Erna Rike led her new plaything through the lush forestry of the Jungle until the ground began to grow damper and the foliage began to change. The scent of Alaric was thick in the air, marking the territory of Ecrosia. Once within the pride land, the woman halted and turned to face @Emrik. Welcome to Ecrosia Mire, she said, gesturing toward their surroundings, but also laying a claim on the adolescent. My husband Alaric Starke is the High Sovereign, she said with a hint of arrogance in her tone. I will call him, but before I do - she lowered her head and whispered. Your training starts now. First task: never mention your surname. You're an orphan, I found you. That is all. Her voice was laced with subtle threat, eyes searching for the boy's confirmation before her head rose to call for @Alaric.

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(I have to sleep after this post but feel free to post around Emrik to get it finished if you need guys!)

The journey is long and by the time they arrive, Emrik is showing signs of exhaustion. All the same, when the lioness speaks the boy's ears flick up and his skull tilts to meet her cold gaze. The command is simple, direct, and although he opens his mouth to ask why something makes him hesitate. Something in her voice, or her gaze, or perhaps it's the instinct deep in his mind. Whatever the cause, Emrik's teeth snap together without a sound escaping them. The orphan nods, and then as if trying to impress his new guardian and her husband the king, stands taller.

it is not often his wife calls for him (they share a den and thus do not often have the need to summon on another) so his interest is piqued. alaric abandons what he was doing -- it was not important, anyway -- and turns towards the call. his pace is steady but not hurried; he will arrive when he arrives. what he sees is not what he expects -- @Erna with a child that is not their own. immediately he is on guard, studying the strange boy with detached interest. had she truly brought him a child? it was out of his wife's nature to do such a thing, and so his inquisitive gaze settled heavily on her. he does not say anything, but waits for her to explain. @Emrik

code // art // do not use without permission

The grey Sigrun boy says nothing but complies with her command. Good, she thinks, pleased for the time being with his agreeableness. He was showing promise now, and she was more than excited to begin pouring her poison inside his impressionable mind.

She stands taller, too, as they both await @Alaric's arrival. It doesn't take long before the wheat king emerges from the swamp shrubbery of his kingdom, his green gaze falling first on Emrik, as she'd expected. Then he glances towards her, and she steels herself mentally. She was confident, now, a small smirk twisting her lips as she nods curtly to the High Sovereign. Hallo, meine Liebe, The banshee plays the role of a dutiful wife better than ever. She had Alaric to thank for that. I found this boy alone. Seems like he's orphaned, she gestured idly towards the adolescent. His name is Emrik. Just Emrik. Her violet gaze pauses, trying to read Alaric's expression. Would he see through her lie? No, it would be impossible, right? He would make a fine soldier one day, hmm? Says he wants to become stronger. Thought I'd teach him a thing or two, The glance she casts her mate holds the unspoken promise that this child will also act as a great training dummy for their cubs.

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her answer is what he had expected -- an orphaned child brought in to her fold -- but he is... cautious. erna hardly strikes him as the type to take in a lost child, especially with how highly she holds the blood of the rike, no matter how strong the boy may be. and he did look promising -- solid and well built and with an obvious size to him.

"is that so," he mused as he studied the child, looking between @Emrik and @Erna with a piercing gaze. "he would make a fine soldier," he agreed, and knew also that the mire was more than capable of providing for another mouth. they were thriving, here, and surely emrik would not eat that much.

but he had one other question, perhaps the most important one in the upheaval of amaryllis. "where did you find him?"

+5 Tell a lie without getting caught

Indeed, Erna was certainly not the type to take in an orphan. Alaric knew his wife well, but still. She hopes he'd fall for her deceit and assume she'd brought Emrik here for a plaything for her children and... of course, for herself. She would find satisfaction in pitting her whelps against the older boy.

He agrees with her. Thankfully, the kid did have actual potential, if only due to his sturdy build. If he listened to her, as he had so far, he would be an excellent weapon. "Where did you find him?" She is prepared, and answers quickly as if it's the truth. The thicket, she shrugged nonchalantly. Said he'd been wandering for a while. Her eyes settled on her husband's face. It was a far away place, nowhere near Caladan, where he'd actually lived with his family enemy.

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He listens to @Erna but his gaze is on @Emrik, watching the boy closely as his wife speaks. "the thicket, hmm?" His voice is distracted, his thoughts working as he imagined raising the boy in to yet another soldier to use against their enemies.

"Emrik, is it?" This he directs to the child in question. "You want to learn to be a soldier, hmm? To grow strong, and to fight?" Waiting for any sign that the boy was listening, he glanced only briefly at Erna.

"You listen well and you can stay." A faint nod to confirm that, highlighting his words before listening for a response.