PERSEPHONE

“I can imagine,” Persephone replied with a small smile. She could hardly imagine coming to this land in the middle of winter, let alone trying to brave the icy waters that surrounded it. “Don’t think me too rude if I choose to visit in summer, next time.”

Persephone had simply used the words as a figure of speech, but she wondered whether there would be a next time. Perhaps, she thought, if things today went either well or badly rather than some bland in-between. It would be interesting to see the results, regardless.

With that, however, the conversation returned to more topical subjects.

“A little over a season now,” Persephone replied, her tone even – she was aware that her reign was short thus far, but delivered the fact confidently so that Mariael should have no reason to see extra weakness in the statement.

“I came to the islands at the turn of summer,” she went on, as they began to near the trees they were headed for. “I suppose I am still unfamiliar with a lot of the places and customs here, hence my eagerness to get out here and start to meet the other herd leaders.”

She paused, considering her position.

“I don’t suppose there is any word around the islands that I should know about, any unsavoury names? Thus far I only have my neighbour in the Prairie, Shamwari, at my side, and I don’t know him well enough to turn my back on for long. I dislike being so much in the dark, but gathering trust and knowledge requires the kind of time I haven’t had the luxury of yet.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh