Heron Lake Plateau how cheerfully he seems to grin

Just when he thought he'd rattled the inky flit of royalty into acute submission, Svalinn was surprised to find that the princess harbored more than a little bit of heart in her— and the gold hobgoblin was delighted to suddenly find himself challenged. She delivered him a few sanctimonious slaps, making it quite clear that she wasn't to be bossed around by voice alone.

He thought he might try to bully her physically, but just as he reared with a vile glint in his blazing expression, the boy recalled the stiff touch of Caiaphas' muzzle at his nape when she decreed something. It were as if she were pulling him back in that moment, and all her stertorous training seemed to pay off as Svalinn thought better of his actions. Doing anything more to this girl would mean something painful; this much he understood, and it sent him careening back into the woods, away from temptation.

To himself, the boy snickered. He knew he had come close to some... amazing source of power he'd yet to ever experience, and it wouldn't be long now before he felt brave and strong enough to accept or ignore the consequences of his actions.

*ends mysteriously*