g

od is singing in my head again / in the howling voice of a she-wolf / that’s just eaten her young.

---

@Morrigan was just as in the dark as Avaneira was, and sheer idea of her knowing and not telling her fell away from her shoulders. She hadn't told neither her sister nor @Magnus about her intention to challenge for the Cove, of course, but such nuances and caveats did not settle well when her mind was alight with surprise and betrayal. To see the Greyflood sisters stand together in the face of such uncertainty gave Ava only the slightest reprieve, a small surrender in the face of something so blatant and so heavy as the man who stood before them. Where once his resoluteness and unwavering was admired, now she'd begun to fear what ambitions may lead him to their doorstep. Where once she sought the company of his unfettered strength and steeled resolve, she saw nothing now but a man who wanted and took just as Skarde did, just as Vine did. Would he sweep the rug out from under her, too? Perhaps the will of his God alone had kept Avaneira from believing he was doing this just to chain her and Morrigan back to the Hollow.

She relented. Such troubling ideas brewed from her uncertainty.

But she could not ignore him now.

“What would you call it, then,” she implored him, taking a step closer; suddenly, she felt dwarfed by his lumbering presence, but still she stood steeled and absolute, “If Vellen drives you to these shores, would you not come here to take this place from us?” She could do nothing to stop him if he did. Just as she had come here to take it from Drakon. Such was the law of this land, and suddenly Avaneira understood why her parents had wished to escape it; even a warborn such as her mother was eventually driven out by the ceaseless ambitions and cruelties of others. And, if you heard Him, you would do as he asked too. “I want to hear Him.” She began again, never having quite understood the weight of one's deities in their ideals, never truly understanding why lions would follow what they could not see and could not touch. “I want to see what sort of being would drive a man like you to bend to His will.”

She wondered just what she had done to drive Vellen's voice louder. Certainly, she and Morrigan been the catalyst, hadn't they? What else could have compelled Magnus here today?

The idea of the Lagoon, however, brought Avaneira only the slightest relief. Was this the other option he had mentioned before? The answer seemed obvious to Avaneira, but she'd known so little about the Lagoon that she didn't want to make any assumptions. She prayed he would set his sights for there, hoping to retain what of this strange alliance she had left. Avaneira did not want to fear the Hollow King, nor did she want to live in his shadow; she wanted to show him truly just how strong she'd become. If it meant meeting him on the battlefield, she would do just that, honorably and with courage. “Do as you will, Magnus, I suppose there is nothing I can do or say to stop you,” she breathed, once more turning her chin upwards, her rosy gaze leering into the dark depths of Magnus' own, “But I will never forget.”

Knowing this was only the first difficult conversation she would have to endure was leaving the dark Greyflood mentally exhausted. She'd maybe expected Talisa to be upset she hadn't first spoken with her about leaving the Hollows... but she hadn't expected to be openly rejected. She'd maybe expected Magnus's anger at Ava and perhaps herself for bringing her into the Hollows in the first place... but she hadn't expected him to tell her he was considering coming for the crown her sister had won.

Where Morrigan was more blindsided and confused, though, @Avaneira was angry, and the larger sister would attempt to press herself against the hormonal woman, trying to remind her that this was not a fight they wanted or needed if it wasn't necessary, no matter what their feelings were now. If not for Ava's sake, then for Morrigan's. A broken relationship with @Magnus had the potential to be the straw that broke the back of her own strength right now.

"I can't claim to understand his faith completely, Ava, but I have some experience with divinity and the devout," she looked between from the colossal to the small High Sovereign, feeling her own loyalties twisting further into a mess of a knot that left her feeling sick. "And he is not our enemy." Her mismatched gaze turned to the black of the Sigrun man, "I'll continue to believe that until proven otherwise... though I can't speak for her crown," she finished.

Whatever Morrigan chose to feel, ultimately the final say belonged to Avaneira where she wanted to leave these relations right now. Morrigan had essentially chosen to remain neutral until necessary... and then she supposed she'd have to cross that bridge if it came.

table by ferus, art by mono

They would not understand. It did not surprise him, and yet he still felt the burn of disappointment brew in his gut. If He commanded me to, yes, Magnus groused, his lip curling unpleasantly. But I would do anything for Him. That was devotion, after all; any Sigrún worth their salt would have the same stance on the matter. He would stand resolute in his allegiance; he may be a King, and a figurehead within Amaryllis in his own right.... but in the eyes of Vellen?

Well, he was merely one of many pieces on the chess board.

I want to hear Him. Magnus shook his head violently, brow furrowed but ultimately lacking aggression. This was not the place for it, even though it hissed so fervently in his ear. Only the blessed hear Vellen. It was true - no amount of posturing or huffing or lamenting over the situation would change that. She would tilt her chin to him, defiant, making her promise. While he respected @Avaneira for her gumption.... I will not forget either, Avaneira. You jeopardized the safety of my home with your actions, and offer no apology for it. Expression hardened. We will speak again, when emotions are not so... heightened. @Morrigan would do her best to smooth things over, but how far would that extend?

With a final glance between the two Sovereigns, and a stilted nod, Magnus would turn on his heel and seek to make his exit.

EXIT UNLESS STOPPED

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Morrigan stood still as stone as the dark and light high sovereigns faced off with each other with the magpie colored sovereign caught between. The size difference was significant, but just as it didn't matter with their uncle, it could not matter now. They had reached and impasse, it seemed, neither family able to budge either for the pride of their bloodline, the strength of their religious ideals, or a mixture of both. As they shared final words with each other, Morrigan's throat remained dry and no sound came from her. She only stared for a long moment after @Magnus before giving a last mournful look at @Avaneira and departing into the depths of the Cove.

table by ferus, art by mono