Falls

she doesn’t attempt to strangle the chuckle that tumbles from her lips at the small mare’s quip, though her smirk slides at ylva’s question. marzanna’s gaze is directed sharply to her former king, all too curious how he would describe the events that had lead to their parting. the prickly expression she feels softens, momentarily, a corporeal admission of the traction he gains by his frustratingly honest remarks.

does he think she had preferred this? to storm away angrily from their kingdom, while their family was under threat of predators? of course not. but he had put her in this position… and their deal had been broken. while she no longer held the title of queen, she could not be his. her pride was a massive beast that no tether would subdue, no placation would soothe the wound that had been inflicted upon it by him allowing her to be stripped of her title by a stranger. what loyalty could she show such a king?

it was likely that he saw the situation differently, as the golden mare knew they were apt to do. it was why they made such a good partnership. and why she had chosen him in the first place…. working together, she thought there might be no limit to what they could achieve someday. but uncertainty hung over their future together.

marzanna feels the satisfying sting of her tail switching over her hocks, eying ylva curiously as solomon extends his offer. she knew he couldn’t help himself and it was entertaining to watch him in action. she had no doubt that, while she had only known the smaller mare for a matter of minutes, ylva would likely decline swiftly. despite her want of female company, the fjord had seemed quite content in her surroundings.

her features turn from curiosity to a bland expression, as solomon skips the meat of their connection to the more romantic and exciting tale of their courtship. did he not want to air the dirty laundry? her brow furrows but she holds her bite of her anger back, adding mysteriously, ”it would take more than the skin of any stallion’s teeth to hold me, Solomon. that has been made clear, i’m sure.”

there would be an opportunity to air their grievances but marzanna wasn’t positive that now was the perfect time for that. she was too intrigued by ylva’s pleasant presence beside her to drive the small mare away with a spat. given the state of her hormones and the rest of her circumstances, marzanna could not yet rule out the possibility of her emotions getting the better of her for once. she would be wiser, for now, to move into cooler territory.

it is easier to do as the conversation steers away from her and solomon’s connection, and the tension she feels quiets again. another figure approaches, thankfully she thinks, another distraction to her nagging conflicting feelings and the inevitable conversation that lay before her and the handsome stallion she was determined to steadfastly ignore for the next several minutes. she offers the dark stranger a bright smile, nodding at his introduction politely while wondering if it would needle solomon at having been refused such a look. it was childish, she knew, but still satisfying to her wounded ego.