The pair of Akhal-Tekes stood beside each other, mirroring each other’s stances like two knights on a chessboard. With noses up, ears pricked forward, and long, upright necks set high on their steeply sloping shoulders, they shone like freshly polished marble, still as can be; their gleaming, glassy eyes are the only indication of the fervor that lay just beneath their skin. It was surely an unnerving sight, and they knew it.

Orhan approached them cautiously and their eyes followed his every step in silence as he drew closer. When he spoke at last, he directed his statement toward Maslakhat, who immediately smiled warmly and took a step toward him—his body suddenly alive with movement.

“Oh yes, I’m quite aware of that,” he announced. “El Aran has made no secret of your decision to drive her away. She is rather remorseful about the situation, to be honest.”

Maslakhat watched Orhan carefully for a reaction, prodding around for emotion in what appeared to be a stern constitution. Valve looked on silently, sizing the stallion up and formulating an opinion on whether or not he would present an issue. For now, she was more than fine with letting her nephew take the lead on this encounter—after all, he seemed to have had prior dealings with the half-breed spawn of the black mare.

“In fact, that is precisely why I am here,” Maslakhat continued. “She wishes a word with you on the Crossing, and she instructed me to tell you that you should make the journey when the sun fell against a bright red sky.”

El Aran had in fact done no such thing, but Maslakhat knew that if they intended to ambush her in the Desert, Orhan could play no part in it. The further away he was when the assault happened, the higher their chance for success.

“We apologize for the intrusion,” Valve offered politely, speaking up from behind the bay Akhal-Teke. “I happen to reside in the Dunes with Gabbar and A’idah, and Maslakhat offered to show me the Desert on his way to deliver your message.”

She took a step toward Orhan and tipped her head politely in greeting.

“My name is Valve,” she finished with as genuine a smile as she was capable of. “Do let me know if you need anything at all.”

Turning a nose toward her nephew, Valve touched his shoulder lightly.

“Come now Maslakhat, let’s be on our way.”

VALVE & MASLAKHAT