Out of the Azars, he wasn't the one who navigated politics smoothly. Those things were left to Ebrahim and Ashelia. Careful steps to the border of the pride land that he knew @Alaric to rule over. Since they'd last seen each other at the challenge for the Lagoon he had questions about some of Alaric's mentions of alliances, namely the Sigrún. Thus he had journeyed away from his cubs and wife to discover exactly what his friend had meant.

Family disputes were not really a concern of the Azars. Their main concern was to build their family into something mentionable across the land. Some of his family members might be aware of the Sigrún and Rike dispute, though he was not concerned about it overall.

Now that he'd entangled himself in Alaric's politics he wanted to find out just what the grudge pertained of. He'd yet to speak to Seneca, unaware of the clashing views that Alaric and his current king held. While he held no true spoken ties of loyalty to Seneca, he had formed a loose alliance with Alaric. Once everything came out into the open he might have a problem.

From the tan muzzle issued a call for the king.

ooc. he's in AO, the thread is just finishing up!

annie was lounging when one of the oasis members started out into the country. boredom bids him to follow, seeing if he can ease himself back into the game of spying. he hasn't needed to for so long that he may have lost his touch - and he's eager to brush up on it again. so he skulks after the severe-looking man, shadowing his steps with as much care as he can manage. as they come onto the borders of the swamp, he makes a face at the muck that begins to coat his limbs. but after a moment decides it is to his advantage. so, swallowing a sigh, he pauses to crouch and rub liberally on the mud to streak it along his side and coat. pressing his lips together in a thin line the piebald skitters into the nearest bundle of thick ferns and settles on his stomach to wait. his bi-colored eyes appraise @Rielus with interest, paws folding to tuck under his chest.

antares is attempting to hide

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he had found kinship with the man, a bond formed over a similar mind for politics. or lack thereof. an understanding, perhaps, that personal relationships mattered more than the web of connections draped across this land -- that is why alaric hurries to answer the call. he moves from his place towards the border, recognizing the call and having anticipated the visit. they had spoken briefly at the challenge, and he had expected there to be questions about his public declaration. alaric was fine with that; he had no qualms about spreading the truth of the sigrun across all of amaryllis if he must. no matter what he knew first hand or not, alaric had chosen his side. "@Rielus," he greeted, thankful for the thorns that lined his borders, welcoming the man along one of the less hidden paths that led in to the mire. he said no more but instead just waited, trusting that the man would have a reason for his visit.""

art by cloudy//art by cloudy

Whether too absorbed in meeting his friend to discover what alliances meant between Ecrosia and Andal or focused on the distance between he and his family, the boy that followed the grizzled man went unnoticed. Loam left soft impressions of pawprints as he had toed across the strangely wet land that Alaric had taken. Even the air felt much more tepid here.

Not long after his call there came the pride leader, much paler in hue than himself. Few the paths might be into the pride land, but he had found a trail that leas to his old friend's doorstep and knocked upon it with the ferocity of a beast. Alaric, the greeted response came rumbled, not unpleasant, I've come to understand what business this is about the Sigrún. As I've understood, they're an ally to Andal. Allegiances weren't always what they seemed, and while Rielus had particular relationships with the Miroslav family it was very likely that @Alaric had never held loyalty to them.

Straight to the point, which is what the wheat king preferred. @Rielus did not cut corners, and Alaric respected him all the more for it. "They are enemies of mine," he returns the favor, not bothering with pretense, "and of my wife's family. The Rike and Sigrun have a long feud, and I suppose you could say I have chosen my side." A wry twist of his lips, though he imagines he should give a reason for it. "Erna has told me many things of the Sigrun that I cannot support -- namely that they worship and ocean God and drown all of their babies in his name. A drowning at birth and one at their year birthday." He stopped, here, and waited for the inevitable questions that would come.""

art by cloudy//art by cloudy

They are both men straight to the point, not shying from the topic at hand. Some things Rielus hadn't been aware of, such as the Rike and Sigrún blood feud. Neither of these families held any importance to the Azars, they hadn't allied with either by decree. For a long moment he considered everything @Alaric had shared.

