“Nothing.” Mariael grunted, bitter sigh falling cold from her lips. Her blue eyes did not jump to Zevulun, but stayed forward on their side of Tinuvel’s turf – the borderline of the Bay to the Inlet. “It’s dead.” She concluded, and the siblings watched the cold winds of Tinuvel whip up through the trees, stirring their branches.
“You can’t be totally surprised, sis,” Zevulun said in his casual, nonchalant way, cocking a back hoof and rolling his weight to stand comfortably. He was growing every day, passed three years now and filling out more and more. The muscles were developing beneath his coat, which relieved Mariael – she entrusted him to help her protect the Bay herd, but watching him grow stronger through the tribulations of Tinuvel was just another touch of assurance. His head tilted, and his blue eyes flicked back to her, catching her in a side-gaze. “I mean, it’s pretty much been dead for the last couple years.”
Mariael huffed. “I’ve made my decision.” She narrowed her eyes, peering deep into the quiet, still Inlet.
Zevulun blinked at her – he had no idea what she was talking about.
Mariael lifted her chin. Pride, her greatest sin. “I will be Queen of our island. I have stood here longest and any who come to claim this neighboring territory shall listen to my guidance. No longer will I work with those who haven’t proven strong enough to lead a territory through Tinuvel’s winter.” She blew a hard breath through her teeth before chewing on air for a moment. Her hoof pawed at the ground – summer had set on Tinuvel and while patches of snow clung here or there from spring, they were all but melted away. “Regardless if the blood of old Tinuvel arrives again… I’ve learned my lesson twice now.”
Zevulun blinked, an unease stirring in his gut. His sisters were his family, sure, but he also had Avalon and their daughter, Iz to watch over. If Mariael started a careless war with the next horse who tried to claim the Inlet, would she bring trouble down over their heads? Trouble they didn’t need?
Yet she was his sister. She stood strong when they lost their father. She did everything she could to protect him and to protect Maziel. The blood of Nephilim’s children ran thick, and their loyalty knew no bounds. Their father had constantly reiterated the importance of them staying together. Of them constantly supporting each other.
Zevulun sighed and shook his head, looking forward and trying to chew down the tightness in his stomach. “Well, we’ll face that storm when it comes.”
His sister glanced at him and he offered a lop-sided smile. “You know I’m always by your side, sis.”
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