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The King stands on a lonely hill, hands in the pockets of his waistcoat, green eyes surveying the grasslands around him. Sharp eyesight picks out a soot-colored mare, feathers braided into her mane and tail, and the corners of his lips turn up in a smile.

A new one to the Greater Herd? Humming to himself, he starts down towards the red-eyed mare with the pentacle around her neck, decided he may as well go say hello.

Azreth smiled, reaching out a slender hand towards the mare as she came up to him. "Well-Met, Senka." He had of course known that another Azrein had joined the Herd; the vast web of light in his mind had alerted him a week past. The King swept into a low bow, the movement perfect in it's precision, and as he straightened he snapped his Cloak of Office with a flourish and a wink to the mare.

"Azreth De'servain, at your service. Slowly so as not to startle her, the King lay his hand on her cheek, his thumb absently stroking her fur. 'Welcome to the Greater Herd, fair lady. I swear on all i hold dear that I shall protect you and keep you safe from harm as much as my meager abilities will allow." Green eyes shone with the sincerity of his words -- to him, no creature, living or dead, was more deserving of the love he held for each and every Azrein.

A smile tugged the corners of his lips and he stroked her nose, nodding solemnly to her words. "I shall remember your oath and call on you in a time of need then, Senka. And do not hesitate to call on me as well." His fingers idly found a loose feather in her mane, and with practiced ease, he re-braided it in more securely.

"How did you come to find us, then? Your dialect marks you from the Unthals."

Azreth nodded, sitting down on the lush grass. He absently pulled some blades from the ground and began twisting them into an intricate knot. "Of course. Though a lot born in the mountains tend to keep to themselves and they prefer it that way. But you strike me as different. You want to see the world, " He paused for a moment, entire body stilling as he glanced up at her through his eye lashes.

"But more than that, you've been Called to Choose, haven't you, Senka?"

A sad, almost forlorn smile touched the King's features for a moment before he once more mastered them, again a mask of polite neutrality. He knew something was going to happen soon. He could feel it in his bones, and he knew so many Chosen would be shattered by what occurred. But, as always, the spirits and the Gods chose not to divulge their plans to a mere human.

He reached up and stroked her cheek, his voice soft. "Senka. When you find them, you will become whole. You will be their light, as they will become yours. When you become lost, they shall be your compass. There is nothing in this world like Bonding, my love. Your heart will feel fit to burst every second you're by their side. And no matter what, you will never be alone again, never carry the weight of the world on your shoulders by yourself." The King blinked back tears, remembering his own Bonding with Valdien.

"It will change everything for the good. Follow your heart, Senka, and do not give up. One day, you will find them."

The King laughed at the mare's blatant curiosity. Clearly, she had a hunger for knowledge. He stood, lifting his arms over his head in a languid, feline-like stretch before draping his arms and chest over her withers, leaning his weight on her. He was so comfortable with every Azrein -- they were, in a way, his children. As they were to his great ancestor, Alarein. And of course, his own name -- and the name of the Isle itself -- were from the first Azrein. Some way, that strengthened the Bond he had with each one, and he counted himself lucky because of that.

He knew that Senka wouldn't harm him, so he allowed himself to completely drop his guard. After seeing her heart bared like that, he figured he owed her one.

"Of course, Senka. There's much to tell, and I must say, I'm at a loss where to begin. But the beginning is a good a place as any. Have you heard the tale of how the Azrein came to be, my lady? And how my ancestor, Alarein found true happiness only when he had found his Soul, Azreth? If you have, then I'm sure I could tell you about the city of Avandere." He pointed a slender finger towards the great city on the hill in the distance, with his banners flying high from the castle's towers.

The King nodded, his hands idly stroking her flanks, picking some dried mud from her fur. Frowning, he mumbled to himself for a moment, pushing himself off of her so he stood on his own. He patted several of the satchels and pouches hanging from his belt before giving a short 'aha!' He reached in and withdrew a pocket-side curry comb and hoof pick, slipping the latter between his belt and his pants. Smiling smugly to himself, the King himself set to work grooming Senka.

So many nobles would've laughed and tittered behind their hands at seeing His Majesty himself grooming a 'stray horse,' but none of them understood how much pleasure could be found in such a wholesome, simple task. As all the Isle knew, the King never balked from getting his hands dirty, so to speak.

