The dark bay lifted his head in acknowledgment of what the new ruler had bade him produce. 'Something of worth.' Carthage wondered what the other male meant by that, but he had his assumptions. The land of his birth saw fit to trade mares, both related and not, to gain favor and breed trust in new alliances. Many families were bound in such a fashion seeking such loyalty as could be found in the bonds of kinsmanship. Lucky for Carthage -- and perhaps Sigurdr himself -- such a gift lay within the jungle ready for the giving.
Satisfaction glimmered across his lips, a twitch and nothing more. "You'll find her to be a kingly gift, indeed." A piercing, specially articulated whistle left the dark stallion's maw then. The sound of it rang out through the jungle beyond them and reached its target within. Carthage waited a few minutes rather impatiently, only marked with the gentle swish or two of his tail, for the mare to reveal herself.
Astarte had led her two brothers across seas and wastelands to come to Paradise. Her dreams had often been visions then, leading them straight to the land when it was within Snapdragon's control. The stallion suspected that his dark sister had other such visions since the birth and disappearance of the child that had been forced upon her. However, she had yet to relate them to him.
It didn't matter if she'd had any in recent months. What mattered was that she was capable. Better a possible prophet than a run-of-the-mill mare from the Crossing. Surely Sigurdr would find Astarte to be of inestimable value. On cue, the black female exited the trees silently. Her brown eyes were affixed to the newcomer before slowly turning to Carthage.
As demurely as a doe, the Colorado Ranger mare took her quiet steps and stood dutifully next to her older brother. Her gaze was often affixed to the ground before her, but, once at the bay's side, the mare appraised the new ruler of Paradise. She had liked Snapdragon and her short-lived capability of curbing her brother's antic, but none of that showed on her dark features.
Still not fully recovered from the trespass she'd suffered, Astarte was wary of new stallions, but she trusted her brother to make good choices as far as she was concerned. Her intent had always been to help her family in whatever way she could. If that meant joining someone else at the behest of her brother, she would acquiesce peacefully, if rather cautiously.
"This is my sister, Astarte." The stallion turned his gaze from the stallion to look upon his sister. The crimson of his gaze was warm this time when he looked upon her instead of hard calculation. A dark ear of hers curved toward him in silent question, but Carthage went on, turning back to the black-hooded male. "There's more to her than meets the eye, I assure you."