Avoiding Tauri was one of the hardest things he had to do. It was the plan that the filly never knew who he was and that the herd never knew his true lineage. He was Requiem, son of Warsaw, but to everyone else he was just Requiem. He was the second stallion that Warsaw uses to gain his power and a place holder under he found something better to replace him with. One day Requiem knew the twin sons birthed by Vita Nova would become his lead stallions for the Monarchy, but he still does as Warsaw says. His loyalty for his blood sire was strong. It was beyond breaking even by Warsaw himself. It felt that way anyway.
Shock was all over his face as the inky black mare slides up beside him. Honey brown eyes quickly scan the area for Warsaw and the herd, but he does not spy anyone else in the area. He had not spoken to Nova since that day of Tauri's conception and he left for the Bay. He had swore he was helping her, at the time he believed he was, but it was all at his own expense. Now he watches the golden hide of his daughter, clearly his daughter, play in the distance. Nova speaks and he only nods. He swallows hard with nervousness taking over his body. That was all he could do right now. Nova speaks again, but this time comments just what he was thinking. They shared the same coat...then her name, Tauri. It was the first time he has heard the filly's name spoken by her lips.
He had found out her name from listening in on the herd since his return from the Bay, but it didn't feel any better hearing Nova speak about her. Silence passes by where Requiem just watches the filly play along with the games of the other foals, his siblings. Nova's sudden words frighten him. He didn't know what to say. She accuses him or something, but of what he does not know. "I don't know what you mean..." His soft voice trails off. "They can't know. They can't see us..." He becomes almost frantic, his head going back and forth looking for the herd. He does not take notice of her current condition though he could only assume she carried a child of Warsaw. His grey father had bred most of his mares before the Kingdom became ruins.
Nova's voice growls something fierce. She was clearly angry with him. "I'm sorry." He whispers, his head hanging towards the ground. "I thought I was doing the right thing, but I know now it wasn't. I'm sorry." He felt this realization back when he was in the Bay. Before Tauri was even born he worried over what he had done and he waited for the day Warsaw came to confront him. He would probably lose his ability to have foals if Warsaw found out. He may even lose his life. |
