NYAZIK
The golden filly kept her attention expertly trained between the black mare and the herd that stood below their vantage point on the dune, a sly smile forming at Valve’s affirmation. Knowing who to trust would be something she would have to be very careful about; it was the one thing that would spell her triumph or her undoing. She took a moment to survey Valve carefully, taking in her words and wondering if she would be a sound ally or snake in the grass. Perhaps they would be of use to each other. Nyazik flicked her tail, pondering and then tipped her muzzle in the direction of the herd. “What of them? Are they to be trusted?” She had been told that it was her sire that held the dunes, intermittently at least, but instead it seemed an Arabian that was in charge. Nyazik wasn’t sure what that meant for Maslakhat – if he had left for good or for business (because surely he would not have been ousted by the Arabian).
A flash of movement caught Nyazik’s attention, and she turned her head to observe two figures out on the dunes. Both were stallions of mixed blood, one gold and whire and the other vaguely similar to her own colouring. Her eyes narrowed as they moved closer, seemingly intent on Valve and herself. “Pox” she muttered, stiffening. With the Arabian also moving up the dune from the other side, there was nowhere to run. For a brief moment she considered the possibility of the two mixed bloods being mercenaries from her mother’s homeland and that perhaps they might even be under Valve’s command, but that did not seem to be the case – the latter at the very least.
Nyazik quickly assessed her options, her muscles poised and ready to whisk her away on nimble limbs. The painted stallion made a move for Valve and Nyazik seethed though did not worry for the older mare. Their kind could not be dominated or intimidated by such a creature, nor would Nyazik be by the golden male that came from the opposite side. She was young, inexperienced and in a very real sense, stood very little chance against the bachelor in a fight despite his disability. Nyazik was fast and nimble, however, and could very likely dodge and escape the male which little effort. “Atdırmaq!” she cried, turning her rump to the stallion and bucking out at him whenever he drew close. He might be able to herd her closer to Valve, but he would not get away unscathed, she reasoned while still looking for the perfect escape route.
And then the Arabian was upon them.
The buckskin seemed to lose interest when the dunes stallion targeted the gold and white intruder, even going as far as leaving them alone so that he too could join the fray. She observed the three stallions for a brief few moments, catching her breath while they tussled. Whatever errand the two stallions were on had not originated in her ancestor’s desert. Rage boiled in her belly, incredulous that the two would be so bold as to come after two Akhal-Teke’s to get to the Arabian. Looking down her muzzle on the three, she relished any blow the Arabian landed. She would not forget this insult.
Whatever the outcome, she would disappear into the vast desert before any of the three males’ attention could fall back to her.
15.2HH BUCKSKIN AKHAL-TEKE FILLY
MASLAKHAT x KEYIK
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