Orhan

When Orhan saw surprise ripple across Vita Nova's young face, and heard her earnest reply, he felt his fears assuaged somewhat. He had not known if Koray was the type to take a mare against her will - in any sense of the word - for Vita Nova was the first he had ever brought home or shown interest in. It reassured him to know that, at least for now, his first and only son had not yet fallen down such a dark path.

"Good. Good," the stallion replied, bobbing his head and letting a brief, uncertain smile twitch across his lips. He shifted his weight onto his left front leg, and a faint spasm of pain tightened his features briefly before he shifted his weight back again and reassumed his composure. "Just... know that you're under no obligation to stay here, if you don't want to. Our borders are always open. And... please let me know if Koray gives you any problems. He has good in him, I promise; he is just a bit troubled."

Orhan hesitated as though he was about to say something else, then closed his mouth. He would take no blame for his son’s behavior. Koray had never been abused; he'd never been given anything other than a close-knit, loving family. Orhan wondered sometimes if his lack of empathy was due to the fact that he'd had no friends or siblings to play with whilst growing up, but he always came to the conclusion that Koray was just different. Orhan's other children had turned out perfectly to the best of his knowledge, despite growing up in the same environment that Koray had been raised in.

The stallion turned his head and looked in the direction his son had disappeared. Already his hoof prints were disappearing beneath wind-blown sand. "I should go after him," Orhan said, and turned back to face Vita Nova with an apologetic expression. "Please, make yourself at home. There is another mare here named Arcana, if you want some company. I'm sure she would love to meet you." He began to turn away, then stopped to look the mare in the eye one last time. "And if you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to seek me out."