KORAY
Evaline. If Vita Nova had ever mentioned her mother before, Koray did not remember, but as he watched his father from the corner of his eye, he saw the stallion brighten visibly. “Evaline, of course,” Orhan said, and Koray’s gaze flicked back to the mare in question. His eyes roamed over her, searching for any physical similarity to her daughter, but all he could focus on was her ear. The mangled stub offended him; part of him wanted to reach forward and bite it off completely so that he never had to look at it again.
His eyes flicked down a couple inches to find the mare staring back at him. Her face was hard, as if she had heard his thoughts, but then her attention shifted to Orhan and the moment of tension was over. His interest in her gone, Koray took a moment to look over Valve. He did not like how skinny she was, but there was a proud carriage to her head and an intelligence in her eyes that stirred surprising feelings in his gut. She carried herself like a leader. He had never considered mares in positions of power before, but he was intrigued.
“Yes, yes,” Orhan was saying beside him. “I admire your children a great deal. They have good heads on their shoulders.”
It was then a horse appeared from nowhere and all but barrelled into Evaline. Both Orhan and Koray stumbled backwards in surprise and watched the emotional reunion between mother and daughter for a moment. Koray noted Vita Nova’s swelling belly with satisfaction before Valve drew both the stallions’ attention away.
Orhan inched past Koray to join the Akhal-Teke mare in giving mother and daughter some space, and as he did so, Koray caught a meaningful expression on the stallion’s face that was evidently meant just for him. He twisted his ears back, but did not follow his father’s suit right away; he lingered behind, eyeing Evaline and Vita Nova and wondering if it was safe to leave them alone. Their closeness discomfited him, but equally he was concerned about whatever his father had to say to Valve.
After dallying for a moment, the perlino stallion made his choice and followed Orhan. His father was strolling parallel to Valve, and Koray lurked close behind the two of them, remaining quiet and closely watching their body language. Was it just him, or was there an uncharacteristic stiffness to his father’s posture that had nothing to do with his limp?
“Well,” Orhan said to Valve, “I can’t say much of anything has happened since we last spoke. A’idah returned and is staying here with us. I believe you may know her - she lived in the Dunes, once, with Gabbar. I’m not sure if you were around then or not. But other than that, things are peaceful. How fares your herd?”
MUTT; 16HH; PERLINO; FIVE
|