take what you can. Posted on May 27, 2020 at 02:12:54 AM by Rade
to live and burn is
the most exquisite form of self destruction
Rade’s conjectures about the spotted stallion proved true in one way; his familiarity with the islands was evident in the way that he spoke. Sharing openly his surprise that the roan’s presence in the Vulcan lands had been tolerated as something other than a companion or a captive - and his shock that the mares had abandoned their carefully-cultivated neutrality. Truth be told, Rade was not entirely certain of the former; undoubtedly some of the Vulcans counted him amongst the prizes that had been taken in the war. Any attempts to hold him there against his will, however, would quickly disabuse the women of that notion. The palomino’s current allegiance to the Peak was tenuous at best; the pact that he had formed with their Codebreaker had never been sanctioned by its other leaders. So while Adelheid might be successful in commanding the roan stallion, her sisters would find any attempts at force met with an equal measure of it.
But that was neither here nor there. For now, Rade was also surprised to find that the Vulcans suffered from one of the same issues that had always frustrated him about the Lagoon: the apathy of its members. Any one of the mares might have taken it upon themselves to approach a bachelor and befriend him. To win peace through camaraderie where endless conflict had failed. But they were resistant to change - or perhaps simply to the efforts that such a shift in viewpoints would require of them. In other words, they could not let go of the idea that the Lagoon was the enemy, not even for their own sake. Not even when one such as Rade had already done the same.
The world was changing, but it wasn’t he who would be left behind.
His companion spoke of the Forest - a place where Rade had never been - with the air of one who understood that there was no turning back. Perhaps that meant he was in a healthier place than the palomino, who still wished himself young and a King again. “Things are different now than they were then,” He offered in response to Bondurant’s speech. “Such as the fact that we do know everything now. If only the ears of youth could change to become less deaf to men of our age - if they understood that there was more to ruling than a constant show of strength, then there would be fewer of these frivolous wars. But by the time they’ve seen the seasons turn twice, they know far too much to be taught by the likes of us.” His words were subtly manipulated to invoke not blind acceptance of the folly of seeking to guide the next generation, but an argument that it might be possible. If they could instruct the children before they became too free of thought and will to open themselves to such influence.
Of course, where directness had failed with the Vulcans, Rade sensed that in this situation it might be met with greater success. After all, their gender was the sort to face confrontation head-on - whether literally or figuratively. “Truth be told, I ventured to the Peak not only because it was where most of the bachelors have been taken, but also because I hoped to reach an agreement with the Peak. For too long the education of the young has been left to their sires and dams - and it is clear from the state of things that they have not risen to the challenge well. In most places, it is customary that a colt spend time amidst his peers - and greaters - learning what it is to be a stallion. Here, they have only their fathers to stand as an example. I think we can agree that the islands will be an even darker place once these heirs who have grown up amidst war inherit these kingdoms.”
He exhaled his breath in a heavy snort, and offered one more thing. “If it is a purpose you seek, could there be anything greater than to ensure the future of our children, and theirs?” He fell silent then, giving the other stallion time to contemplate. From his own workings, Rade knew that pushing too hard would only lead to resistance regardless of whether this Bondurant agreed with what he said at its heart.