tembovu

He cannot miss the surprised hurt emanating from Alysanne as he promoted Tilney— and he repressed a sigh. He needed to speak with his Moon Doctor; but that was for another time (a time he was not looking forward to). He keeps a benign half-smile on his face as she reminds all of her role as head doctor— though he must internally suppress an annoyed flare in his barrel. So touchy was the winged woman, since when had she become so sensitive? A quick, blurry image of Alysanne shouting at him flashes through his bond— and he is surprised that Mbwene could manage such a thing at so young an age.

Attention drawn to her, he found Mbwene unwrapping her trunk from Tsavo to greet Tilney with a happy, muted trumpet and wave of her ears. She was very intrigued by the light and warmth coming from his lantern.

An eye casted skyward, drawn to the white blob that was Irma wheeling in the winter winds. The King was surprised at the sharpness of pained disappointment that pierced his barrel; and that he took Mauja’s absence so personally. The only outwards sign he gave of such thoughts were a slight backward flick of an ear, returning his attention to those before him. Alysanne was mentioning a task for the healers. He nodded, supporting his Moon Doctor, despite the rift between them.

His half-grin grew to a broad smile as the Engineer came forward and voiced his joining the crafter ranks, “I am glad to hear that. We will benefit from your expertise, Ulrik,” for, indeed, the King had seen the man craft a boat for the body of Mauja’s daughter. Clearly, the man knew how to create things. He then watched the remainder tardy ones appear, nodding to each in turn.

His attention shifted to Canean, nodding in response to the dip of his horn, and spoke to answer his question about the Basin’s weaving, “If there are any who wish a woven item from the Basin, make it known and I or one of our crafters will accompany you there to make a trade.” His answer was meant for all in attendance.

At Alune’s prolonged introspective silence (the ways of those dedicated to the Moon were as nebulous as they were mystifying) and Myrrine’s outburst of wishing to join the Seeing ranks, he opened his own mouth in the giant’s stead, addressing Dacianna and Myrrine, “Those who follow the path of the Moon or seek the tales of past lore, I task you all with reaching out to wise-ones of other herds and learning of their traditions and gods. Or bring back those who would be interested in learning of the Moon.”

A hacking cough followed on the heels of his words, and his eyes shifted to Caenan, “I think you should visit our Moon Doctors to see after that cough, Sergeant,” he gaze flickered between Alysanne and the pirate.

Then, for a beat, his powerful heart swelling with pride as his cobalt eyes scanned over those gathered. Despite all that had transpired, despite any lingering unease, he was proud to see the Edge have swollen in number. He was glad to see those step forward to help their herd and fill their ranks. And so it was on a genuine grin that he closed the meeting, “You all make me proud to be King of World’s Edge. Thank you for attending,” and with a deep nod of his massive head, the meeting was done.

He blew a long breath out from his nostrils, dropping his head from his proud height to look at Elsa beside him, now that he had dismissed the herd. Instinctively leaning his large, hot shoulder into her smaller, cold one, he quietly spoke to his Queen, “We will need to address those who did heed our call to this meeting.” Though he found it necessary to discover why those had not attended (usually it was personal troubles, rarely was it for a happy reason), he did not enjoy calling forth the delinquents. But he is relieved to have a Queen alongside him, this time. The last meeting he had been alone.

the elephant king