Gabbar learns much in little time. Evaline maintains her silence as the herd comes together, but Avangeline engages Valve immediately. His gaze lingers on the subdued palomino. Perhaps group conversations are not her preference, or she’s still coming to terms with the circumstances which brought her to the Dunes. He wishes the fire he witnessed in the Prairie would flare up within her again, and soon. His eyes shift to the black mare. He does not understand the look she’s leveling at him. It is tempting to continue to study her as her attention shifts to Avangeline but Gabbar resists and, instead, follows the conversation between the two mares.

Valve, it seems, has much to say. She has always been tight-lipped around him and now, suddenly, is divulging a heap (for her) of personal information to two relative strangers. Evaline and Avangeline learn more about Valve minutes after they’re introduced than Gabbar has known about her in the two years they’ve shared the territory. He finds it insulting and, when Valve looks at him again with that same long, measured look as before, his offense deepens, though he is careful to maintain a mildly interested expression. He feels accused in this moment but has no idea of what, or why.

"Fascinating," he offers as he maintains Valve’s eye contact until she breaks it to look at the younger buckskin, and only then moves his gaze to encompass the other mares. "These Isles seem so peaceful in comparison to my own homeland, it has been short-sighted of me not to consider the kinds of conflicts that must afflict lands not steeped in war. I am sure there is a rich history attached to each of these territories. Evaline," he says, and looks directly at the palomino. "You raised your son here, yes? Have the Isles changed much since he was a colt?"