Rade remains silent throughout Mercury's spiteful outburst, studying the silver black with an intensity that most would find unsettling. It seemed that the spark of the mare's defiance had not been extinguished after all - if anything, the smoldering embers of resentment have only served to fuel it into an inferno. And the palomino knows how hot such hatred can burn. How easily it can consume a living creature, razing everything that they had once been into ash. How it can kiss everyone that you hold close to your heart, and consume them too.

“You would do well to be more cautious of where such curses are allowed to leave your lips,” Rade responds in a voice as velvet-soft as Fatale's touch had been on his neck, his words inflectionless and his expression impassive. “There are eyes and ears everywhere in this Lagoon, and not all of them will be as tolerant of such disrespect, hormone-driven thought it may be.” His amber eyes caress the curve of her belly, wondering whether the child she carried was Felony's. She might have spread her legs to that accursed stallion on Tinuvel - that could certainly account for her continued defiance - but it was unlikely that she would confide that fact to him.

No, she would only talk to someone she trusted, and it seemed Fatale was already well on her way to establishing that kind of illusion. It would be better to leave them alone, to let Mercury think that she was free to speak her mind to the bay mare. If Fatale extracted anything of value from the silver black, Rade was certain that she would share that information with him.

It was ironic that the only creature the palomino could trust most was the one who could easily deceive him, if she was so inclined.

“Mercury,” Rade repeats, letting the name flow musingly off the tip of his tongue even as he turns to go. “Keep what I said in mind,” he cautions her, because it will be expected. With a significant glance at the Arabian, he starts to stride away. “I'm afraid that business calls, Fatale. I trust you can behave during my absence from the Lagoon.”

He is gone without a backward glance, his gold coat dissolving into the darkness beyond the clearing.

stallion // mongrel // 15.1hh // 6 // palomino roan // reba
debonaire x neassa