And what of the Rike? What is the feud between these families? Noble families often held rifts between them; struggles for power and the like often created adversity between nobles, though he had never been one to meet between them for political reasons. Most of his life had been a guard between Ashelia and harm, standing between her and any foe even if it meant giving his life.

Now that he'd acquired a surname there felt a bit more weight to become more involved in what happened to the Azars. One thing he could relate to was Alaric's loyalty to his wife, something that Rielus admired as he'd been loyal to Ashelia his entire life. Infidelity would never cross his mind, he was content with the family he had. I understand choosing family's side of matters. Does this make you an enemy to Andal?

"From what I've heard, nobody knows how it truly began. Possibly a fight over land. But the Rike fight against the Sigrun, now, because of their beliefs." He shrugged, knowing damn well that there were wrongs done on both sides.

"The Rike might be the more vicious of the two families, and I cannot say they are entirely blame free, but I also feel strongly that what the Sigrun do is.... wrong. And Erna is my wife." He would support her through thick and thin, even if he had to keep her on a tight leash half of the time.

"Seneca and I have spoken, and I do not think we are enemies. Not friends, for we do stand on opposite sides, but not enemies. I have no grudge against Andal." Nor would he make any move against them, if only because he had friends in the pride. Whether or not @Rielus remained as one was yet to be seen.

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

Every issue the pawns among the crowd had to choose sides eventually; usually the side that was most believed to be honest, or the side with which an individual agreed upon most was chosen. To think that the Sigrún drowned children seemed quite an awful thing that to him wouldn't be forgivable. More information must be obtained from his pride leader, for he was certain that Seneca wouldn't just endorse murdering cubs.

With how his friend spoke of this family rift between the Rike and the Sigrún, it sounded as if @Alaric only took a side due to his arrangement with Erna. Love made you do curious things, he had to admit. Though he had kept his emotions restrained for so long that it was hard to imagine doing anything too drastic out of love.

Regardless, he wouldn't be taking sides with the family rift in question. There was no reason for the Azars to align themselves, much less himself. Out of all those involved he considered only Alaric a friend, and perhaps Seneca for his allowance of his family to remain in Andal, as well as his relationship that he shared with Diantha. Glacial eyes regarded his friend for a few seconds before they had drifted off to peer at the damp lands that Alaric claimed for himself. I will not take sides in this matter, he rumbled at last, content to walk away from the topic at hand so long as the politics of the two families didn't threaten his family. I'm glad you're not an enemy to Andal. While I don't know Seneca well enough to call him a friend, Andal has been home for some time now, and anything that were to threaten my family I would have to protect them against. The latter statement he thought Alaric would understand and maybe appreciate.

Unaware of it, Alaric was therefore surprised when he felt tension leave his body at the Azars words. "I am glad as well, and I wouldn't expect anything less." He spoke with honesty, not blind to the threat in @Rielus' latter statement. For now they stood on easy ground, able to be friends amidst the ever-changing politics of Amaryllis. Alaric hoped it would remain that way, though he was sure he was bound to make enemies sooner rather than later.

"Come, have a bite before you make the journey home? You can stay as long as you need." The downside to the location of the Mire was that it was clear across the continent, and he wanted to make sure his friend at least had a full belly before he headed home.

-exit w/rielus?-

the thunder of the drums, dictates

image by yumpy, code by corvus

Above all, he hoped that he and Alaric could maintain a friendship. A lifetime of servitude to the Azar family had landed him as an Azar himself, taking his wife's surname with apprehension yet still finding himself heading their course of survival at this point. He would still hope for a pride for the family, wishing to see Ashelia's brow with a crown on it, as it should be. For now though, he was content to spend time with his cubs and wife among their den.

For now.

Appreciation came when Alaric offered him a meal for the road. The journey to the mire lands was a long one; one he had intentionally took and left behind his new brood. Thank you. Gratitude colored the deep rumble as he trudged forward to find himself the food cache. As a gentleman he wouldn't take much, just enough to fuel his journey back to the desert. Upon filling his gullet he would depart from his friend, content for now with the way things were.

-Exit-