The carmine woman had wasted absolutely no time in her jaunt to get out of there. Desperately moving as quick as she could to get to both @Magnus and @Saga. Over the years she had perfected the art of sneaking around and finding information that would be useful but this one directly related to what they wanted and needed. The Rike, as she understood it, was not a friend of the Sigrun's and thus a target so as she watched from the sidelines in Wolfbron Bluffs she'd captured some very interesting news. One's that could not be forgotten and on the trip she had repeated the event in her mind over and over to keep them fresh. Calling quickly for the pair as she settled into the Tidepools. A place that was close to the Lagoon and the Cove (which joining there would be her next shot, she believed) and it could provide the necessary noise cover should anyone be lurking.

https://www.amaryllis-lions.com/showthread.php?tid=9046

Magnus was swift to heed Zulema's call. Since the loss of the Lagoon the titan had been keeping himself busy; sticking close to allies, hoping to reinforce bonds and even considering joining one of them - probably Obsidian, to be close to Hrefna - for a time before eventually breaking away to join his wives. To hear from the Kivasante was reassuring, though the urgency that came with it... Well, there was a chance it could be bad news. That would be the last thing he or his kin needed. "Zulema," Magnus rumbled in greeting as he closed the gap between himself and the scarlet lioness, stepping carefully so as to avoid the tidepools that littered the area. "It is good to see you, my friend." He slowed to a halt a few feet away from the lioness, tilting his head expectantly. "What is it?"

There was great exhiliration in having information that would not only benefit the Sigrun but it continued to give her sway with the family. Something that she could provide for them and it made her a beneficial addition to them for years to come. I was up near the Bluffs when I noticed a strange lion approaching its borders so I went in for for evaluation, she starts with a smile that slowly got more excited and likely more sinister, It was a male named Alaric Starke. He's from Ecrosia Mire. It's new High Sovereign. She must have missed the opportunity to attend the challenge and learn that for herself but the information had come to her regardless so it seemed hardly anything to stress about.

He has cubs to be born soon. Alaric seems to have lost a fight against the leader in the Hollows some time ago? Yet another challenge she hadn't been privy to. He told them that his wife would not be allowed in the Oasis, nor him if knowledge got out of their union. Zulema felt herself easing up to the punchline, excited by the prospect of telling a grandiose story even if the audience wanted the end result. Who is his wife, you say? The smile that had been growing slowly turned to a mouthful of his teeth, is Erna Rike. Dun dun dunnnn! There was no doubt that there was a certain playful edge to the carmine noble that she had found information that could carry the Sigrun forward even more. Saga had done well to dissuade them momentarily but Zu could imagine that they were doing their best to amass their own allies now that they were being taken out one by one.

It seems that the Bluffs and the Rike might be looking into tying an alliance together. The Bluffs lions seemed skeptical and did not immediately reach out in the agreement. @Magnus would know better than anyone how to handle this information and whom to share it with and whom not to. It was why she came to Magnus with almost every piece of information she had because he had always been her go to. He knew what she could do and that she wouldn't sway her loyalty from him and his family.

He knew it was not going to be good news. In the back of his mind it had occurred to him that, perhaps, just like the Sigrun themselves - with the Hollows and then the Lagoon and Cove; with the Valour, the Hodari, the Miroslav - that the Rike would manage to secure themselves a stronghold and form alliances in this land. Like cockroaches they would crawl into the foundations of this place and take root. Magnus' expression remained sombre as @Zulema recounted her findings. Ecrosia was now in the hands of a Rike in-law, and they had made a beeline for another family that the Sigrun had found themselves at odds with. The Dieudonne. Amara had not been trustful enough to immediately jump into bed with them, but surely once they realized that they had a mutual enemy it would only be a matter of time. "Thank you for bringing this to me, Zulema. Your loyalty has been unwavering, even in our hardest of times. When we return to power, I will ensure your actions are rewarded." This Starke man must be the one that lost against Roan in his own recent challenge. Perhaps that would have oiled the wheels a little more to ensure that the Hodari would definitely support the Sigrun, should things turn nasty, though he had every faith that Roan - seeing as he had honoured Kiton's wishes for Lysander and Hrefna to be wed - would continue to be a valuable ally and friend. The Oasis, too.... It would be worth speaking with Seneca, no doubt, to relay his findings here - by the sounds of it Alaric had ties with the Miroslav regime in Andal, though Magnus did not know how exactly. The grizzled barbarian could only hope that his own friendship with the Miroslav High Sovereign - and the connection between he and Saga, whatever it had been - would win out with any relationship he had with this Alaric. The Valour, too, would be a crucial connection, as while he hadn't tallied it up there seemed to be more Valour than there were Sigrun and Rike combined. His friendship with Nymeria and Morrigan, and the understanding he'd formed with Aquila - despite their rocky start - would surely prove most beneficial here. "I will speak with Obsidian, Vermeda and Andal immediately. Could I perhaps bring you along when I speak with Seneca, Zulema? If Seneca has an established relationship with this Alaric, he may have more questions than the rest - I feel like it would be useful to have you beside me. You may be able to clarify where I cannot." His vision, perhaps, would be blurred so much by his fury with the Rike that he may not be able to see the situation clearly, for what it was. Zulema would be best to hold his reins, especially when Nadia was not here to do it.

