The sharp clack of hooves across stone announced the arrival of others—at least two horses judging by the sound of it. Reluctantly she pulled her gaze away from the drop and turned around to face the others. Surprisingly it was a tiny filly that emerged from behind the rock face; she moved cautiously as she approached, and Valencia could see her milky eyes.

The foal, however, had barely spoken before another creature appeared behind her. The wind delivered his scent to Valencia: distinctively male. Her face remained impassive as she studied the pair. Clearly the youngster, Posy she had introduced herself as, had to be from the Peak, judging by the way she moved over the land with confidence, despite her useless eyes.

But this man did not belong here.

He looked nothing like the foal, which suggested to Valencia that he probably wasn’t her father. She could think of no other reason a stallion should have for following such a young child into Vulcan territory. Her intelligent brown eyes watched him carefully, evaluating him in a second, noticing the way that his own gaze lingered on her. She had been meeting more and more of her spotted comrades recently.

“Valencia,” she answered simply, her gaze barely flickering back to the filly in front of the intruder. After all, she wouldn’t know if she was looking at her. She tossed a tangled, pale caramel forelock out of her eyes and tilted her head.

“Who is your friend?”

tell me your secrets and ask me your questions