Ghost watched him approach with an amused smile for it was the same stallion that had found her loitering around last time. He spoke in an odd foreign accent, missing out words that made him appear quite matter-of-fact and primitive. Strange markings covered his body and a bone ran through his nose that made the young banshee wonder how on earth it got there. Who thought jamming a bone through ones nostrils was a good idea? This cave man apparently. He was Sultan was he not? The dark mare remembered the title from Midas and the surprise she had felt. Still, he was far more impressive looking than herself so maybe her raised eyebrow was uncalled for. She looked upon his fiery appearance with a grimace though and wished he gave off some sort of wintry feeling instead. At least it would look colder. Her attention was quickly grabbed by his boisterous phoenix, however, and she watched its antics thinking of her own bonded. Ghost was quite glad he had to stay on the other side otherwise she might have been here a while trying to pry the wolf from investigating the bird.

The sprite dipped her head in return "Gaucho" her breathy voice replied. His next words were far more pleasing and Ghost had to stop herself from bolting for it. ‘Oasis’ sounded like a haven. "The southern climate doesn’t agree with me, water would be much appreciated" her cloven feet twitched forwards and she waited to see if he would begin walking before pressing on with explaining her appearance. However, before she plunged into business she paused a moment to nod to the ocean and the bridgeless landscape. "No bridge?" She enquired, leaving the question open ended. The Czarina paused to hear (or not) his answer and then went on into the matters she brought.

"I come in search of information, answers… Advice." She started, her face shifting into concentration as she collected her thoughts. Part of her flinched away from revealing the information she carried, but what else could she do now? What use would it be to hide things when she was already exposed. It was time to go out on a limb and hope for the best. "We’re having trouble keeping the spies of the Aurora Basin away, they've made a few failed attempts on us and recently Midas and Essetia have gone missing. If this is the work of the north, why?" Ghost paused to try capture the gaze of the Sultan "I came because I thought you might know the reason behind this hostility. I know many things, but not the answer to this. If I know why, I might be able to resolve it, but this blindness is harming the family I pledged to protect."

Lastly, she looked out at the blistering horizon and the new surroundings, feeling like there was more she wanted to say but waited for her antlered companion to respond first. Instead she opted for a different topic to end on as her gaze turned briefly curious "how fares the Throat?" She asked with a flick of her knotted tail.

’Flaming wings’ Ghost grimaced. This truly was the land of fire. Interesting though, perhaps it would lessen the chances of unwanted visitors in their land apart from those who could fly… A damage limitation of sorts, maybe. She mulled over the idea for a moment as they walked before replying "clever". Another reason why she was a foolish filly long ago for wanting that little zombie boy to take off her wings, she wouldn’t have been able to get into places like this if not. Though if she hadn’t of been born with them where would she be now? In the north with the unicorns who had been defeated and cast from the land of the Moon or, wandering around aimlessly like that fallen King who had cast her into the wilds.

She dwelt little on it; however, as the Sultan answered her concerns a frown flickered across the banshee’s face. Perhaps he was right, but it seemed rather unruly and out of character for the Czar and that of her Sleuth. Did he really think that? "Essetia is my head Sleuth, her and Midas would be a strange couple… But who really knows what goes on when eyes are not looking" she purred and played along. She cocked her head to one side, remembering something from the last she was here. "Speaking of girlfriends, how is yours? The blue mare whom I met last time" the sprite had no idea if they were lovers, but it did no harm to banter a little sometimes. She often found that folk had trap doors to places interesting and little words triggered them open. Other times she simply talked herself into trouble and never found what she was after.

"Perhaps, though I think it's a little too coincidental-" she paused and gathered her thoughts again before carrying on, noticing that the Sultan didn't directly answer her question and she began to wonder if he was hiding something. "I have no fight with the northern lot. I even have family among them. Maybe I’m being punished for a previous ruler’s bad decision, though I'm not sure its my job to remedy it." A grim line set into her lips as her tail flicked pests. She didn’t particularly feel like remedying it. Ghost had always lived life hidden within herself; her purpose depended on necessity and want, not loyalty or duty. She went where need sent her or greed tempted, her heart was not gold enough for this. The only draw she had to resolve the matter was the interest to know why and after that… Would depend on the answer. "Maybe I should have remained a spy. This title hinders me" she sighed.

She followed the movement of Gaucho and went to drink from the pool, the splash of water down her throat like its own mini heaven. She nodded simply in reply to his confirmation that the Throat was all well. The sprite had seen for herself, or not seen rather, what projects they had been up to.

"Ah Gladiator I do apologize!" She replied with sickly sweet innocence and left it at that, figuring she wasn’t going to glean anything more out of it. There was little chance of her getting an artfully crafted war of snide words with this prehistoric oaf, but at least he brushed it off easily enough. He moved onto a more enticing topic and Ghost turned her attention fully onto the matter, a surprised flicker briefly crossing her face. The thought of announcing her title had never crossed the mind of the banshee nor had the fact that he might not know it. She’d spent so long living in shadows and hiding behind rocks that revealing things such as names and titles was not a common thing for her to do. Even now, in her time as Czarina, it never occurred to her to trumpet her crown to him.

Though she remained silent as he carried on and the pieces of the puzzle slowly began to fit together.

"New enough to not know any of this" she quietly answered, her voice lost somewhere in her thoughts. So, before her time as ruler, the Basin had asked for peace. A peace Midas had denied them. It was a reason to be disgruntled, but a reason to go so far as to start uneasy ties? Perhaps. If the Basin wanted vengeance for rudeness why not aim for Midas, why aim for the rest of the Hidden Falls? Slowly, the Cadaverous began to shake her head and her face was marred by a frown. "Maybe their hostility is explainable but in doing this they only continue the same circle. The same hatred that you felt… Only re-directed. Though if that's what they want" she mulled with a sigh and then shrugged as well, it would only haunt them again one day, just another band of horses looking for revenge. Instead, she zoned in on one of the last things he said.

"More will go missing hmmm I should probably feel… What is it? Apprehension? Worry? Loyalty, duty-" the words seemed to roll off her tongue like a well rehearsed list and she shook her head again, not knowing why she didn’t feel these things. Everything a ‘good Leader’ should feel, but the banshee knew there was not a moment where she could be so selfless. It made her wonder why the herd had ever chosen and trusted her with the crown. A nameless mare that lingered in shadows and offended more than complimented, a mare that lacked the ability to be considerate. "But I stray from the purpose I was here. You have not seen our two missing and I thank you for the information." Whether he had seen them or not Ghost could not tell an obvious lie, she was in his territory too and so she took his word for it.

The sprite took a step back from the pool and unfurled her wings in a business like manner. "I have things to do, quite obviously, but I owe you a small favour for your short hospitality and information. Should you need it" she nodded once. "Is there anything else?" She lingered a moment.

@[Gaucho]
eeehh weird post is weird, she was difficult to write in this lol but I'm fed up of staring at it so ;~; <3