tembovu

His Queen appears shortly after him and it is very apparent that she does not want to be near him or, perhaps, even at this meeting. Though he wasn’t left long in the silent, still, cool presence of his Queen. Soon Alysanne (he stiffened even more) appeared, though he was shocked to find a brightly genuine smile and greeting pouring from the painted beauty’s black lips. His brows raised and he dipped his great skull in greeting and silent affirmation that he was doing well, despite the sadness that lingered beneath his gaze. Others come to stand with her: Dacianna, the Riftan-turned-Sage that dedicated herself to the Edge; Lyanna, the newest Apothecary who, also, had shown noted efforts for recruiting and healing.

His great head dipped to lightly bump Hera in return to her playful greeting. His head rose, eyes traveling on the edges of those gathered and noting the ones who stood away from the herd. He recognized Ravel, the dark, slender woman along with Graasvoel, the wild Korofi. Evangeline, too, stands off away from all, surprising the King. He doesn’t recognize the skull-faced woman who gives both himself and Elsa a nod of greeting, and he returned it while his navy eyes study her for a few moments longer.

A flash of movement drew his eyes in time to see Imani, the striped mystic man of oddly colored eyes disappear into the trees. What had spooked him? The King’s head cocked, gaze continuing to see the brightly spattered, two-winged woman leaning heavily against a tree. Was she alright? Caenan was there, greeting after her. And Tilney was close by, and he was better able to heal herd members than the Elephant. His eyes caught the happy glances and whispers shared between Arah and Tilney, and the King was relieved to find himself happy for the beautifully antlered pair, any sense of his initial jealousy entirely dissipated.

He then found Nyx, traveling with rounded sides. Pregnant, again? And, unsurprisingly, covered with fresh scars and just-healed wounds. He wondered what stallion had bested her in battle this time, but wasn’t left long on the thought as Oizys appeared with sparking stag. His brows raise, before nodding a greeting to Rohan and Auriel in turn as they arrived.

His gaze finds Mauja, the Frozen Light, very much melting in the Tallsun heat. His eyes follow the wet slap of his tail against his flanks, purposefully avoiding the black, angry scar on his chest. He succeeded in glancing at it only once, the sight leaving his barrel empty and cold—though he quickly focused on those standing around him. Glasgow stood alongside the spotted man, and the King returns her nod of greeting. A dark man with foxes also stands with the man who held a presence in his heart; but he had not met this blood-washed stallion (the Edge was growing). And another, an orange woman of fire who was vaguely familiar, but whose appearance did not bring pleasant tidings (later he would recall her from that fateful night in the Deep Forest). His eyes watched Anzanie arrive, the lovely splashed Glazier, to stand alongside her fellow crafter.

A kitten wove through the equines, and the King’s eyes skittered to try and find its bonded. But then it changed, morphed, grew into Naerys. His black brows rose again—since when did she have crafting magic? A small grin crossed his face at the though of them shifting together; perhaps the cat would like the view from atop an elephant’s skull? “What the hell is that?” Iona’s unmistakable voice and frankness cut through the air, drawing a chuckle from the King. Despite starting the meeting with sadness and uneasiness, being surrounded by those of the Edge set his mind at ease. He nodded hellos to Raeden as she joined her fellow Specter.

But then Elsa abruptly stepped forward, taking everyone gathered’s attention. The King’s ears swept forward, uneasiness returning. Rarely did Elsa speak at meetings, rarely was she comfortable enough to draw such attention to herself. So, with troubled eyes, he watched and listened. “Renouncing my position as queen.” And the Elephant King’s ears swept back, guilt and angry welling swift and overwhelming in his chest. He had caused this, he knew. He was culpable for this particular, visible crack in the Icebound’s cold armor. His eyes closed for a moment, lips pressing together and head turning slightly away from her, from the herd, from everything. Though his mind tried to give into his guilt, he gritted his jaw.

He was King, there was no place for breaking beneath the load of regret and remorse he had brought onto himself. Especially before the entire herd. So, with a deep breath, his eyes popped open and he turned to look at Elsa, now standing beside him once again, “The Edge thanks you for your time dedicated to being our Queen, Elsa,” his voice was loud, before softening to a murmur, “I thank you.” There was an apology in the whisper meant just for the monarchs, but he couldn’t dwell on it. They needed a new Leader; the first to come to mind was Mauja.

