Building Bridges

After the meeting with Viper, Shenxin had debated on simply sending Lucian a message via a messenger, but as he thought about it, he realized that it is far too easy for someone to intercept the message. Even if it was not intercepted, the kind of news that he was sending would sound like something that Haywire had spun up, not something that had a truth to it. A meeting in person would be best.

“Fenris,” Shenxin yelled out for his wolf familiar.

The large white wolf emerged at his side seeming to just phase into existence. Fenris was Shenxin’s rock and messenger. He trusted his life with his familiar. He was always a call away to materialize for whatever Shenxin would ask.

The wolf padded along to sit in front of the prince. He tagged his tail slowly as he locked eyes with the prince. Ready for orders.

Shenxin nodded in acknowledgement to his familiar and then got straight to business. “Please go out to the Plains region and request Lucian meet me by our border near the cherry blossom trees. I should be able to meet both of you by the time you are able to find him and bring him to the meeting place. Got it?”

Fenris yipped and immediately dashed out of the room, looking like a blazing white streak.

Shenxin watched his familiar race towards the Plains region, feeling more tired than he ever had been. Times were changing far quicker than he would have ever imagined and it seemed that it was only going to keep changing at breakneck speeds.

---

It was mid afternoon when Shenxin met Lucian at around the border. It was a lovely afternoon. The trees swayed gently in the breeze and the sun shone through them illuminating the forest. The leaves were a vibrant green expressing how full of life and energy this place was. It was a simple and peaceful place. Normally the meetings that happened at this place mimicked the same energy it gave out, simple little updates that were nice and simple, but this time it would be different.

“Baron Lucian, I thank you for meeting me at such short notice,” Shenxin said, bowing low to the other stallion. In comparison, he was merely a child playing overseer of his land when it came to Lucian. That stallion had lived far longer than he and witnessed far more historical events.

Lucian gave a simple nod towards him. “No need. When your Fenris had contacted Bertrand about this meeting, I knew this had to be extremely important.” At the mention of his familiar, the raven landed on his back and began to prune himself.

Shenxin looked towards the swamp area, where the Snake Queen resided, a frown pulling at his normally cheerful face. “Yes, it is quite important. It involves her, the Snake Queen,” he replied, meeting Lucian’s eyes.

“Viper, you say? Is she finally making a move?” he asked, a brief flash of fear in his eyes.

“Kind of,” Shenxin answered, shaking his head side to side, still trying to make sense of everything that was happening. He still didn’t quite understand the true threat of Aberath and that Viper of all people would feel threatened by him. “She wanted to call a truce with both of us.”

Lucian took a surprised step towards him, shock written all over his face. “Did I hear you right? Viper, the Snake Queen, the mare with no soul, wants to call a truce with us? Why would she do such a thing? Surely she’s just trying to pull the wool over our eyes?” Lucian questioned Shenxin trying to wrap his head around this information.

At that moment, both heard a yip and turned to face the direction in which the sound came from. A flash of white appeared, soon taking shape of a great white wolf. The wolf slowed from the run it had been at to a nice slow walk before sitting by Shenxin’s side. He rested his head on Shenxin’s leg with a low thrum. He gave a little yip to Bertrand who simply stopped pruning briefly to nod at him before continuing to find any feathers needed fixing. The white wolf then finally settled down to keep an eye on the surrounding area.

Shenxin tensed at first with his familiar’s but soon relaxed once he felt the thrum on his leg. “Thank you Fenris,” Shenxin replied, blowing briefly on his familiar’s head. “The area is clear so I may speak more freely now. Fenris shall keep an eye in case anyone should start listening in or shall a threat arise,” Shenxin explained the situation.

Lucian nodded in understanding. Fenris was usually the lookout for these meetings, it made sense he would continue to do that job here.

Shenxin looked once again towards the swamp as if something was about to jump out from that direction, but soon brought his attention back to Lucian. “Well, as you could probably guess, it wasn’t out of the goodness of her heart that Viper had decided to call a truce.” He looked at his feet and murmured, “No, not at all.” Meeting Lucian’s eyes, he said in utter seriousness,  “Viper is worried about Haywire’s son, Aberath. She feels that he is a big enough threat that she could not war with us and him at the same time.”

“Interesting,” Lucian replied, looking deep in thought.”I would never have thought that Viper would fear a single Quirlicorn more than the two of our kingdoms combined.”

“Haywire had tried to warn me too, but as we both know, that Deity is about as trustworthy as the fae that roams these lands. I did not even consider Aberath a threat until she had come to me requesting a truce. The Snake Queen feeling threatened enough by this individual speaks for itself.”

