A hard snort pushed from Zevulun’s pink muzzle, his head giving a firm shake of distaste at Freya’s comment concerning being a trinket of the Lagoon. Though Zevulun had little interaction with the Lagoon his aunt, Oswin, had often talked about it. Her opinion could be considered bias, given her position among the Peak mares, but he trusted her mistrust was not ill placed. Still, his father had lived in the Lagoon for a little while, so surely not every stallion among their name was wretched, right?
Bad bunch or no, the idea that she’d need to be owned by them simply to be nearer to Baldr’s father left a bitter taste on his tongue. Zevulun huffed. “I’ve never understood a stallion’s need to own a mare.” His tone took on a more serious note – this wasn’t a topic he played with – and a troubled look lay heavy in his blue eyes. “Of course, I lost my father when I was six months old. Mariael and Maziel, my sisters, were only two-years-old at the time and helped raise me between them.” He paused for a moment and then chuckled lightly, eyes chasing to her as if he’d just realized something. “Maybe it’s a good thing Baldr isn’t being raised with his father in the Lagoon. He’ll grow up respecting a mare’s choice to be her own horse rather than thinking of her like some… some…” His ears flicked back and he spat the word in disgust- “object.”
His opinion was clearly noted.
“Still,” he said in a level tone after, the edges taking on a hint of thoughtfulness, “if you ever want Baldr to have a male figure in his life…” Zevulun trailed off, his eyes seeking hers, smile retuning to his mouth. “Even when he’s a yearling, if you don’t want him going off to the Lagoon and you’d like him to learn life on Tinuvel, he’d always be welcome to come stay…” He trailed off, looking as if he wanted to say more, but stalled himself. Mariael had already told Freya she would always be welcome in the Bay, but he’d almost said it again.
Of course, the way he meant it… well, it had a different meaning than Mariael’s invitation did.
He smiled (almost shyly) and tucked his head forward again, cream tail flicking idle at his hindquarters.
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