But Mauja was his friend (though that seemed too inadequate a word) and he did not need a ’friend’ to rule alongside him. He did need a friend to advise him though; and Mauja was well versed in the aspects of leading a herd… The Edge needed balance in its power. Perhaps that was where he and Elsa went astray: they both were too tied to the love of sparring and thus attraction to each other. There was one in the herd, however, who had repeatedly challenged him and stood up to him: Alysanne. And, with Alysanne, he knew he needn’t ever worry about mixing leadership with lust.

But Elsa was still a solid warrior presence in the Edge, despite being broken. She sparred and thoroughly beat her King—so his eyes glance around at those warriors present, mind turning over their spars and appearances in the herdlands. His dark blue gaze even lingered for a long moment on Nyx’s (once again) pregnant sides, thoughts turning and mulling rapidly before the entire herd.

So, finally, he spoke, “Alysanne, you have been in the Edge for longer than I. You are dedicated to healing its members and welcoming newcomers. You are a healthy and healing balance to my dedication to the tactics of war. The Edge would be honored and indebted for you to lead it.” He took a breath, eyes looking over the gathered Edge, before landing on his speckled, beloved friend, “And Mauja, having two monarchs with opposite strengths will require guidance. The Edge would greatly benefit with you as its Emissary to counsel its King and Queen.”

He paused, looking back at the Icebound, “Elsa, your dedication and prowess on the battlefield cannot be forgotten. We would be lucky to have you has our Captain,” his eyes sweep to Rohan, then his voice boomed again, “Rohan, you are a strong warrior, but your presence in training has been lacking. I think your strengths are suited to Sergeant, and you, Caenan,” his navy eyes sweep to the sea-loving cutlass, “Would better serve the Edge as Protector, for now.” His eyes remained on those he called upon to for a moment longer, before turning his sights to the healers.

“With Alysanne as our Queen, it leaves an open rank in our Moon Doctors. After our losses in the Rift battles, I am wary of not having healers available,” he paused, looking at the newly promoted Apothecary, “And so I ask Lyanna to step into the role as Moon Doctor.” Had circumstances been different, the King might have smiled warmly at the woman. Instead, he simply nodded. “And there are others who were promoted before this meeting: Glasgow is now our other Glazier and Dacianna is now among our Sage ranks.”

He sighed, taking a breath to continue speaking, never had he spoke so much at a meeting. “Though our herd swells in number, which is both impressive and inspiring, all that pass through the Threshold should be offered a home among us. I ask you all to visit Helovia’s borders in search for those who wish to start anew,” his great head swiveled, looking around as he ensured his request was heard by all, “And there is an enemy of the Edge. Her name is Ovidius, and she is a small, dark mare with golden horns along her face and back. She has attempted to steal from the Edge and has challenged your King. Be wary of her.”

His eyes travelled to the crafters, Anzanie and Glasgow, and glanced at the glittering piles of glass creations behind him, before continuing, “As of the last season, our Glaziers have been blessed with more glass to craft with. We have spears, shields, shivs, and caltrops for those who would like to arm themselves. And, as you can see, we have traded with the Basin for this canopy,” his thick horn gestured towards the lilac shade, “And we have traded with the Throat for an iron gate alone the southeastern border.”

He paused, looking southeast in the direction of the distant, beautifully crafted (but sturdy) gate, before continuing to the last part of information he needed to tell the Edge. His booming voice was beginning to grow tired, but still it called strongly over the herd, “The gate stands as a promise for what our Moon Goddesses has granted us: glass spikes to protect our borders. The spikes will be enchanted by the Goddess to slip beneath the soil so that we will not be trapped inside our borders. However, to gain such protection, the Goddess tasked us with clearing a bramble thicket along our boundaries, digging a trench for the spikes to slip into, testing the strength of the glass we will rely upon to protect us, and lastly our warriors must spar with the glass so that we understand the pain we inflict on others.”

His deep, rumbling boom finally fell silent as he surveyed everyone. Times were changing.

the elephant king