It did not inspire confidence in Sunjata, to hear Flora speak of the Flood in such a way. Hadama inclined his head in acknowledgment of her concerns, a slight frown beginning to form between his brows before the tug of the mask reminded him to smooth his expression out once more. "Your fathers did not have much trouble when they planted their flower on its shores," he said slowly. "But I am not them. You are right to have reservations." He drew in a slow breath and sat back on his heels in the steamy waters, the Lily protected between them. "I will not minimize the losses we have taken." Lives and items lost in the past year in particular. "But I think that our lack of progress has not been for lack of strength. It has been a lack of flowers." So many tasks required them, and they were so vanishingly hard to find or expensive to buy.
He tilted his head at her, a warmth and his own wry humor flickering in his eyes. "And if it comes down to it and I am not up to the task, I can teleport away. I will not sacrifice myself needlessly." A vow he had made to Safrin and made again to Flora, unwilling to leave either his goddess or his co-ruler bereft.
His idea for taxes lightened the conversation significantly and he puffed out a laugh that stirred the steam between them at her insight. "Mmh. Perhaps they will need time to prepare for it," he agreed. Her suggestions of fortifications brought a tilt to his head, thoughtful as he turned the idea over and then nodded slowly. "Defense... yes. But if it is civic pride we want, then something more impressive would help. We have a shield in the stargate." He nodded to the ring on his Queen's finger. "Perhaps it is time to ask Safrin for a weapon as well. A way for citizens to not simply endure an attack, but to fight back when you and I are on the front line."
He tilted his head at her, a warmth and his own wry humor flickering in his eyes. "And if it comes down to it and I am not up to the task, I can teleport away. I will not sacrifice myself needlessly." A vow he had made to Safrin and made again to Flora, unwilling to leave either his goddess or his co-ruler bereft.
His idea for taxes lightened the conversation significantly and he puffed out a laugh that stirred the steam between them at her insight. "Mmh. Perhaps they will need time to prepare for it," he agreed. Her suggestions of fortifications brought a tilt to his head, thoughtful as he turned the idea over and then nodded slowly. "Defense... yes. But if it is civic pride we want, then something more impressive would help. We have a shield in the stargate." He nodded to the ring on his Queen's finger. "Perhaps it is time to ask Safrin for a weapon as well. A way for citizens to not simply endure an attack, but to fight back when you and I are on the front line."
