The Council Waits (Annas/Loyal Stallions)

[nala]

The steam in the air around him mimiked the swrils of grey in his smokey coat as he pounded along through the forest. He was no stranger to this land. His whole life was this land. Now, as each day passed, his life was threatened by that one stallion. The one the call Vulcan. Little time had passed and already word was traveling back to the homeland of the royals that these rebel forces where gaining power, and gaining it quickly. Idiots, he thought to himself as he walked. It wasn't as if this hadn't happened before, both in recent years and in ancient times. They would give up or be crushed in the process of their battles.

The black stallion stopped lifting his white splashed face to the trees. If you had the privileged of knowing Caiaphas, you would also know his one completely loyal friend, Pilate. The cackling raven descended unto his master with a fit of laughter. He sensed the stallions frustrations and took great joy in the matter.

The coldblood snorted, trotting onward so that the black bird would have no where to land. "What might be troubling us today, master?" Cawed the bird as he glided above Caiaphas.

Where is Annas? There is business to discuss, and not much time to discuss it. He dismissed the bird's interest, nearly ordering him to find him.

ooc: Open to any royal supporting stallions. And I'd love for you to reply to Hud!! OH OH since I've listened to it like 20 million times.

[Hud]

Annas didn't need to smell the air to know that Caiaphas was near. It seemed that it was easier to discern his friend's location than it was his own; Annas was nearly always the one to find instead of be found. Not a lover of games, he wasted no time in concealing himself but rather spent it by going into motion. A brisk trot found Annas as he scaled the rocky bank to reach the dark stallion and his feathered friend. His emotionless expression was the same as always. The two were all business.

He felt no flurry of a mane as he slowed his pace, spotting his accomplice. The stallion was a beast in comparison to himself - a coldblooded black brute. He'd long allowed the raven Pilate to perch atop him, for what reason Annas felt no need to decipher. His reasons were his own and Annas respected them. The light stallion was not nosy. His head tucked as he looked to his friend from beneath his defined brows, Annas made no equine sound but instead addressed Caiaphus:

"What then? You inquired for my presence?" he sneered, his eyes not straying from the black beast's.

[nala]

You must know, small master! cawed the mischievous raven as he swooped low over the golden stallions hairless neck. He no longer brushed against his masters friend, in fear that his teeth would eventually snap a wing. The bird returned to the large dark stallion, landing just on cue for Caiaphas' deep grumbling voice to emerge.

Surely you've heard word of this new uprising in the south. He paused for a few moments, allowing his voice to sink into all living things around the three. Vulcan, the old one, they both remembered the first time the bay stallion had rose to power. We have a problem on our hands, and the solution falls on the monarchy only. If we do not keep our power, the homeland will be riddled with filth and sludge that will choose to take power of their own. His gaze was solid, and he felt himself tense as he thought of the rebel movement.

We cannot let them get to the monarchy, or too much valuable blood will be spilt. Pilate let out a small squeak of agreement as they both looked to the smaller, yet slier stallion that stood before them.

ooc: still open to other stallions. I just got excited. xD

[Hud]

Annas' amber eyes followed the feathered fiend as his face remained stationary and focused on Caiaphas. He didn't much trust Pilate - he didn't endorse his friend's trusting of him, rather. He grimaced at the bird's words. Of course he knew. Caiaphas' words only served as unnecessary reminders.

"You think I've not heard?" His voice was high and coarse. "This is not the first time that an uprising has formed, but it shouldn't be too difficult to silence them if they've chosen one as old as Vulcan to stand at their helm." One brow rose toward Caiaphas and no regard was paid to the bird. Annas, even before this meeting, had had every intention of seeing to it that Lucifer knew what he knew and also what he would advise. Vulcan would be easy to fell - would they have a replacement? Annas kept that last part to himself.

[Silver]

The day dawned clearer than suited his mood. In all honesty, today was a day that was meant to be brooding; dark and cold. Yet ever since the spring had, well, sprung as some would say – and certainly it was a very sudden kind of spring this year – the days had been clear and warmer than usual. The black beast watched his kingdom with a kind of detached appraisal, knowing that things were not as fair as they seemed in this bright spring-filled land. No, the reign of the Pretender, the old ass that was so naively collecting his followers together, was a dark spot on the canvas. Lucifer’s blood boiled with a deep loathing for the stallion who dared defy his reign, which was the true future of the land. Nothing should stand in his way. It was his birthright to rule this land, and he would not stand to see it crumble under the weakling Vulcan.

