PERSEPHONE

Although she restrained herself from showing it, Persephone was relieved as the stranger spoke calmly and lowered his head, signalling that he was not here for a fight. She retained her composure, still wary, but let her taught muscles relax a little, and greeted him with a bob of her own head.

“I have tried my best,” she replied, taking a moment to glance at the trees surrounding them.

The Forest had seen so much in her years here – it seemed almost impossible to imagine how much more it had seen since this stranger had ruled here, and even before that. These trees had eyes and ears, but no mouths with which to tell their stories. How many children had been born in their shadows before Persephone had lain beneath them, panting? How many pairs had held intimate conversations beneath their boughs before she and Evren had offered soft words to each other? And how much blood had been spilt on this rich earth before Warsaw had come calling?

There was much unknown, and that realisation had been on Persephone’s mind more than usual lately. For now, however, she had the unknown of her visitor to focus on instead.

“It is good to meet a fellow lover of the Forest, Vercingetorix,” she continued. “As long as you aren’t here to cause trouble, then I say welcome home. Forgive me for the suspicion, but there has been a lot of that of late.”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh