“Maybe so,” he remarked as she clearly was aware of his folly to let her win, though admittedly he had to run harder than he was accustomed to. Truthfully, if the playing field was even, he was not sure he could best her. However, if he was indeed the rightful winner, it was only because the conditions of the race favored him over her tonight.

He returned his gaze to the whole of her, amused by her games seemingly as much as she was with his as they stood together in the pool of cool water, shrouded under the blanket of night. He regarded her lithe frame for a moment before speaking again, combing over the details of the various adornments that hung from her neck, nape and breast and he cannot help but wish them all gone. They are odd, distracting from the true beauty she held underneath, and they were most certainly not necessary if their intent was to make her seem a magnificent creature.

“Merwerit, speak your debts then,” he encouraged. “But also know that you possess the freedom to refrain.”

Maslakhat pointed his nose to the looming dunes that encircled them, his amber eyes sparkling with the potential and history they held—the winds of true freedom were hers to drink now too, just as much as his, and regardless of whatever accord they had fashioned, whatever perceived debts she believed to hold, the only reason she should answer him was because she wanted to. Because she had the freedom to choose.

“You’ll find no bounds here, among the Dunes. Our kind is free to thrive as long as the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, as it has done for all time.”

Maslakhat looked upon her again, his passion and sincerity for this decree evident in the conviction of his voice. “Any that seek to take that away from us… well, they shan’t live to see the light of day or dark of night ever again.”


MASLAKHAT

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