The waiting was not long. I had expected nothing less from the king of the salty shores. As his familiar frame came into view, I quickly took note of the wolfess at his side. She appeared young, perhaps a year my junior. My attention lingered on her for a moment, wondering if she was perhaps Tesseract’s daughter. I had met one of his daughters, Octavia I believe her name was, when he had come to speak with Alcide. I was doing my best to become educated in the names and standings of the royal families, but I was not yet informed of all the names of Tesseract’s immediate family.
As they drew closer I dipped my head respectfully, and Tesseract was given to make the same gesture. His assumed daughter mimicked his movements, and I was grateful for the reception. My eyes lifted to meet his own, a quiet fire kindling within my orbs. The circumstances of the past year had perhaps aged me, made me grow leaps and bounds faster than I perhaps would have had MoonGlow been victorious. If she had survived. I swallowed the thought, focusing on Tesseract as he spoke. The moment of silence he offered was unexpected, but I was gracious for it, taking the moment when his eyes were averted to close my own and pray for the confidence and surety that I had stridden towards the borders with to remain with me.
When he lifted his gaze once more, it was with a look of inquisitiveness. And who could blame him? Surely he knew I was not here looking for a home, nor to challenge him for his throne, so what? Before I could answer his inquiry, the girl spoke. My attention diverted to her, and a smirk pulled at my maw. “It is true; my family reigned over the mountain even before the sky fell to pieces,” I answered, proud of my heritage. The notion instilled further poise and strength in my voice as I looked from daughter to father and answered his question.
“I thank you both for your condolences,” I said, before pressing on to the matter at hand. “It is my belief that there was a certain level of respect, maybe even trust, created between you and my father in the years after your battle. That respect was instilled in me, and it is with that esteem that I come before you now.” I spoke with a Queen’s voice, with wisdom imparted upon me by all counts of my family – father, mother, sister, brother, even the dream-state that I believed was my grandmother whispering to me in my sleep. “I tire of watching the mountain from afar; it sickens me to hear the whispers that pass through Moladion – that the mountain dies beneath the usurper’s paw. Her scent is scarce, and what she calls a pack is a disbanded group of wolves with no sense of direction. Upon my honor as a true Mountainborn wolf, I cannot stand by any longer. I intend to reclaim what is mine when the last flakes of snow melt in Spring.” My eyes were unwavering, focused on Tesseract and keen for his reaction to this news. It might not have been the wisest of things to do, advising others of my plans to attack Purge, but that was the game I was playing at here. I wanted him to know I valued his opinion, and I trusted his ability to keep my intentions to himself. “The reason that I have come to you, Tesseract, is twofold. First, I wish to ensure that when I retake Spirane she will have a sure friend in Glorall. I believe an alliance between our homes will strengthen us both. Secondly, my training is perhaps not what I had hoped it would be this close to the fight to come. I have sparred and hunted, been advised by my family. It is my hope that perhaps you could lend me a piece of your wisdom, for you have successfully fended off predators at your threshold, and I wish to chase the off intruder who sleeps in my bed – once and for all.”
My brows had pulled together, a fierceness molding my face into a war mask. The determination I felt coursed through my veins as I stood before Tesseract and his daughter, finally falling into silence. My toes flexed, gripping the earth as I watched him, waiting for his answer. This was not a simple yes or no question. It ran much deeper than that. If he were to promise me alliance for the future, I knew it would be far more beneficial to me in the beginning than to him. But with time the debt would be repaid. Glorall’s support of Spirane would help to bolster the confidence that Moladion as a whole felt for my leadership. I did not wish to be known as a child queen. I was aware that my youth worked against me in this case, but I would not be young forever. And with my respected elders – such as Tesseract - at my back supporting me, surely Moladion would see that.