Vesti had been a willing listener. Not only willing, but supportive— the sorrel mare believed El Aran when the seer spoke of potential danger, and had warned her of an Arabian who had been in their home. A palomino flecked with white. Just like the orospu she had encountered earlier in the day, standing behind her son like a she-devil. So the Arabian had been to the Desert before. How long had she had a grip in Orhan’s ear? Long enough to poison his mind with her lies.

The black mare glanced over her shoulder but saw no signs of pursuit by her son. With luck he would stay in the oasis as she had suggested. More likely he would travel in the opposite direction to think, or do whatever it was he did when he went off alone. Orhan had a regrettable habit of enjoying his solitude. Maybe she should have done more to keep him by her side— it was too late for regrets now. El Aran shook out her mane and eased into a trot. Her initial path had aimed her directly at the ocean, but she veered from that course now to make her way to the smallest oasis in the territory.

“Lütfen, Aşk,” she said with each exhale. Let Vesti be here. If not here, then at the third oasis. Just let me find her before I leave these sands. “Lütfen.”

She would have to be quick, if she did find her herd mate. Orhan might be following just out of sight, and El Aran could not risk him seeing her speaking to Vesti. As long as she had enough time to warn the steadfast sorrel of the need for increased vigilance, even among her own herd, El Aran would count it as a victory.

And then?

The seer snorted and pulled herself up a small dune with long steps, kicking up sand in front of her hooves. She could not afford to think past the next few minutes. All of her attention was on finding Vesti, and she strained her head to see over the top of the dune and down into the small oasis below.

If the sorrel mare was not there, El Aran would leave immediately and cross the territory to the third oasis, a long stretch of paradise along the southern edge of the Desert surrounded by miles of flat, coarse sand.

El Aran did not consider what she would do if Vesti could not be found.