A moment of surprise opens dark eyes a fraction wider than they normally are, as Lena responds first to the little speech about the Unbound. And Hé glances at her, questions brimming on his tongue but only just swallowed down, to be digested and ruminated on much later. His eyes resting upon her horn once more, the prince (though he ought to stop thinking of himself that way) reflects that maybe he shouldn't be surprised the two know each other. How, and why, and why her voice carries the gentle weight of familiar sorrow — things to be learned later. "I will," he says dutifully, the cheer never leaving his voice, though dampened somewhat by thin threads of curiosity. Then Bellisma speaks, though, and both short ears as well as full attention snaps back to her.

Oh, Hé brightens when that shy voice echoes his own word back at him. It's interest, and that's a victory, and even her eyes lift just a shade higher than before. He wants to move, to wheel in a circle and kick up his heels, and objectively it's a little pathetic such a small victory should thrill him so, but it's been so long since he played diplomat, since he did anything of his own volition. Hé allows himself the pride. Beaming, every bit as bright as the sunlight filtering in from overhead, the spotted stallion nods — a quick, emphatic gesture. "Yes!" he responds happily. "Unbound by law or by the will of a single leader. It was a strange thing for me to wrap my head around, at first, but I'm adjusting. There is no better way to see this land than to learn it from those who dedicate their lives to learning." This Hé tries to impress upon himself, as well. He still isn't sure how much he believes it, but he's happy to exist this way at present. In response to her second question, he tilts back one ear, thought reflecting in his eyes. "No... not all land belongs to someone. It would be rude to trespass, but we don't have any reason to do that. Helovia's very large," Hé adds, because the true breadth of the place is dizzying, almost unimaginable.

Falling silent as the conversation passes momentarily from him, Hé listens to the mares speak. It's odd, he reflects, how both seem very soft, like they ought to be well suited to friendship, but how their words bounce off each other at just the wrong angle and the end up like.... this. He wonders if he ought to say something, himself, but Lena's skilled at letting the conversation flow around her mild displeasure. "It's an interesting place," Hé does agree aloud, if only because he can't stop himself from speaking for very long, at least not while there are ears to hear. "Never know who you'll meet, though sometimes you get lucky." He means this kindly toward Bellisma, and toward Lena as well, for he finds he likes them, just as he liked Ashamin and Lyanna before. In truth, it's rare Hé finds anyone so insufferable as to be disliked upon first meeting. But he's keen to talk more of the Unbound, too, and of Ashamin, who after all made a good enough impression to catch Hé up in his ideas. It would be nice, Hé thinks, if he could swell their ranks further. If he could learn the color of the chestnut mare's eyes.