ORHAN
Orhan was uncomfortable. With the ever-intimidating black mare at his side, and his son lurking behind him where he could not keep an eye on him, Orhan felt his attention being pulled in every direction. As the three of them strolled, the stallion could feel sweat begin to collect in the crevices of his body, and it was not from heat or exertion.
When the Akhal-Teke mare paused meaningfully, Orhan recognized the silent question being addressed to him. “No?” he replied in what he hoped was a tone of relaxed curiosity. “Well, she did say that she lingered until he disappeared, and then she left too, to travel for a while. I don’t know; maybe she looked for him then. But I didn’t get the impression that they were as close as you say. She said she was fond of him, but that she mostly kept to herself. And perhaps she knew of the shame he brought to your herd and felt no need to seek him out again. I haven’t asked her if she was around for that.”
Orhan was painfully aware that he was over-explaining, which was likely due to his nerves. Valve’s words had left a seed of doubt in him, too - perhaps A’idah and Gabbar had been close, and A’idah had just downplayed it to Orhan to protect his feelings?
When Valve turned to address Koray, Orhan followed suit and watched his son warily. The perlino stallion’s expression was frozen in a tight frown, and one ear was twisted back to listen to the retreating forms of Vita Nova and her mother. When Koray did not respond right away, Orhan could feel his heart begin to thump heavily in his chest. Please, just be polite, he prayed.
With green eyes fixed on Valve, the perlino stallion grunted. “Spare me your small talk,” he said bluntly.
ARABIAN/AKHAL-TEKE/MUSTANG; 15’1HH; BUCKSKIN; 13 |