"Avandere was once just a lonely fortress on a hill overlooking the Sea of Grass, as the Greater Herd Plains were once named. My great Ancestor began to build a castle, hiring the best of the best from both the Isle itself and the Lands Below. After twelve years, the structure was complete. Alarein then had the men build lodgings for those who worked at the castle proper, as well as make grand Parade Grounds to hold events. All of these structures were roofed with purple tiles, and thus was born the High Circle, home to the King and his workers." The dirt loosened from Senka's coat sparkled in the sunshine, adding a touch of Fae around the two.

"Soon after, many people flocked to King Alarein, begging for succor, for the world was a worse place then, and the greed and violence of man was unfettered. The King knew his people needed him, and so commanded the very same architects who built his own castle to supply them with shelter. But not just bare bones, oh no. Without his people, Alarein wouldn't have ascended to the throne, and so he gave them all the luxuries he could afford. All of these roofs were made of blue ceramic, and thus was born the Upper Circle, home to nobility and their servants."

Azreth pushed the currycomb into his back pocket, sliding his hand down Senka's rump and tapping her canon bone, hoof-pick in hand. When she obliged him, he supported her leg on his knee and gingerly worked out pebbles beside the frog of her back hoof.

"Soon, merchants and commoners alike began flocking to the city of Avandere, building their own homes on the tier below the Upper Circle. They built their homes atop their shops and businesses, and many more people came to the city to peruse their wares. All of their roofs were made with yellow shingles. Thus was born the Middle Circle."

Azreth smiled warmly and moved around to her other hoof, his smooth voice lilting, almost musical in its tone.

"Finally, many of those who disdained honest work came to the ever-growing city of Avandere, and they preyed on those who worked to put bread on their tables. The King was rife with displeasure, as he loved his people. After a year of assassinations and thieving, the King Purged the three Circles, sending the criminals down to the bottom tier of the hill, where there was only grass and rocks aside from the Airship docks. A sheer drop of three hundred feet was a danger to many of the people, and Alarein felt uncertain about their well-being, knowing many used drugs or were drunks."

Azreth finished Senka's hooves and tucked the hoofpick back into it's proper satchel, removing a hand-sized, soft-bristled brush. He reached into a pouch sewn directly onto his belt and withdraw a small bottle filled with an Alchemical Compound Zel had made, allowing five drops to fall on the bristles of the brush in his hand to add shine to her coat. He set to work with swift, short strokes.

"However, King Alarein felt bad that the families and children of the criminals slept without a roof over their heads, and so he once again commissioned men to build homes. These were smaller and less roomy, yet they offered the people a place to call home and a sanctuary from violence. A fence was placed on the edge of the sheer drop, so no people would mistakenly fall to their deaths while under the influence of a substance, be it drugs or alcohol. All of these roofs were made with red tile, and thus was born the Red Circle, home to thieves, whores, seedy taverns, and criminals."

Azreth had finished with her coat, and removed his own personal bone comb from his pocket, gently starting to rid Senka's mane and tail of tangles.

"But King Alerin gave each person a chance to better themselves, and he threw the caste system off of the edge of the Isle. If a man -- or a woman -- were to work hard enough, they could advance up -- or down, if they were unlucky -- the Circles. In this way, Alarein gave them ambition and drive, and that, above even the largest city itself, was the greatest gift he could have given his people."

At Senka's question, the King's face fell. A long silence stretched between them as Azreth cleaned and put away his grooming tools, thinking on how to word things.

"Senka, humanity is by nature a violent, lustful, and greedy race. If our hearts were as pure as yours," he placed his hand on the mare's chest, "then we not have need of weapons nor walls." He removed his hand and took off his crown, spinning it absently in his hands, blonde hair lifting from a stray breeze. The smell of honeysuckle tickled his nose.

"As long as we live, there will be those who do not wish to make an honest life for themselves. The Red Circle still runs rampant with thieves and beggars, but I do my best to see that my Subjects are kept safe. The rate of crime has lowered since my father ascended to the throne, but I admit, as much as it hurts me, that because of the Six's activities, I've grown a bit lax when dealing with them."

Azreth sat down once more on the ground, leaning his back against Senka's front legs. He closed his eyes and summoned the web within his mind, finding the bright pinpoint of light within that was wholly, entirely Senka. His consciousness dove into it, but he did not breach her mind, instead sent her a mental image of her laying next to him with his back resting against her side, asking politely if she would oblige him.

"I've a story to tell you, if you would like to hear it. It's about the ritual sacrifice of my mother, the poisoning of my father, and how that has affected the Red Circle, if you would be so inclined to listen, Senka." He knew it would pain him -- for the open wound of losing his parents before their time would never heal, and yet this mare's innocent curiosity and heart-felt sincerity made him want to tell her.