i used to rule the world

seas would rise when i gave the word

The Macedonian King was well aware that his appointment as Commander to the Hunter Cavalry would bring it's fair share of descent upon the army. He anticipated some amount of deserters, particularly with the very waves he'd bring in those now complacent soldiers. It hardly mattered to him, truly, that position was what he was after. He could rebuild the army. He could replace and retrain men. He could even spur loyalty, but all of it required some recognition from the Council of his authority, or else little would matter. He despised it, truly. As King, leading was his birth right. It was a mandate from the Gods, not a position to be awarded only to the individual some governing body preferred. He pushed such thoughts aside, however, as Frost inquired after the man he intended to appoint as his Lieutenant. Oh, how it would anger them to have a fae amongst their ranks! He knew it would and yet, there was no one else he trusted at his side than Matteo. It was clear Matteo had already seen his intention of this and so too, it seemed the Frenchman was well aware of his desire to have him at his side. Frankly, he suspected the fae had his own tricks already up his sleeves for scuffles even Alexander did not yet know would occur. It was both a blessing and a curse of having an oracle at his side.

"No, you have never met him." Alexander responded, his voice almost gruff as he contemplated those days that lay ahead of him. By next year, those kinks would be ironed out and that army would be a well oiled machine. He simply didn't look forward to those days, weeks, and months till that moment. At the very least, however, Alexander was assured of Matteo's capabilities to ride, even if Frost hardly seemed to believe the enigmatic fae was nearly of the same skill as the King insisted. He saw no reason to fight it, however, the Dark Hunter merely instead offered a small shrug in return as that conversation shifted onwards towards the pair's children and their involvement within the hunter cavalry, should it exist. He hardly held a great desire to put Anastasia at the front line. Though the woman was more than capable of diplomatic skill, he fretted over her safety when it came to matters of the sword. She was far too poised and regal to mettle with muck and blood. Still, she seemed determined, nevertheless, to involve herself within the council despite his insistence otherwise. This was the best fashion to satisfy her desires while too keeping a close eye on the woman.

Such thoughts, however, were pushed away in favor of that ride that was so abruptly and unexpectedly offered to him. It had been sometime since the pair had rode simply for the sake of it. Alexander had a tendency, when they had spare time, to further train the ivory stallion in every possible military technique he might require, as bizarre and unlikely as some were. Nevertheless, Alexander led the way towards that part, the Hunter quickly found a niche, of sort, to allow his war-horse to peel that equine skin from that far smaller form of the Icelandic man he too was. His blue-green eyes trailed over the foliage and the park at large as he waited, keeping careful watch for any soul who might have the misfortune of stumbling upon that naked man. He could hear the heavy footfalls long before the equine's head appeared at his side. Alexander pivoted lightly upon his feet, his hands quite near habitually reached out for the horse, his fingers all too gingerly brushed across the creature's flesh. His head leaned forward to bump lightly against Frost's own, that Greek language of his youth softly fell from his lips, even though those words would hardly be understood.

It was the knowledge of just how foreign that tongue was that prompted Alexander to switch to that English language, those three simple words fell easily from his lips, even if Alexander hardly anticipated a response. Horses were, it seemed, his eternal weakness. He had a habit of getting attached to one, of devoting himself to it entirely and, in return, expecting some measure of loyalty and love. It was they who always managed to coax that affection from him, even when he'd given up on his own kind. The soft return of that sentiment prompted a soft simper to Alexander's features as the man pulled back just enough to press his lips against Frost's forehead. That sudden embrace he was offered was equally as unexpected, though hardly unwelcomed, as fleeting as it was. He hardly questioned this softer side of Frost, those affairs surely best left unspoken as he used that foreleg to climb comfortably upon the creature's back. This, he was sure, was where he belonged. A soft prompting of his heels was all the war-horse seemed to require before spurring the man onwards and yet, today, Alexander was content to let the steed wander as he saw fit.

His blue-green eyes skirted over those trees as Frost led the way deeper into the forest, the Hunter entirely vigilant to ensure Frost's blind side remained safe in spite of those large gaps and spare foliage. That tranquility of that slow ride, however, was short lived before those inquiries pressed upon his brain, forcing the man to once again consider that position he shortly intended to take up. A soft sigh left his lips and yet, he answered plainly all the same. He was hardly certain he wished to recall the entire hunter's unit, not when he would have his hands filled with the ones who were here all the same. Some, after all, were skilled enough to pick up on what he desired of them with little training at all. Some. He still had to look over those rosters and missions to decide. It was, however, those training and breeding centers that seemed to spur something within the equine. He was hardly oblivious to the offenses Frost had suffered at these very places in his youth and yet, he hadn't expected that mention of those reports that would surely come to his attention in the days to come. His eyebrow rose, his lips pressed together ever so slightly. "What have you done now?" He inquired, clearly not buying that it had not been Frost at those very centers. "Do I need to remind you that, now, your behavior is a direct reflection upon myself? You are the commander's mount now, Frost, I do not need you acting out." He could hardly help that chiding within his tone and yet, that disappointment was real all the same. He was facing enough hardships upon coming into that unit as it was, the last thing he needed was for Frost to brew up even further trouble for him to deal with.

His head shook ever so slightly before Frost's comment of meeting that army prompted a simple deline from Alexander's lips. Having Frost at his side, should the equine decide to forgive him, was critical before those introductions. Now that they knew where they stood with each other, the man was prepared to make their acquaintances. Frost's assurance that he looked forward to this, however, prompted little more than a grumble from the Dark Hunter, the man hardly as keen on dealing with those egos as his companion was to watching it. Still, it was a necessity and one he would surely tend to on the morrow. Today, Alexander intended to indulge in that glimpse of peace he was given. His gaze fluttered but briefly towards that riding school they slowly passed, those elder horses and young, enthusiastic riders prompted a soft simper on his features. He hardly prompted the war-horse to linger, however, allowing Frost to take a less used trail. It was clear the man had some location in mind and Alexander intended to allow him this. Though it was easy enough to work out that location Frost was taking them, and too the very grounds they might come across, he hadn't thought Frost would enjoy the shoreline, enough to prompt such a trip to that densely packed sand and the crashing waves.

Even so, Alexander liked the sound. It was comforting, in a way, reminding him of that place where he was born on the sea. The smell was sweetly familiar - of ocean and water and salt. His attention shifted towards the stallion as Frost's voice interrupted his thoughts. His eyebrows rose ever so slightly and yet, Alexander merely nodded in return. "Show me." He offered simply, inquisitive of what it was Frost intended to present to him. He adjusted easily to that sudden increase in speed and yet, the moment that canter was achieved, Alexander had an inkling of what it was Frost intended to do. After all, he remembered well where he left off with the stallion. The corners of his lips twitched upwards ever so slightly and yet, Alexander focused upon the very feel of that horse beneath him and that curious gait he had shown the creature. Though dressage had taken it for it's own, that very maneuver had far more practical applications. The were-horse's assurance that it still needed work, however, prompted that rare praise from the man, as if Alexander intended to subdue his usual criticalness for the time being, given that recent fracture in their relationship. "It does...but you have made significant progress."