Trell has never heard of a land like they describe. He had been under the impression that their mountain home had been the tallest set of peaks in the world, but besides the fog banks that rolled over the tablelands he’s never heard of anything quite like the pink mare describes— clouds that hang below the uppermost peaks like some kind of insubstantial wall the mountain herds feared to cross. The light snort he utters carries disbelief.
Kikka, however, is fascinated, and like all fantastic stories she’s heard clearly believes such a mountain range can exist, and that horses can survive on it. Trell will have to correct her later, but for now he keeps his thoughts to himself as she leans forward a little to hear every detail. "Wow," she breathes. "So it wasn’t dangerous above the clouds after all. How quiet it must have been! Was sound muted up there, like on a winter night during a new snowfall?" Her eyes unfocus as she imagines it. A small smile plays at the corners of her mouth.
"Well, they’re a long ways away from here," Trell says as Jusket expresses interest in their home. "If you’re tired of travel now you’d never make it."
"Trell!" Kikka tucks her chin toward one shoulder to hiss at him. Her eyes widen as she looks between their companions apologetically. "We’re not really ones to settle," she says, picking up the conversation as Trell snorts again and looks out over the meadow. "There’s so much to see in the world, after all, it seems silly to spend our whole lives in one place. I think the longest we’ve stayed anywhere was what, a year, Trell?"
"Just about," he agrees. Kikka nods. "We’ll likely look for a herd to join for the winter for safety’s sake, and once the worst of the weather is over resume our explorations." She pauses, then continues a bit shyly, "If you two are looking to do the same, and don’t mind the cold—" she glances up at Trell, who’s still staring boredly away from the shelter of the tree "—you could venture to the Bay on Tinuvel. Ask for Zevulun. He’s quite hospitable and knows how to combat the cold, and I think you’ll find he’s good company. Just be sure to approach the beach on the south side of the isle and not the east; the latter is fraught with rocks and could kill you."
"Why did you leave?" Trell asks suddenly, turning his head back to face the pair of roans. "Your mountains with their clouds and mysteries; it seems a harsh place but one the two of you were comfortable in. And you said you two aren’t much for exploring— so why did you leave?" He’s direct, but his curiosity is voiced with courtesy. Kikka feels he’s prying but she, too, is curious. Her eyes linger on Jusket, the more expressive and, she believes, sensitive of the two, but Trell locks eyes with Jola. |