Nephilim watched her curiously after her response and noted the way her gaze seemed to take in the expanse of the land before settling on him again. The islands were crawling with change, first being in that mares were now taking command of territories. Nephilim wasn’t certain where it started; he’d offered leadership of the Bay to his daughter as he’d raised her in his likeness and knew she was capable of leading and hungry to prove herself. Shortly after he’d come to discover a mare had taken claim over the Inlet and already Crossing Isle was crawling with rumors a mare had taken claim on Luthien, too. As it seemed the world was changing, Nephilim could only glance at this mare and wonder if she’d come to challenge Mariael for leadership of the Bay.

Immediately he felt a sense of protective pride both for his daughter and for his home. The Bay had taken him in when he was a season shy of two years old and within its frigid and unforgiving winter it had groomed him into a survivalist. There was no place quite like it.

Though he eyed her still, uncertain as to her intentions, he decided to keep the conversation as amiable as he could unless she gave him reason otherwise. “My daughter, Mariael, is Queen here.” It seemed pointless to mention he’d given up the title to her unless it was something she was curious about. “I am of the guard, meant to keep this territory safe and any who wander into it, so long as they mean us no harm.”

Nephilim paused, briefly, watching the attractive gold and black mare. “If you’re interested in remaining here, you’re welcome to, just as you’re welcome to stay for a visit and carry on once you’ve had your fill.” He wondered if she had a desire to find a home or if she possibly already had one. Maybe she was just tired of seeing the same island day in and day out and had decided to travel. There was little way of knowing whether she was actually new to the islands.

Curiosity won out. “Are you new to the islands?”