Time stretched awkwardly after his call, turning seconds into minutes and minutes into hours. His gaze raked over the rocky landscape of the Bay hungrily, desperate to see Valka again. He held no illusions as to her affections for him, not now. After what had transpired last fall, Solomon understood that there was no owning a wild creature such as her, no matter what his belligerent mind wanted to believe. Despite his proffered claim in the fierce tangle of touch of feeling that followed his declaration, Solomon knew that their partnership was always conditional.

Valka would fight for what she deserved… and if he were honest? He wasn't sure that he deserved her at this particular moment.

Still, when the patched form of his once-opponent detached itself from the scenery and made it's way in his direction, his expression quickly cooled from hopeful to neutral. Solomon knew little of Bacardi, beyond his own selfish reasons for disliking the creature closest to the Bay Queen. In the fight for Valka's hand last Fall, Bacardi had been the only other that Solomon was willing to face down as a worthy opponent. At least Bacardi had put the time and effort in to earn some of Valka's trust, unlike the other two that had joined in the battle. Still, it did not mean that he looked upon the boy fondly.

The Cove King's expression darkens at the blatant disrespect shown by the lack of title, and listens intently as Bacardi brushes off the Queen's absence. His heart lurches uncomfortably and his ears twist back, but he comforts himself with the fact that Bacardi does not appear worried about the status of his queen. Clearly she was somewhere safe… ish. What follows after has his skin tightening in annoyance and his eyes glittering with irritation as he refocuses on Bacardi.

"I do." He acknowledges after a long beat of cold silence, his ears twisted back and lip curled. As much as he would like to put this impertinent stallion in his place, the reality was that he could not, at present, count on success. And while he was often willing to take risks, far too much was delicately balanced at the moment to leave anything up to chance. Until he was certain of the state of the islands, he would not stir any further ill will than he had too. For all that he knew, Bacardi might have usurped control of the Bay and was keeping Valka prisoner somewhere… although this was, admittedly, a far fetched possibility. The thought of anyone keeping her prisoner again was ludicrous.

"And it is, although I would prefer to explain why to Valka. Do you know where she has gone, or when she plans to return?" Questions about her wellbeing and the health of their daughter lingers on the tip of his tongue, but he holds them for now, hoping - perhaps foolishly - that Bacardi is wrong and that Valka will emerge from the landscape with her customary fire.

Solomon