He had returned bloody but victorious. Megaera had never truly doubted that he would, but in the hours waiting she had begun to wonder on the consequences if he had not. The edge of danger that the young filly had faced so early in her life had been buffed away with the coming of the Dragon’s Throat healers. Burns and breaks were mended and the poor girl had had her first mean thanks to Alija. In the hours that had stretched from that point, Megaera had stood vigil over the little black filly and wondered if she would have to grow up an orphan. Dragon’s Throat would have cared for her, Meg knew, but it was still a dark prospect. The father, for Meg now had no doubts about the extent of Einarr’s involvement, had returned to his child but that did not completely erase the shadows that darkened the new life.

The mare had been hesitant to offer up the girl when Einarr had returned, she’d been on the receiving end of what and angry stallion could do to a filly. Her worries though, had been unfounded, for as brutal as she know knew this warrior that flew beside her could be the way he looked at the little girl had held nothing but tenderness and a fierce love. When Einarr’s gaze had moved to Megaera, the mare had not hesitated in aiding him again, though her concern was all in helping the girl.

She brought the stallion to the place where the gods made their seat, and left hew young companion in the care of her fiends. The bay mar had yet to visit the shrines in this haunting landscape herself, but she’d been on enough patrols in this direction to know where they lay. They flew together at speed, neither seeming to give much heed to injuries, though the stallion did have it far horse on the score. Meg might not have stopped to consider it, but she did admire his fortitude. She landed with a clatter on the volcanic rock and made her way quickly up the slope to where the four shrines lay. She gestured wordlessly to Einarr and then retreated. She stood behind him as he approached the shrines, keeping a respectful distance. This was his conference, his fight, and she knew she could do no more that guide him here. She watched, listened as his voice echoed off the rocks, and hoped the gods would answer quickly.

”Talk talk talk”