Lyden did not keep him waiting long, and the Nez Perce hoped his demand had not cut anything shore between the couple. Şahin was not a typically divisive sort of stallion, although lately he had become less and less concerned with the feelings of others. His own had not been taken into account lately, and so he saw no reason to give anyone else the kind of respect he’d been taking for granted for so many months. He turned an ear back as he heard Lyden approach and shifted his head to bring the pale, patchy stallion into view. For a moment Lyden stood and stared, but Şahin said nothing until the other stallion came to stand beside him.

He took a breath, and then held it as Lyden stole his thunder by apologizing. Şahin released his pent-up breath in an explosive sigh, and he flipped his ears back in mild irritation. “Your words mean very little to me, Lyden,” he said as he stared out at the ocean. “Actions have always been louder than anything anyone could ever say, and you’ve certainly proven what sort of a second in command you’ll be by your absence.” He turned his head to look at the other male. For a moment he chewed on his lower lip, then released another sigh. “Lyden. What do you want?” A simple question to some. A horribly convoluted and complicated inquiry for others. Şahin wondered if it would be an easy or hard question for Lyden to answer.