It had been only a few days since Marceline had died, and Evrain was already thinking of ways to bolster his rank among the Salem leaders. He knew he had the support of his father, but Nyimara and the Desert stallion were still wildcards as far as he was concerned. He thought Nyimara would be more likely to align herself with him given her history with the former Hills queen, and so it was to her he paid a visit first.

The overo king was on high alert as he crossed into the Desert, one eye on the horizon searching for any signs of the stallion who called the place his home. But he made it to the Dunes unnoticed, coming to a halt at the border. Evrain peered out across the rolling golden expanse laid out before him. The only indicator of his nervousness was the subtle movement of his weight from left to right and then back again, pale sand shifting in gentle whispers around his hooves. He loosed a call for the queen and waited, his gaze focused on the horizon.

When at last he saw the Dunes queen, Evrain took a deep breath in an attempt to steady his fraying nerves. ❝Nyimara,❞ he greeted with a deep bow of his head. He'd seen plenty of glimpses of her from afar when she visited the Hills, but none of those fleeting glances had done her justice. A sly grin spread across his pale lips at his next comment. ❝May I say you look even more beautiful up close?❞

Flattery had always been a quick way to Marceline's heart, but whether Nyimara bought into it was yet to be seen. He could simply be making a fool of himself, but Evrain was young, cocky, and hormonal. He wasn't above flirting with her just for the sheer thrill of it, even if it gained him nothing and made him look a fool.

Evrain settled his posture into something more comfortable before speaking again. ❝My name is Evrain and I've come with news: Marceline is dead. The storm in the Badlands claimed her life. As such I've taken over the Hills.❞ He paused, allowing her to absorb the information presented to her. Would she be shocked to hear her once-was ally was gone? Or would she be relieved that a potential source of competition had been eliminated?

That wasn't necessarily true. Evrain was still vying for the title of King of Salem, and had come here with the hopes of securing Nyimara's support. But he had very little to offer her, and knew he had to play his hand wisely. His father's words echoed in his mind: 'Consider what the witch-queen's agreement will cost you.'

If he was lucky he could walk away and pay little to the silver-haired mare. If he was lucky, he'd have just the trick up his sleeve: a certain seal mare that lingered on his border. Evrain had caught fleeting glances of her over the past few months, and had only recently been able to pin her down in an attempt to draw information from her. But their conversation had been woefully short-lived, and pulling a name from her - Shenzi - had been like pulling teeth. He'd learned only what she called herself, and managed to glean that she was in hiding. Judging from the furtive glances she cast west, it didn't seem unreasonable to assume it was one of his neighbors that she was seeking to escape notice of. If he could just find out who, he could use her presence to his advantage. Would Nyimara be willing to pay his price in exchange for information about this woman?

Flicking his tail over his hips, Evrain continued: ❝I'm here hoping we might be able to come to an agreement. Perhaps you'd be so kind as to show me where the water is and we can talk on the way?❞ After journeying half a day to get here, the Hills king was parched, but he wasn't going to waste time striking a deal with Nyimara.


mixed • blue roan overo • fifteen-three
king of the hills • rafe x marceline • pippa