Inka
"Oh, goodness knows," Inka replied, with a smile that was equal parts sadness and bemusement, when her companion enquired about her children's whereabouts. "They're scattered across the islands like seeds in the wind. They've inherited their father's sense of adventure, it seems."
Though she was slowly coming to terms with the fact that her children were not homebodies like her, it still pained Inka to admit it. It pained her, too, not to know where Valentine was or whether he was okay, or even whether she would ever see him again. It was easier just to assume that he'd grown tired of being rooted to the islands and had decided to wander; she did not like to think of the alternative. As she looked at Evaline, Inka wondered whether the mare had any idea what had happened to Valentine. She almost considered asking, before deciding she would rather let the matter rest. It was quite possible that even if Evaline could give her an answer, that Inka would not like what she heard.
As the conversation moved on, Evaline said something that, at first, Inka did not register. The Friesian mare nodded her head in silent acknowledgement of her companion's words, and was beginning to formulate a reply in her head when her gut suddenly turned cold. For a moment, she was as still as a stone, and she tried to convince herself that it may well have been a different Rook that Evaline was talking about, or that perhaps she had misheard her altogether. But the palomino mare had just said, moments before, that she'd thought Inka looked familiar. This would explain why.
Aware that it was her turn to speak, Inka shifted and lowered her head to drink from the stream in an effort to buy herself some time. While the cool water slipped down her throat, her mind raced. She was not sure how she felt about the idea of her insolent younger brother having bred this pleasant little mare beside her. If it was true, it meant that Evaline had more of an insight into Inka's complicated family than she would have guessed, and it meant that Inka had a nephew that she did not know about.
When finally she finished drinking and returned her attention to her companion, the Friesian mare's expression was guarded. "I think I may know why you find me familiar now," she said, and one of her ears flicked back with uncertainty. "I have a brother called Rook." Her dark eyes studied the mare carefully to see how she would take this information.
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