Erlan's sudden appearance hit the group like a dropped pot: loud, shocking, and guaranteed to cause emotional injuries.
Ayisulu still stared at him, unable to decide whether she was dreaming, hallucinating, or just extremely unlucky.
Erlan took a hesitant step forward.
"You look… exactly the same."
Temir gasped loudly.
"HE OPENED WITH A COMPLIMENT! AYISULU, THIS IS ROMANCE!"
Kanykei slapped a hand over his mouth.
"No. It's a complication. Learn the difference."
Arslan stood beside Ayisulu, arms folded, jaw clenched so tightly that even the steppe wind backed away from him respectfully.
He spoke very calmly.
Dangerously calmly.
"So, Erlan," he said, "childhood friend."
"Yes," Erlan replied, also very calmly.
Ayisulu could practically hear Kereg muttering, I need a drink.
Erlan looked at Ayisulu again, eyes warm, almost relieved.
"You disappeared, Ayisulu. I searched everywhere. Every caravan, every aul — I didn't think I would ever find you again."
Arslan blinked once.
Slowly.
The kind of blink someone does when holding back several crimes.
Ayisulu raised her hands quickly, desperate to stop the tension.
"Erlan, this is—"
"Prince Arslan," Erlan finished. "Yes, I know. Everyone knows him. Hard to miss someone who looks like he was carved out of heroic poetry."
Arslan's eyebrow twitched.
Baby step toward murder.
Temir whispered to Bair,
"Do you think they'll duel for her?"
Bair whispered back,
"One hundred percent. I'm already writing the ballad."
---
They moved camp to a safer place — allegedly safer, though with Arslan and Erlan near each other, Ayisulu felt like sitting between two thunderstorms.
Arslan kept a sharp eye on Erlan at all times.
Erlan kept a warm eye on Ayisulu at all times.
Ayisulu kept praying silently for the ground to swallow her.
At one point, Erlan offered her water.
Arslan appeared out of nowhere.
"She has water."
Ayisulu blinked.
"I— I didn't say anything—"
"You were thinking of taking it," Arslan argued.
Erlan snorted.
"You read her thoughts now?"
"No," Arslan said coldly. "Just her expressions."
Temir leaned to Kanykei.
"I give Arslan three hours before he declares war."
"Please," Kanykei replied. "I give him one."
---
When they finally sat to rest, Erlan joined Ayisulu on one side.
Arslan sat on her other side.
Temир whispered to Bair,
"This is the human version of two wolves sitting on opposite sides of a rabbit."
Bair nodded, scribbling dramatically in his notebook,
"Two predators circled the fragile gazelle of destiny…"
Ayisulu clutched her forehead.
"Stop narrating my existence," she groaned.
But Erlan didn't seem bothered by the prince's presence.
"So, Ayisulu," he said softly, "your grandmother… you know she wasn't just a storyteller, right?"
Arslan stiffened beside her.
Ayisulu swallowed.
"I… didn't know until recently."
"She was called Ulpan the Sighted," Erlan said. "Some believed she could walk the border between dreams and the waking world. The Falcon wants the last of her line."
Ayisulu's chest tightened.
"That's why he's looking for me…"
"And why I came," Erlan said. "To protect you."
Arslan turned his head very slowly.
"Protect her?"
"Yes," Erlan said. "Why? Problem?"
Arslan smiled.
It was not a nice smile.
"No," he said. "No problem at all."
Temir dropped his cup.
"Oh no. He's smiling. This is worse."
---
Later, Arslan pulled Ayisulu aside under the excuse of "strategic discussion."
Which fooled no one.
Ayisulu sighed.
"You're upset."
"I am not upset," Arslan said.
Ayisulu raised an eyebrow.
"Fine," he corrected. "I am… irritated."
"By me?" she asked.
"By him."
Ayisulu tried not to smile.
She failed.
Arslan looked away, ears faintly red.
"I don't like strangers walking into our camp and acting like they've known you longer than—"
"Than you?" she finished.
He exhaled sharply.
"I don't want him to confuse you."
"Confuse me about what?" Ayisulu asked.
Arslan hesitated.
For a long moment.
Then—
"About who stands at your side now," he said quietly.
Ayisulu's heart tripped over itself.
But before she could answer, Temir's voice echoed:
"AYISULU! ERLAN WANTS TO SHOW YOU HOW TO THROW A DAGGER!"
Arslan's expression darkened.
"We are leaving. Immediately."
Ayisulu laughed.
Even the wind laughed with her.