A million rage-fueled thoughts had kept the dark bay male awake for most of that night. Parvati's presence had been the one thing keeping Carthage from reaming that insolent daughter of his. Exploring Salem was one thing; he'd found Carrhae's scent in a neighboring territory when they'd lived on the southern island. He hadn't corrected her, assuming it to be a mistake. Now, he regretted that decision. Keeping Carrhae on one island shouldn't have been difficult. She'd been so obedient in her youth, after all. With a roll of his eyes, Carthage thought about what he wouldn't give to have those days back.
As though thinking about the smokey black maiden had summoned her, the stallion's ears flicked at the sound of her voice and half-turned in his daughter's direction. His crimson eyes scanned the closest surroundings but Carrhae was not visible. She was close by. Close enough that he could make out most of what she was saying as he moved in her direction. He knew, for example, that the girl had thought she was addressing him.. and she clearly was not. Carthage wasn't overly worried. She could have mistaken his mare Rya for himself from behind. However, the voice that responded to Carrhae, the one he could hear now through the trees as the bay paced quietly forward, was male and did not belong to Sigurdr or any of his sons.
An iNTRuDeR? Carthage seethed, his blood instantaneously flooded white-hot fury through his veins. Without further thought, the dark bay stallion charged through the undergrowth toward his daughter and the stranger. They would have heard him coming, but he did not mourn the loss of total surprise. Carthage would launch from the verge upon reaching them. Dark ears pinned into the wild strands of his mane, the male would aim his bared jaws toward the other, ready to rip at wherever his teeth might land. He would teach this one to think better of entering his domain again.