saviare·: bandrona clarke
battles, he calls them. she rolls her eyes at his faux indignation as she reaches for her cup of wine from the table next to their game. life was not what it was before ALIE. some odd years later, black blood was still scarce and no one had stepped forward so roan was still playing both king and ruling heda much to the dwindling dismay of the other clans. it took a little awhile but most understood what she already knew: roan was not his mother. he opened up peace talks and trade routes that facilitated infrastructure and good will for the most part. nothing was perfect or peaceful but it was getting better–– like her tactical skills at this game. she had yet to win without him being distracted or by complete accident.
“ im not losing, its called strategy, roan ” she huffed, looking him in the eye with the same practiced balance of annoyance and amusement that she learned from him. it was a lie, of course, and they both knew it. the blonde broke the stare first, sticking out her tongue at him before looking back down at the board. another moment passed. she needed to distract him. “ so a birdie told me that the azgeda advisors have been searching for a suitable wife since last winter and someone is being picky. ”
his finely tuned expression of neutrality is broken at her rather crude gesture. he shouldn’t be by now but he is still taken aback by the childish nature of her attitude. he never knows how to respond when she does something like that and he supposes it’s why she does it. the king simply shakes his head at her immature display and sits back in his chair. arms cross as she speaks again. further annoyance filters over his features at being reminded of his pestering advisors. he knows she is trying to change the subject, knows she’s trying to prod him. but it works. she often knows how to pull all the right strings. roan eyes her a few moments before he shakes his head again and lets his gaze wander.
“ any leader should be cautious when choosing a partner, ” he comments. he’s not being picky. it’s not like he is a child refusing to eat the meal put before him. he is a king who must be wise in his decisions. but even then he knows how easily she sees past the shroud of wisdom. there’s more to it than that. “ i don’t need a spouse, ” he insists in more of a mutter. gaze flickers back towards clarke and the game. “ they just want me to take one of the deals being offered. ”