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Though she was no amazingly skilled fighter, the idea of being able to sink her teeth into something juicy sounded spectacular. A moment where she could help her friend(s) sink their teeth into a long-time enemy. Again, her thoughts sink to her sister and hope that she could understand that she wasn't going to flake on the one's that had helped her become who she wanted to be. @Magnus had told all that and more for her since she had arrived several years ago and this was her continuing to return the favor.

While it was wonderfully pleasant and satisfying to be told that she would gain a reward for her efforts, she couldn't imagine what she could be given that would be substantial. She cared not for food and a rank was likely more along what he was thinking but Zulema felt that was already a given. Especially if Magnus were in the higher ranks but she couldn't be so certain his other high ranked Sigrun would take kindly to a "stranger" to be so highly trusted. Of course I will attend your meeting with the Oasis High Sovereign. It would be an honor as always. It would be just like old times but even better. She was a crucial piece in the discussion and negotiations. She might have the answers that the male would be looking for and she would be more than happy to oblige should it sway his position.

"let me go to seneca."

it's more a command than she means it to be - she's never been one to demand things of @Magnus and though she now wields the title of jarl, that hasn't changed. but there's a need in the words. if the oasis were to ally with this bastard and his pride... it would certainly twist things in an unpleasant way. she is under no illusion of what the oasis king's relationship is with her, but they were civil, at least. if he were to stand beside erna and alaric? things would change. drastically.

she slides in with a narrowed eye, her ears folded to her skull in agitation. a nod is sent to @Zulema and she exhales softly. "you're invaluable." she agrees, teeth grinding the longer she reflects on the topic. and if magnus were going to struggle to hold his temper, vellen knows saga would be the more likely to fly off the handle. perhaps it would be time for she and the miroslav king to have a rematch - with a very different ending.

table by ferus & lineart by eerien00dle

Not only did @Zulema want to go to visit the Oasis but @Saga did, too. It was to be expected, really - she and Seneca had history. “Very well,” Magnus rumbled, with a stiff nod of the head. “We will go soon. Best not to put it off.” The Sigrun was keen to speak with the piebald brute before Alaric and his Rike bitch managed to spill any venom into his ear. He expected that most of his allies would have some concerns with the ways of his family, but if they truly understood what their opponents were like….. Well, he doubted highly that they would be able to support it. “Regardless of how you or I might feel, sister,” he would shift his attention onto his younger sibling, expression drawn and serious, “for the good of the family we must try and keep all our allies on side unless they give us serious cause to reconsider. That includes Seneca. We do not know how far this campaign of bad mouthing has gone, but if the Rike succeed in turning the Oasis or any of the other old alliances against us… we will be ruined.”

His warning was clear - we must play nice; all of us.

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus

Despite the fact that it would look like on the outside that she was simply a pawn to be played, that was exactly the game that she had enlisted herself in. Zulema had absolute faith in the pride and the leader that she had chosen years ago. Knew that regardless of which way the tides turned, she would go down with the ship for all it was worth. To hear from @Saga that she was an invaluable individual was music to her ears and certainly continued to boost her faith and trust in the Sigrun as a whole. @Magnus then led to talking with his sister about keeping themselves reeled in (at least, that was the summarized version of what she had heard) and could only imagine that the three of them would do and say what was necessary and nothing more and nothing less.

@Magnus turns serious stare onto her and her jaw tightens, ears laying back. "i'm aware." she promises him, words dry and just a little sharp. her expression is cautiously neutral but there's a heat in her eye as she stares at him, part insulted and part understanding. "i'm not making an enemy of the father of my children unless he deserves it." she continues, swinging her head to glance at @Zulema, lips pursed. "but if he deserves it, i'll do more than make an enemy." she adds sweetly, an unpleasant smile crawling across her face. magnus may be the older - and arguably much wiser - of the two, but he gave her the power of being jarl and having no one to, truly, hold her back now. if seneca turns out to be playing nice with their enemies, she's going to feed him his own balls.

table by ferus & lineart by eerien00dle

He is used to his sister's tongue; she was a headstrong woman, and had the sort of temper that would have most beasts cowering. Her bite this time was hardly the sort to strike any sort of fear, really, yet he still felt a little sorry for @Zulema having to witness this. He would simply remain stony-faced; the only sign of movement being a slight arch of the brow. Especially at confirmation of something he'd suspected since Velkan, Solvi and Hillevi's birth. So they were of Seneca's blood too. No wonder the Miroslav had been so quick to line up alongside them. "Very well, sister," Magnus rumbled, shaking his head a little. "I will call you both when it is time." And with a short nod of farewell, he would turn on his heel and take his leave.

EXIT

the finest fury is the most controlled

code by corvus