She saw the anger first, no matter how briefly it passed. So, he wasn’t proud to be called such? Oswin watched quietly, ears perked forward to catch the Paradise king’s words as he responded. Rather than rising to her bait, he pointed out that while he was known to them, they were unknown to him. If Oswin were more apt at the proper flow of conversations, maybe she would’ve remembered it’d be more polite to introduce herself before she outright named him an enemy.

But Wasp…

Oswin thought of Macabre’s daughter, who’d met her and her family years ago on their first return to the islands. Battle-worn and still processing the grief of her mother’s loss.

“Wasp is gone from the Peak.” She answered, measuredly. In truth, Oswin hoped her sister was doing okay, wherever she was. She was sure she was, as she believed a mare of the Peak capable of handling any situation she found herself in. It would be nice to have the mare back, especially while Oswin tried pushing forward with a more active Peak again. “She was already long gone by the time I returned.”

She cast a glance at Bane and then another one at Róisín before returning her eyes to Rougaru.

“I apologize that I didn’t think to introduce myself before such a blunt question,” she wasn’t actually apologetic, but it was more polite to pretend she was. “My name is Oswin and I am the Prime Minister of the Peak.” She could have told him she was already one prior, that she had actually grown up on these islands and was no stranger, but it was always better for a potential foe to underestimate her.

“This is Bane,” she gestured toward her sister who’d thrown such a blunt question at him (Oswin secretly loved Bane’s straightforward nature, but she knew she shouldn’t encourage it). “She’s the Codebreaker.”

Another glance to where Róisín stood. “And this is Róisín, our General.” Though Róisín was clearly younger than the pair of them and her hide wasn’t nearly as decorated in scars as Oswin’s was, the Prime Minister showed no lack of pride or confidence in naming what the mare was. Despite their current differences making things… tense, Oswin had to respect that the Peak had voted collectively to name her their General, and as Prime Minister, she supported that.

“It’s important to me that the Peak becomes more of an active presence on these islands again, which is why I brought my Codebreaker and General with me to meet with you.”

Oswin quieted as Rougaru spoke more. There was an intriguing air about him and something in those green eyes that made her not want to look away for too long. She nodded as though to agree with his point. “That’s very true.” She murmured. It may seem she was thinking of changing her narrative on him, but Oswin wasn’t so convinced. It wss both good and bad that he didn’t wear the title of villain with any sort of pride.

“You say you have family to protect here,” She said, “children,” and shifted her weight, conscious of the heavy, bulky, awkward thing currently growing and stretching her stomach. “I know sometimes the island drama can get a bit… misconstrued.” Maybe he was only seen as a villain for snatching back a mare who’d been taken from him… Maybe he wasn’t holding any mare against his will who did not want to be here.

She doubted it. Maybe her bias ran deep for Solomon, as he was the stallion her daughter loved, but she believed the Tinuvel king’s words before she believed what came out of the mouth of Rougaru.

“I think, since you don’t know me, I should explain myself better before prying further about your character.” She said, measured. “When my sisters elected me their Prime Minister, they did so knowing I have a very clear vision for our Peak. I aim to increase our numbers and our activity throughout the islands. We will be making sure there are no herds holding members - mares or stallions - against their will, or causing them any pain. I am done with the barbaric practices of the past and I will not let anyone, regardless of who or what they are, make anyone else feel small and helpless.”

She spoke evenly, but with passion and assuredness in her tone. She could not and would not be swayed. Oswin’s passion for the Peak had begun when her mother told her the story of Black Heart Machine running up and asking if her mother sought to fight the island’s injustice. Enamored, young Oswin had considered the mare she never met a hero, and when she learned the pain her mother had gone through she swore if she could help it, no one else ever would.

“So, Rougaru,” she said, smiling (though it was tense and didn’t quite meet the hard, dark blue of her eyes fixated on him), “Should I expect our future meetings are going to be less diplomatic than this one?”

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.