Silly queens and silly hearts do not know what strains they lay upon their friends when they ask of them what cannot be given. But at least Kahlua was at peace now, convinced that Lace would come to stay permanently with them, given enough time to think it over. She did not know how wrong she was, of course, but time had a way of healing all wounds. After all, even the death of Shilva was not just an inkling of a thought that dipped into her conscious mind ever now and again. Over the weeks, months, and years, even Lace’s abandonment of the draconian forest would become less of slight against her, and more of something that she could accept.

And as she passed the wall with Lace, delicately picking her way through the shards that they had yet to clear away, she turned her head away from the thing. Lace had dreamed it in the night and she had made it a reality, but of all the things she had made, she hated this wall the most. The way Lace hated the thought of staying here without Mirage, Kahlua hated the thought of chains and bars and prisons. Had he seen her that day, when he had trapped her within, and she had cried for him to let her out? Had he known what sort of evil he had caused to brew within her heart? But no, perhaps not, he had only been protecting his family. And so she did not blame that day on him, but it haunted her dreams still.

But at least the conversation turned to Brisa, away from thoughts of walls, and Kahlua listened patiently. She knew their age and she knew that there was a question of who the father might be. Had her friend ever figured it out? Her question was answered, but not the way she had hoped it. “Oh, Brisa,” she sighed softly, though she had little to add. She had not seen Note since the battle, a crying shame since they had been intending to promote him. But at least Brisa seemed strong and determined, prepared to raise the foals on her own, and Kahlua softly reprimanded herself for not offering to help more. She was no lover of children, but she should not ignore her friend’s needs either.

And so, as the winged children appeared, Kahlua tried to forget that children were as much chains and prisons as glass walls were. She smiled, lowered her head to their level, and then laughed to see their cautious approach. “Hello friends,” she cooed softly. “How do you like the Edge?”


@[Brisa]- I’m the worst, so sorry for the delay!! After vacation, I was having a hard time getting back into this thread, but I found my muse :D