Her first thought, was who? her? as Isopia's golden stare found Ranjiri. In another time and place, she might have seen herself in the dark mare's hooves. After all, had Isopia not been the one to scoff at herd meetings and depart from them as soon as she was reasonably able, as Ranjiri had just tried to do? And had Isopia not been raised to the position of Czarina? So what not Ranjiri?
Why not? A voice inside of her head asked, one which found no answer. She didn't know why the decision made her feel uneasy, but it did. Something wasn't right. Was it just that Archibald was gone? And that her Father had to appear yet again to assemble the broken pieces of their herd?
Before she could ruminate on these thoughts more, her Father had turned to her, was addressing her. Was turning her down. For a moment The Mountain could only gape. Can you do that? she wondered silently, as her deathly-marked skull peered stoically back into the massive face of her father. Can you even say no?
Well, apparently he could, because he was.
Bring the herd together, he had said. Let yourselves not be hidden, he said. And yet he would deny her this?
Though she had been prone to emotional outbursts as of late, for now, Isopia's temper was controlled. Despite her lack of understanding, she was intrigued by this turn of events. Clearly she had misread what he needed her to do - of them to do. Clearly she had more thinking to do. "Then let it be so." She said, nodding her quad-horned skull slightly in a nod of acceptance.
She probably should have felt anger or betrayal, possibly embarrassment, but of course she didn't. In light of all that had happened (and the memories she no longer possessed), she was able to receive this news docilely, and with her usual academic interest and nothing else.
Her gaze turned to Ranjiri. Despite the feeling of unease at her sudden promotion, the earth girl had to admit it was far nicer having a co-ruler who was present, rather than one who wasn't. "What say you, Czarina? Anything you'd like to add?"
ISOPIA
IN REALITY'S SHADOW THE BLIND SEE BEST
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Dark and dusty, painted on the sky [meeting + herd quest]
