I walked with Pursa into the castle, the smell of blood still heavy in the air despite the corpses being disposed of. "So, Ben." Pursa walked next to me. "How do you like my daughter?"

I scratched my head as a pair of thestrals walked around the main hall. "Well, she's interesting. The phrase, sexually repressed and needy comes to mind."

Pursa let out a sad sigh, "This does not surprise me."  She took a hard left down a wide hall. "If memories serves there should be a forum this way."

I followed her, holding a lantern before me while navigating the path. "I mean, don't get my wrong. I don't mind the sex, I don't my her quirks, but other people like to talk."

Pursa pushed into a large half circle room, bleachers lining the far wall and a pulpit in the center. "I understand, and thank you for your candor." She walked onto the pulpit and looked over the roman style forum. "Sit a while, perhaps I can enlighten you."

I took a seat on the nearest stone step and settled in. "About what?"

Pursa tapped her hooves on the broke stone. "Of us, of my family, of your mate, my sons." She hopped down and paced before the seats. "Ben...her father took her long ago. She knew my name, our language, and one day she was just gone." Pursa look a shaken breath, "Her father left us, my two sons, our life, our town. He thought he could give her a better life I think."

I cringed at the implications.

Pursa caught herself on the edge of tears. "He was always so idealistic. So bright eyed, looking towards the future." She dabbed her eyes with her foreleg. "But I knew how horrid it would be for her, how detrimental changing her life so drastically would be." She took a deep, shaky breath. "She would never find a colt, never fall in love like a normal mare. She would not know our ways, our alchemy, our life. But what was I to do? I had two young boys to care for, to raise properly."

I rubbed my mouth, choosing my words very carefully. "So...where is he now?"

"Dead," she stated calmly, "Killed by some robber a year after he left. And my baby, she was kept from us, kept in some orphanage, kept away from us. To try and introduce a generation raised in their culture." Pursa bit her lip hard. "But I knew, I knew how hard it would be for her, knowing where she came form, what she had, only for it to be ripped away." She folded her legs and laid on the cold stone below. "Benjamin...I am sorry, but my daughter will never be normal. She is caught between worlds, caught between peoples, and all I can hope for is that she chooses a direction with her life, and stays true to it."

I swallowed hard. "I don't care." I stated coldly. "I don't care about how she acts, how screwed up you think she is. She's crazy, she's needy, she's lustful, prideful and wrathful. But she's mine. And maybe I can't fix her, but I can sure as hell help her find her place."

Pursa lowered her head, letting out a single laugh. "Countus, Benjamin Wesk. Patricha am' nocte" She laughed softly. "I understand your title. But answer me this. What will come of those you will bring to this land? What will you teach them?" She walked over to me and looked up, staring me in the eyes with her cold hazel gaze. "How true a life can you give those children, with no family, a confused culture, a--"

I stood in a flash, towering over her and watching my blue eyes reflect in her own. "They have a family, they have a father, they have a community, a teacher, a heritage. Even if I have to create it for them!" I ducked down, wrapping my arms around Pursa's neck. "This was never in my plan, to become some hero, but I'll step up. I have to, if not for the kids, if not for Foxglove, than for myself."

Pursa leaned against my head, nuzzling against my temple. "You know...the first thing I heard from her, the first word after thirteen years, was a plea for advice on finding a mate. On taking care of herself, finding friends, finding purpose." She pressed her against against the crook of my shoulder. "Ben...I was scared for her, I was scared she would find no one. Become an abused wife to some unicorn noble, and while you are not of our kind...I cannot say you were a poor choice."

I rubbed the distraught mare's back, trying to comfort her. "I got called crazy too. I lived in the city, but grew up on a farm. People used to call me a hick, said I fucked the barn animals, it fucked me up. But now I have a chance, maybe not for my own life, but I can help Foxglove, I can help you, I can help the foals. And I have to try. Even if I fail, I have to try."

Pursa pushed back. "You...." She let out a short, embarrassed chuckle. "Your people must be wise."

I scratched my head. "My- oh...humans. Well, we've lived through millennia of philosophy, peace, war, love and hate, times of great ingenuity, but also times of great hardship. We've learned a lot, and while we might not be the most intelligent at times, while we might be opinionated beasts, we're wise as a whole." I scratched my head as I stood up. "But I'm not wise, and neither are most people you're going to meet."

Pursa let out a soft sigh. "Wisdom takes time I suppose."

"Exactly. But, I'll do my best with what I know."

"I know you will, s-...."

I cracked a soft smile. "It's not official...but I think you can say it."

Pursa lowered her head, letting her mane conceal her face. "Thank you my son." She wrapped a hoof around my side and jammed her crown against my gut. "It may only be a chance, but I thank you for that much."

I rubbed my head, a bit embarrassed. "Uh...yeah. Anyways, we should look around some more. Start planning the repairs on the place."

"Indeed." Pursa pushed off, "May I ask you a favor? I have seen my daughter do it, and she tried to show me, but I cannot." She dug around her saddle bags, pulling out a hair tie. "My mane...she tied it behind her--"

I grabbed the tie and pulled her mane into a quick ponytail. "Better?"

Pursa blew a stray hair out of her face. Her expression rather tired, but a strong look was buried behind her tired eyes. "Much. Now let us begin!"