“For all evils there are two remedies - time and silence.”
― Alexandre Dumas, The Count of Monte Cristo
Even the stars hope to see,
The buds of hope that bloom for thee.
The galleon hailed Rodrigo there was a smile on his lips where there likely should have been a fine line to indicate anger or rebellion at this imprisonment. There were more brutish stallions who might have rebelled and challenged for freedom, and quite possibly Rodrigo could take on a Vulcan mare and win his freedom back. But as it was, the smoky beast did not challenge his captor, nor did he show any hint of rage of malice towards her. Law was decreed and he was inclined to believe that laws should be followed…unless of course defying them was honestly and truthfully for the better good.
The lass was a manipulative trickster and Rodrigo knew the type was well as the pirate queen knew the soldiering loyalist types. They were both professionals in their rightful lights, different goals, different ambitions, each with a complete set of skills honed and sharpened over years of practice. And while he could respect that in the sand blasted minx, his ears flattened at her blatant insults thrown towards Taytim, a warning indicator that the femm ought not to take lightly. The femm was called Ysabellanazeka, a rather pretty name thought the warrior. He had heard a story once from his mother of the Mount of 1087 Thieves, and it had told of a certain queen. If the stories were true then this lass was either immortal or extremely young in appearance. Rodrigo opted with the latter.
As it was un Vulcan law, a man would be bound to improsonment among the Vulcan for two seasons. This of course was no applicable to Taytim as all mares could come and go from the peak as they pleased. Thorns pricked as he noted Taytim was not bent on going anywhere, but would remain. He was rather pleased with how independently Taytim was responding to this turn of events, and to the cold attitude of the other femm towards her. The virile was poised to tell the little mother-to-be that if she wished she could leave on the way. When the petite lass displayed her own little spitfire insisting she was not going anywhere, this made the dark beast grin more. He reached out and nipped at her shoulder, a bit surprised and truly touched. The beast knew loyalty…one that was never asked for but earned and given.
"I do not wish anything to happen to you Miss Taytim. You are free and save here in Vulcan territory, but if it is your wish to go I would understand it with all my heart." Surprise displayed across his face when he noted the guilt in her eyes, and moreso when she apologized to him. He sighed softly and ruffled her forelock. The heart of him certainly did not blame her for any of this, but instead he took it upon himself not realizing where they had wandered to. "There is no apology necessary Miss Taytim, you are not at fault. I should have guessed and beg your forgiveness."
The beast who had been wandering in sorrow and self-pity these last few seasons really had to admire Taytim's ability to find positive things in a glum situation. And he smiled again to reply, "I am most certain of it." This would indeed be quite the story to tell her child, and quite a new experience for Rodrigo. The little mare took point to ask the Pirate Queen the question he was likewise seeking an answer to.
YSABELLANAZEKA THE PIRATE QUEEN
"The two of you just…make my cold little heart melt." There was undeniable sarcasm in her voice as she observed the quiet little exchange. Thorns pricked at the little one's question, eyes danced from her to Rodrigo and back to her, a smirk played her lips.
"You…maybe we'll make you the official sparring toy for the yearlings in training how about that?" The sooty buckskinned fetale moved with a swift grace closer again and for once smiled on the little mare. "I jest Miss…Taytim was it? It's not entirely for me to decide what happens to our large friend here. I present him to my sisters and I have my rank here. Simple." The Pirate Queen's attitude had softened mildly and it was in part for how guilty the little mare had looked earlier. Ysabel was always direct and quite harsh with those who passed themselves off as weak. She could not afford weakness in her chain of command lest what sort of operation would she be running? And while she did not run things here on these islands…the truth was simply that old habits die hard.
RODRIGO
the spaniard |