Inka

As soon as the colt stepped forward to ask his question, it was as though Inka suddenly remembered he was there. The tall mare tilted her head to watch her son interact with Taika, and when the question left his lips she stiffened, her expression slackening with surprise. Her gaze flitted back and forth between the two young horses, and her gut tightened with panic. Her mind raced and tried to comprehend the fact that her son wanted to leave her just as her other children had, but Taika was talking and already seemed prepared to take the colt away with her.

Inka could feel her face growing hot with emotion. Argento was the last precious thing she had left, and she had not expected to part with him so soon.

But she knew she was being irrational, and she also knew that she did not want Argento to grow up resenting her for keeping her close, as Adelheid did. When Taika turned to her for her permission, Inka attempted to arrange her expression into something resembling polite consideration. "Are you sure?" she addressed her son, dipping her head to meet him at face level. Argento met her gaze, a broad smile across his face and his blue eyes shining feverishly. She knew then that she could not deny him this opportunity, but at the very least she would voice her concerns. "It's a very long swim across the ocean; it's nothing like the river. It will be very tiring, and it could be dangerous."

"I know," Argento said with a toss of his head, a note of petulance in his voice. "But it will be fun too, right?" He glanced at Taika as if seeking confirmation on this matter. "I've never seen any of the other islands before. I've never even been outside the Peak. I want to go. I want to explore the islands. Plus, we might find my sister."

Inka lifted her head and met Taika's eyes with a sigh. She was quiet for a moment before she said, "Make sure my Gent doesn't get into any trouble. I trust you, Taika. I trust you as if you were my own daughter. If I could make one request, just wait to leave until morning. It’s getting a little late to be traversing oceans." And then she smiled, her face soft and sentimental.