By Horn and Wing

Darkening Horizon

The rising sun cast a golden glow on the magnificent Spiral Castle. The massive castle, constructed of white stone with a dark red roof, had been built on the largest mountain in Vandylyna. Its many floors, towers, and turrets housed the royal family and impressed visitors. The well-kept castle grounds and huge gardens were perfect for an afternoon stroll, something that the King (Thez, a tall, fine-boned gray stallion) and Queen (Reava, a muscular flaxen chestnut mare) quite enjoyed. They could often be seen walking together along the garden paths, pausing to admire the red, white, and pink camellias, the swaths of crocuses, and the carefully trimmed rose bushes.
Vandylyna had been among the most powerful and prosperous kingdoms for centuries. Thez and Reava's reign had brought stable peace with Dylanea, the northern pegasus kingdom, and Atlantyn, the southern (mostly underwater) land of the hippocampi. Jaert, realm of the unisus (unicorn/pegasus cross), maintained neutral relations.
And yet it seemed Flynan and Olynan would not settle for anything less than hostility and war.
The King was laying on a long, low sofa beneath his bedroom window with his head out of the open window. The spiral horn growing from his forehead shimmered in the early morning light. He loved the view there. Vandylyna's capital, Vannas, was spread out in the valley and rolling hills below. The shining city was framed by purple, cloud-shrouded mountains and rich green forests. Usually the sight brought the King great joy, but on this morning he was troubled.
The previous day, Thez and Reava had attended a meeting between the rulers at Paimere Capital. Embyr End, leader of Olynan, and Fyrele Flyn, leader of Flynan, had been more volatile than usual. The two were siblings and hated each other desperately.
Why they had been handed the crowns and their cousins all slaughtered, Thez didn't know. The hippogriffs were known for their insatiable thirst for blood.
Halfway through the meeting, Embyr had casually threatened invading his sister's land. She responded well - Fyrele wanted to be on the other rulers's good sides in case of war - but the air between them become impossibly colder and tenser. All the rulers knew that the siblings wouldn't be able to last much longer without bringing out the talons of their kingdoms.
"Why can't Embyr hold his tongue?" Thez muttered now, swishing his long lion-like tail. "I'd rather have to live underwater with the hippocampi for a year than have him around."
Shaking his head, the King caught sight of a blue-and-white clad party moving up to the castle entrance. It was Aithne Dylous, Queen of Dylanea, with her daughter, Sheeva. Thez, Reava, and the Dylous had agreed for their sons and daughters to meet. They were hoping a friendship would form that would strengthen the peace between the two kingdoms. Sheeva was currently the only foal of Aithne and Muluvay, while Vandylyna had Rhez, a light bay filly, and Thamyl, a chestnut colt.
Thez sighed and rose, watching the gate rise to admit the Dylaneans and putting his thoughts away for now. It wouldn't be very Kingly to be late. He picked up a trot as he left his room.