She supposed it was time to seek out the new ruler of the Ridge. She'd intended to do so before, but Ailill had sidetracked her with his pleasant company and she'd continued to shove it further down in her to-do pile. There was a finality to her decision that made her stomach lurch with discomfort, as though she were betraying the grullo stallion she'd come to love as her own. Siobhan did not know how Bjorn would react to her decision, if he would have preferred that she seek out one of his allies, or if he would approve of her waiting here for him.

Ultimately, it may never matter what Bjorn thought ever again, she reminded herself bitterly. He had left them behind like unwanted baggage in preference of his new life, whatever it was. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't bitter, as much as it pained her to admit. Just when she'd finally accepted her adoration of the bera konung and been ecstatic to share Roisin with him, he'd disappeared. It hurt in a different way than her loss of Laoise, but at least her daughter had been taken from her.

She had not been abandoned by her daughter.

Stifling a sigh, Siobhan separated herself from the two excited fillies and made her way deeper into the jungle. She wasn't sure where Faolain had come to take up roost, nor the two that she had brought with her, but it certainly wasn't along the shoreline where Siobhan stood. The cacophony of birds above forced her to make a conscious decision to harden her heart, to shove aside her fond memories of the colorful creatures. Sigurdur had been so excited to show them to her, and so ready to fight for his new best friend.

Solemnly she wipes the gathered tears from eyes on an outstretched foreleg before calling out softly for the black mare. It was time for them to chat.