“While I am grateful to have her off of our backs, it’s extremely concerning that she chose a truce over something so insignificant as a child of Haywire. None of the others have ever phased her so why now?”

Shenxin bit his lip nervously. “That was my own worry as well. It is why I decided to have this meeting, not only to inform you of the change of our relationship with Nightshade, but also to tell you about this child of Haywire that is such a threat that she felt the need to team up with us.”

Lucian scrunched up his eyebrows in deep thought. “Yes, truly concerning. I shall keep an eye out for this Aberath. I remember the details of him being a two-headed, two-tailed quirl much like his save, but instead of the black coat, his is a marbled one.”

“Yes, that is what I know as well.”

“Good. Then, it shall be fairly simple for us to keep an eye on him.” Lucian’s head suddenly shot up and he stared at Shenxin accusingly. “What did the Snake Queen want in exchange for a truce? I know we are not in a state to get such a simple thing from her without any demands. And I’m not sure I can trust her to keep her word,” Lucian asked, suddenly suspicious of this supposed truce.

Shenxin looked up to the endless blue sky, a weary smile on his face. “Yes,” Shenxin replied, “I was wary of that too. She offered me her son, Cobra, as a sign of her truce, saying that me teaching him to be a prince would be compensation enough.” Shenxin met Lucian’s eyes. “I was surprised she did not want more, and of course she said Cobra would suffice for her sign of peace for us both.”

Lucian smiled slightly. “I would say I’m surprised that she only asked for so much, but perhaps giving up her own blood and entrusting you to teach him is extremely important to him. At some point of time, I perhaps would have thought of that to be the ultimate sacrifice and binding contract,” he said thoughtfully.

“True, true.” He thought for a moment deciding whether he should speak the thought that pulled at his mind. He felt the thought slip out of his mouth without meaning for it to, “I really do wonder what this Cobra is like. I hadn’t heard of him till now. I can’t even imagine what a child of her’s is like besides dastardly.” He felt a blush form on his cheeks letting that thought slip. It wasn’t exactly the most princely thing to say. More like a maid spreading gossip.

Lucian smiled softly at the Prince as if understanding about his feelings. “Yes, a child of hers is certainly interesting. I believe I have heard his name from somewhere, but where?” Lucian looked deep in thought as he racked his brain in thought of where he heard of the name before. “Perhaps the races? Yes, I think so.”

“The races? The one Jagmeet puts on every year? Are you sure?” Shenxin asked in shock. He couldn’t believe that Viper would let her son go on something so big. Everyone knew about the races and some would make a huge trip out of seeing the newest group of Quirlicorns go at it.

Lucian nodded once. “Yes, I am certain. Although I can not say much besides I know he is similar in pattern to Viper, besides having purple coloring instead of blue. I also believe he has hooves and horns of emerald,” he answered, searching for any more information. “From what I remember, he and his sister worked in tandem in those races and avoided others, so I can not remember anything else of what he was like.”

Shenxin shook his head. “I appreciate knowing what he looks like in the least. The Snake Queen failed to give me any kind of information on him besides his name and when I shall expect him, which should be in three days time I believe.”

“I’m glad I could provide some helpful information. Thank you for asking us to meet, I’m glad the Snake Queen should be out of our hair for the time being. Although I’m not thrilled it’s in exchange for a supposedly even bigger threat,” Lucian said, looking forlorn.

“Yes,” Shenxin said simply, trying to remain together. He bowed low to the ground and his familiar followed suit. “Thank you again for meeting with me and understanding the situation that is occurring.”

“It is quite the odd thing that is happening. The times are changing, and I’m not certain whether it is for the best,” he replied, looking out upon his surroundings, not the world. He nodded at Shenxin. “I must be off then. Please keep me updated on the situation.” At these words his familiar screeched and took to the air to begin flying ahead of his Quirlicorn.

“I shall, Baron Lucian. Please take care,” he replied, getting up and watching the stallion fade into the trees.

As he watched the black and blue Baron begin to fade away into the trees, he couldn’t help but feel that this was the start of an entirely new chapter. Something big was on the horizon. Who knows what that something big would be and how it would shape the coming future. Would he be prepared? Would he be able to overcome and adapt? Shenxin wasn’t sure. But perhaps with as many allies as he could get on his side, he would be prepared for what was to come. Perhaps then he would be able to come out from the other side alright. Perhaps it would be the future he wanted, the one he hoped for.

He couldn’t deny it. It was the changing of the times and as much as he hated change, he was going to have to embrace it in order to get by. Maybe this time it was the kind of change that he could accept and become okay with. He would make this change his new reality, as long as he could shape it into his wants.