that a change... I think you might be right, this change seems to be an improvement. Who would have thought that Psyche would ever apologize to anyone..." A mischievous toss of the head let the stallion reach closer to her, and in an almost playful manner he nipped after a lock of hair in her mane. With smacking noises he pried the feet loose of the muddy holes he had sunk into as they spoke, wrinkling the muzzle in disgust at the stinking muck that covered the hooves.

"I think... I better get moving" he said reluctantly and threw a look at the sky, noticing how the sun had shifted - noon had passed, and it would take its sweet time getting out of this bog. "I'm due north.. Would you care for some company, or are you heading somewhere else?" In a way it would be a shame to simply leave now that they had begun to get somewhere, but on the other hand Lace didn't have time to stand around. Who would have known that he could find enjoyment in the company of a Basiner - the very idea would have made him laugh an hour ago. Now he realized that he didn't actually want to leave... Fancy that.

Dim vales- and shadowy floods-
And cloudy-looking woods,
Whose forms we can't discover
For the tears that drip all over!
Huge moons there wax and wane-
Again- again- again-