Nor her or her child had gone unnoticed. They caught the corner of his eye as he arrived, huddling together at the base of a dune grazing at what little vegetation was peeking between the golden sands. The way they lingered was undoubtedly out of curiosity, the uncertainty of their future here teetering dangerously like pebbles on the edge of a cliff. Maslakhat noted their existence the way one might assess a decoration that no longer added anything of value to the space around it. It was unfortunate really, but perhaps she could prove she was of more value than she appeared.

After concluding his business with Ak Burun, the golden bay Akhal-Teke sauntered over to where he had last sighted the mare and her daughter. She had not drifted far, and the closer he came, the more he disliked what he was seeing. He wrinkled his nose, displeased but also a little torn. He saw no advantage to treating her with needless cruelty, so he decided it was in his best interest to be at least somewhat accommodating. For now.

“Well hello,” he said plainly, his eyes starting on her face, then moving to her barrel swollen with impending child and finally landing on her daughter. “And hello to you as well.”

“My name is Maslakhat,” he finished, his eyes darting back to the mare, rather looking forward to getting the formalities out of the way so they could discuss the matter at hand.


MASLAKHAT
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