All religion, my friend, is simply evolved out of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.
~ Edgar Allen Poe

---

Midas knew instantly that this man was indeed the Hollowpoint that was Aria’s father.

The man was a similar painted colour to his daughter though his white, of course, littered his bay frame in different places. Midas smiled, his eyes watching the slender stallion as he made his way down to him. Then the man spoke, his voice was quite a bit higher than the deep and brassy voice that Midas held but it was still very much kingly.

Midas tucked his head in a respectful greeting but not overly, as far as he was concerned, they were equals. Both had a home on the same island, neither was king. “Hello, Hollowpoint. I am your neighbor, Midas.” He said, his eyes stone cold as he gazed into Hollowpoint’s. He would not tell him about his daughter, not yet. This man had to prove first that he was a good guy, and second that he would not hurt his daughter again. Midas would not bring that sort of hurt back into Aria’s life. From his understanding, she had been abandoned once already by the man, she didn’t need it again.

“From the Harbour. Pleased to make your acquai-“ He paused, the word was still outside his area of expertice, he was getting better but not quite there. He sighed and gazed at Hollowpoint. Your turn bud he thought. Let’s just see what this guy was all about.

If in any event, this man was found favorable, Midas would offer an alliance, better to be friendly with neighbors after all.

midas
speak in silent tongues

---