Maslakhat didn’t bother scrutinizing the details of his victory over Blaez. In his mind it was simple—Blaez didn’t want the Dunes bad enough to fight at length over them. Perhaps upon his initial intrusion, the bay Akhal-Teke had sensed this about the painted stallion. After all, it’s not like Maslakhat was the type to fight someone without seeing an opportunity to gain something useful. The black mare that lay just beyond the horizon in the neighboring desert however was the exception. Maslakhat detested her, and wanted desperately for her to admit to her secrets and lies. She was hiding something beneath her fury—and whatever it was had to be valuable.

Thus, he was here. He had seen an opportunity and taken it. It was as easy as that, and now he had this handy little outpost with which to conduct his business. What he had not expected however was for the mare to stay. He turned his head back in her direction and watched her approach slowly, but with a certain degree of boldness that earned her a little of his respect. Her name apparently, was Otsana.

“Hi,” he replied simply, to her simple introduction. “I’m Maslakhat.”

He paused a moment, wondering why she wanted to stay here with a stallion she knew absolutely nothing about. Perhaps she had sinister motives, or maybe she just did not like the idea of associating with her brother if he couldn’t defend her. Mares were an odd sort. In his experience they were either fiercely independent, or they felt the need to only stand by the strongest stallion they could find. He supposed he would find out which one Otsana was in due time.

“I saw you watching,” Maslakhat stated, fishing for her opinion on the events that had recently transpired.


MASLAKHAT
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