Zevulun nodded firmly as Rilke suggested they speak to the other leaders on Luthien regarding an allyship to keep the islands unified. It was the best scenario for them all and he hoped they’d each agree as well. If they could count on one another then the rest of the islands would have a difficult time trying to pry them apart. Infighting could occur on the other islands, but he hoped it would not be something they’d need to face here. Zevulun briefly remembered the discussions with his sister, years ago, when she’d proclaimed herself Tinuvel’s queen and how angry she had been when newcomers claiming Tinuvel territories refused to recognize it as such. She had been fighting them constantly, and he’d always thought it was exhausting. There was enough to worry about beyond their shared borders, he didn’t want to have to keep a careful eye on his neighbors, too.
His pink-lined ears flicked forward as Rilke admitted he’d already crossed paths with Solomon and the situation had gone sour. That was something they had in common, though Rilke’s story was different and slightly less personal than Zevulun had been. He breathed a low breath out of his mouth, almost wanting to chuckle as the larger stallion admitted he never had believed in love at first sight until he saw the mare Solomon had also been after.
“I’m pretty sure I believed in love at first sight the minute I was old enough to realize girls were girls and different from boys.” He said it almost playfully about himself, unable to help from grinning. It was true. Even young, any new mare who wandered into the Bay had found him by their side, heart’s already in his eyes as he offered to show them around the place. Despite that, he briefly felt sympathy for Rilke. It seemed from the stallion’s expression and brief dip in mood that the situation had gone completely sour. What had become of the mare they both had eyes for? Had she chosen Solomon? Zevulun swallowed back what pity he was feeling, thinking Rilke wouldn’t care for it. Losing a mare who stirred you in that way was hard enough, but them choosing another lover over you was…well, Zevulun couldn’t imagine how much that’d hurt him.
At Rilke’s question, though, Zevulun’s eyes widened briefly before he blew out a hard breath. “I might not be the best one to ask…” He admitted, then gave somewhat of a boyish grin, “I’m not exactly on his good side either. I ah- I got involved with his daughter and… well, let’s just say things were… and probably are a bit messy. He didn’t want her coming home with me, but she chose me.” Zevulun hadn’t gone back to the Cove since Aurélie had chosen to come home with him, defying her father as he’d been less than enthused at her choice to stand by Zevulun’s side. “Maybe just don’t mention that you and I are friends, next time you see him.” He said with a bit of a tease, and couldn’t help but grin.
“I’m sure he can be talked with though, or… so I’d think. Maybe an apology for your actions that day would go far with him?” He said, though questionably, as he wasn’t entirely sure.
“Despite the fact he could have forced his daughter to stay with him and driven me out of the Cove, marked me as an enemy for the disrespect I’d shown him, he didn’t.” Zevulun paused briefly before admitting, “He had every right to, given the circumstances.”
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