Oswin glanced quietly at the young mare as she spoke. A new appreciation seeded itself for Róisín as she spoke openly about her personal dealings with the Lagoon. Oswin, too, was no stranger to the evil the Lagoon could sew. She’d been a captive among the bog, though she knew she couldn’t complain as most of her visit had been spent in Ernesto’s company. There were too many stories, however, of what poison the Lagoon invited among it’s numbers.

Maybe their new boss was telling the truth. Maybe he was tired and wanted an era of peace. The Lagoon and the Peak at peace? Oswin struggled to keep her expression pleasant when really she wanted to laugh. Impossible. Her new vision for the Peak’s strength was to make sure no one - regardless of who they were - was bullied and taken away somewhere they did not want to be. Oswin could never see the Lagoon adhering to such a thing. The bachelors and the vulcans were destined to remain enemies, no matter how nice peace would be.

(So maybe her bias hadn’t been shaken.)

Róisín finished speaking, echoing Oswin’s thoughts completely. Her statement was bold, but it echoed exactly what she had been thinking. Her blue eyes flicked over to the Lagoon Boss and she lifted her chin. “The islands have changed and it’s time the Peak changes with it. The Vulcans were a voice for mares when they had no power. Now that they do it appears there’s a chance anyone could need that very strength and we intend to find a way to give it.” She took a small pause, fighting to get the confirmation off her tongue too. “As my sister said, we would support you and yours as well, so long as the days of the Lagoon bachelors sowing discord among their brethren is over.” Her tone was careful, but not hopeful.

Maybe a bit of the old, defiant and unwise Oswin still remained. She should have kept her mouth shut there, but couldn’t help but ask, “How many mares are living here against their will right now?”

Hopefully she was wrong. Hopefully he would say like the Peak, the Lagoon no longer kept captives or trinkets or whatever fancy name they applied to them. Perhaps he truly was being honest, only wanting this to be a place where young colts could learn to be stallions and keep the islands from being harassed by them.

Could an era of peace between the Lagoon and the Peak truly exist?

oswin
this is as brave as I know how to be.
I know it’s gonna hurt you, but please… be a little proud of me.