The opening volley did not leave much room for hope, and it took self-control to stop his gaze from narrowing and his ears from tipping back as the arabesque stallion casually insulted him. It was likely he did not know how much of an insult it was, but that did not lessen it's sting. To be reduced from a King in his own right - which he was - to not just Nyimara's pawn - which he was no longer - but to one of Nyimara's men left a bitter taste in his mouth. Quinn had never been fit to lay a single touch on the silver witch's hide, and his existence had rankled at Asmodeus for months until he'd finally reached a position in which to do something about it. Ousting the man had been more satisfying than he cared to admit, even though Quinn hadn't even really been around to acknowledge the slight.

"I'm surprised you haven't noticed," Asmodeus began coolly, locking his temper away until he had a chance to observe this stallion further. It remained possible that he was somehow unaware of the changes in the Desert, just as much as it was possible that he was aware and was trying to throw Asmodeus off. "The Desert has not belonged to Nyimara in a number of months but to myself, and myself alone."

He clarifies with a steady gaze, attempting to meet Helios' own. The chimera had hoped that this meeting would go smoothly, as the one in the Badlands had, and he was willing to let some of his pride go to allow that to happen. "My name is Asmodeus, and you, I believe," he tipped his muzzle toward the other stallion, "are Helios. We've been neighbors for some time now."

And yet they had not met. Not even at the border, which was strange enough.

"I wanted to meet you." He said plainly, although that was more a byproduct of his true desire rather than it's source. "And to get your opinion on something. I find that I do not know much about your herd, despite living alongside it." He did not let his gaze stray to wherever the herd was, not wanting to give any lecherous or threatening impressions. He had no desire to take from Helios. What he wanted was his support for the crown, but rushing here felt foolish when he was still uncertain of the stallion's attitude toward him. Nyimara had not spoken of the Dunes herd much, and so it was a bit of a blind area in his knowledge. "Tell me of yourself and your family... What is it you stand for, Helios?"