At once unsettled and impatient, he turned on the sight and made his way down the forested shelf of stone and earth, a cliff face that was as much a part of the trees as it was a part of the rock that was a part of the mountains. His eyes, black as the night, scoured the area for any sign of life. He was in no mood to be merciful and thankfully nothing was so unlucky as to cross his path. He thundered down the sloping forest until the floor started to level out. Eventually he slowed, breathing hard and watching each shadow between the trees as they might just turn out to be the enemies that he so wished to crush beneath his iron hooves. Instead he merely witnessed a raven, black as he was; flying past to whatever goal was set in its mind. Irritation bubbled. Why do my loyal subjects run and hide like scared rabbits while the fool rebels amass in great numbers? He knew, of course. Lucifer had been secluded for the past season, plotting out his revenge on the rebel leader and listening to the whispers that came his way. He would need to speak to Lotte and Livius soon enough, to find news from their respective areas. A leader was nothing without his little birds fluttering around and snatching up little bits of information that would prove useful to him in the future. If only he could somehow procure a spy to infiltrate the rebels and discover their plots…

It wasn’t long before Lucifer came across the only two horses in the realm with whom he wished to speak. Caiaphas and Annas stood together, talking as they were oft to do. It was only natural that his two trusted advisors consult with each other, but today he was restless and wished to be at the head of the crucial talks that they often hosted. His annoyance at being withheld from the present discussions was plain on his face as he strode towards the pair, each step deliberate and sure.

“Annas, Caiaphas,” he said sharply. The bird was there as well – Pilate, he should have known. At times he did not trust the bird because of its big mouth, and yet at other times… That mouth was good for spilling enemy information. “What news is there of the rebellion? Has the old hack yet succumbed to the death that creeps at his tail?” He knew that it was untrue, but missing a crucial detail could undo him. “And the rest of the loyal ones. Are they being kept in their places? There is nothing so dangerous as a pretender whom we cannot flush out.” He trusted these two with the upkeep of his kingdom when he was away, and so he was confident that they would know what was going on. Lucifer was of a mind to pay visits to the overseers of his lands and procure their vows of fealty to him and the crown. And perhaps he would come back with a mare… That indeed would lift his dark spirit some.

[nala]

No words came from the black brute's mouth as he lowered his head to the king. Pilate flew away to some high, dead branch. The bird was afraid of the king; he had his experiences with that black stallion.

King Lucifer, he returned his gaze to the slightly smaller stallion. Vulcan is alive and as well as you or I. He didn't feel confident speaking of such things to the beast before him. It was almost a shame that ran through him, to know that he had not been able to stop the bay alone. Pilatehas heard news that your enemy has come across bordering lines briefly within the last few days. He looked back to Annas, wondering if his partner in crime had heard such fresh news. What action would you like to take against such a monstrosity?

ooc: i fail. xc

[Hud]

King Lucifer made a rather abrupt but welcome entrance into Annas and Caiaphas' discussion. The pale stallion bowed his head quickly, in more of a nodding fashion. There certainly was no time for formalities. He remained silent as the first two stallions said their pieces, motionless and stoic, his countenance dark and free of emotion save for a perpetual frown. His eyes followed those of the one speaking, deciphering each word individually before forming his own. Lucifer was demandant, asking questions of the two he wouldn't expect any others to know. Caiaphas was more than hospitable, offering up any and all answers he could. Annas had been blessed with the wondrous gift of being able to hold back and keep some information for himself, though for the most part he obliged his king. He would answer all questions directed at him truthfully, though perhaps not delving in as much as he could. That especially went for the bit of news about the yellow mare...

"Sire, I think you'll find there are more on your side than you realize," Annas said with the beginnings of a sneer on his lips. There were quite a few stallions on the side of the monarchy - whether or not they would show their faces in front of the King himself was another question though. Perhaps with a little urging on Annas' part, he could bring them to the forefront. "Or at least, there will be." The Monarchy needed a little boost and Annas knew that to do that, he'd need to weed out those pretending to be on the side of the Monarchy just for protection. They'd get their just reward.

With Caiaphas' addition, Annas waited for Lucifer's answer. They were willing to do whatever he asked.

OOC: Figured I'd throw that part about Luna in there. No need for that to be actually revealed yet. ;]