Thread: Khan's Bride || ƒeral x rosita red

Salyn's grin faltered, withering away until only an impassive look remained. Her ears had flattened against black mane the second Aylia pulled her stunt, her pupils constricting sharply, the already intimidating black slits so narrow that the gold of her eyes was nearly all that was visible. The soft fur on the back of her neck stood on ends as she positively bristled, glaring venom at the plant until the elven princess stashed it away. Cat's Bane - poison, despoiler of life, to be destroyed on sight. Every Tol'var was taught to despise the plant at a young age, and Salyn was no different. Even a small amount was enough to bring a proud warrior to his knees, and at a large dosage, entirely lethal, destroying the Tol'vari organs from inside out. Not a clean death either, something about the plant ate away at the membrane protecting the stomach. A small dosage enough to cause a hell of a heartburn and upset stomach. A large dosage... Salyn had only seen one Tol'var die of Cat's Bane, a child at that. A foolish little pup that had not paid attention during his lessons and ingested the plant. It was hard to forget the way he died, stomach acid destroying everything on the inside. Her father had been the one to slay him, an act of mercy from an unavoidable, painful death. She raised a paw, or a hand, it was hard to tell with the Tol'vari. There were five distinct digits, but her palm was padded and her nails replaced with claws. The sunlight caught the steely tips, glinting ominously. How fast can you duck, princess, she asked, unblinking and wearing no expression whatsoever, but the fact that she had switched from Aylia's name to title was telling. She gestured with her chin for Aylia to look further behind herself. While she had ridden to the summit alone, her armed Blood Riders had not. Behind her, nearly a hundred meters away, her ever vigilant riders had heeded her signal and drawn their hunting bows full mast. The average elf has a reaction speed of about .25 seconds. She continued in complete tranquility, as if discussing something as tame as riding and not at all of arrows piercing flesh. I confess I'm curious if one of royal blood might beat the average. Do you think you can get even a speck of that cursed plant on me before my warriors turned you into a porcupine? She sneered then, eyeing that pretty face with malice, her look that of an apex predator staring down her prey. And are you prepared for the consequences? Are your people not ready for a two-front war? She continued, carrying her thought to its logical conclusion. Never threaten me again, princess, considering yourself warned. And then she lowered her hand. Slowly, calmly, and her riders lowered their weapons. She stood, taking a step away before tossing Aylia a look over her shoulder. Well, wife , what are you waiting for? There was no humor in her tone, but her words practically dripped with sarcasm. A Khan does not ride without her decision already made. Despite your...lacking presentation, I accept your proposal. She didn't turn back after that, satisfied that she had gotten the last say. In truth, Aylia's words had their desired effect. Salyn was the great khan of all the plains, and one never threaten a Tol'var without expecting retribution. But yet the elf stood, unriddled with holes. She had won, in her own way, but Salyn would never admit it. The khan herself strode away, the tension of her spine betraying her fuming anger. She mounted and, without another word, began to ride toward camp.