No Time for Lies and Empty Fights
The new-blood’s drive was well received; a self-starter who could work autonomously was a rare treat, and Hector acknowledged the stallion’s determined departure from the little group with a ceremonious nod. Windwalker’s pace echoed wildly at length as he made his way down the dimly-lit passage and into the depths of their refuge, and the giant’s attentive ears swivelled frantically, agitated by flood of sound before it faded again into the eerily quiet murmurings. Mindful eyes trailed thoughtfully until they returned only the dull simmering glow of the cavern which lay beyond, and then slowly they swept back to find the black and white king who had risen already to perch on the doormat-rock alongside. A respectful, loyal nod welcomed Midas spontaneously.
Together their hot, formidable scent filled the entrance to The Sanctuary, and Hector could feel the swell of his own testosterone; the zeal for battle roused by memories of troops gathered close, and that pungent force rising like an impenetrable wall around them. The hair along his spine bristled as he shivered at the touch of his brother- had not Midas seen this herd through grim times before? The soldier nodded literally at the silent thought, and the swish of his smooth ginger forelock dislodged the small army of flies brave enough to find the position of his shining eyes there beneath the earth. He wondered curiously for how many years his friend had served the Throat’s army, considering also the many opportunities that had built the long-standing trust which the folk below held in him. Compassionate and fierce, the once General was perhaps their last breath of hope; and even Hector had noticed their riding his every word.
The chestnut both pitied and respected that burden which cloaked the Sultan- and he felt an overwhelming sense of empathy through that tight brotherhood shared. He was not an emotional soul (not any more), but the bond between them was unfathomable.
Midas spoke frankly, but the soldier could not find trace of the utter despair and hopelessness that seemed to echo through the thinnest of minds around them- he presumed some faith remained. Hector’s pensive gaze wandered also, drifting to find the dull sky beyond out of habit, but the emptiness afar gave his mind some quiet to work within. He could not help but return a wry glance to the other at the mention of doom, but its graze was brief.
"So many unanswered questions." He huffed almost impatiently, questioning privately, weakly, the presence and influence of the four deities now; with all this uncertainty and grief tearing to pieces the mortals who worshiped them so feverishly. "Have any tried prayer since the last message relayed from the Oracle?” Hector still didn’t look to the veteran warrior, though what he actually meant was had Midas called to his Lord lately- the Earth God, he recalled diligently. The giant favoured the Sun God, though his commitment was swayed by association of the Throat, and his affinity to all things fire. He was not yet the spiritual soul perhaps required to summon such favourable notice from those overbearingly powerful… beings.
He supposed they could call on Africa to summon the king of light again, but how thick honestly was the thread of their patron’s patience?
"What relevance have the fire and fountain downstairs?" The thought had come quickly- his mind was sharp, but he was no philosophical thinker and rarely reached beyond the narrow-minded love of his field. "Do you think those depictions need to be studied a little closer?" He could not help but ponder their meaning and significance- and he was suspicious that this fissure holding them now, had revealed itself so conveniently and in such an unimaginably timely way. His knees stiffened and so did his mind. Finally a calculating gaze lowered to find the reaction of his brother.
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