Areo Hotah remained still, but inside him he felt an ugly stir of aggression. Slightly his eyelids narrowed at the black mare known as Adelheid, thinking how foolish she was to speak so rudely to his queen. Though it showed her spirit and he could not deny she was full of such fire (perhaps this was why Jasiri wanted her here), he felt it ill-placed. Areo Hotah had not been in command of captives nor ever overseeing them as there were other guards to do the same while he remained close to those he served, but he knew it was only natural for them to hold to some bitter regard against their captor. Adelheid was a fighter and Areo Hotah could see her among the throngs of war as long as she had someone to believe in.
The pride would be her downfall, he thought quietly to himself, for if she was not so prideful he was sure Jasiri would offer her something great while remaining here. It was not Hotah’s place to reveal any thoughts and so he remained quiet, eyes drifting from her only when his queen addressed him.
“I’ve seen nothing,” he said, accent still strong. “There has only been an increase of tracks along the borders of the Bay, but it seems they’ve already come before I’ve arrived. I believe they’ve increased their patrol.” Areo Hotah was not certain what would happen if he and a member of the Bay met face-to-face, namely the pale and white mare who’d dared speak so rudely to his queen in the first place. It was wise of them to increase their watch on the Inlet, but it spoke to Hotah of troubles yet to come.
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