By late afternoon the group approached a small aul — a traveling settlement of round felt yurts, colorful tethering poles, grazing herds, and the warm smoke of evening fires curling upward into the blue sky.
Temir sighed dramatically.
"Civilization! Real food! Blankets! Possibly even people who aren't trying to kill Arslan!"
Kanykei muttered, "Let's not be optimistic."
As they approached, children ran out, barefoot and lightning-fast, circling the horses and laughing. Women carried water skins, men tightened saddle straps, elders watched with the deep calm of people who had seen everything twice.
And Ayisulu…
Ayisulu relaxed in a way none of them had seen before.
Her shoulders softened.
Her smile became easier.
She greeted elders with a respectful nod and children with gentle warmth.
Bair whispered, "She glows here."
Arslan didn't answer.
He didn't need to.
He was already staring.
The leader of the aul, an older woman with silver braids and piercing eyes, stepped forward.
"Guests," she said warmly, "you will drink kymyz before anything else. The steppe welcomes with milk, or not at all."
Temir held out his cup eagerly.
Bair took his, sniffed dramatically, then smiled.
Kanykei accepted hers with perfect posture.
Arslan took his and nodded in respect.
Ayisulu, however, was handed her bowl with both hands — a sign of honor.
The elder woman smiled.
"You have good eyes, girl. Sharp ones. Stay alert on our land; it whispers to people like you."
Ayisulu bowed her head in thanks.
Arslan's eyebrow twitched.
"People like you," he repeated under his breath, as if storing those words away.
Temir, drinking too fast, choked and spilled kymyz on his shirt.
Kereg sighed like a man who regretted every decision that led him here.
---
Ability #1 Today: Ayisulu the Herd Whisperer
While the group settled near a guest yurt, a flock of sheep suddenly scattered across the field—running in every possible direction except the right one.
A frantic young shepherd chased them, yelling, "Stop! Stop! Not that way! That's the mare pasture!"
The sheep ignored him.
Ayisulu watched for two seconds, then clicked her tongue sharply. Two short clicks, one long whistle — a rhythm no one else recognized.
The sheep froze.
Turned.
And trotted calmly back toward the shepherd like well-trained soldiers.
Everyone stared.
Temir: "She controls sheep."
Kanykei: "Of course she does."
Bair: "She is a gift from Tengr itself."
Kereg: "Acceptable."
Arslan looked at her like she had parted the sea.
"How did you do that?" he asked softly.
Ayisulu shrugged.
"My grandmother taught me herding calls. Sheep listen. Sometimes better than people."
Arslan chuckled quietly — the sound warm and rare enough to make Ayisulu's chest tighten.
---
Ability #2: Reading Fires (Too Accurately)
At dusk, a bonfire was lit.
The flames crackled with the scent of juniper and dried mare's milk — the traditional smoke to bless travelers.
Villagers gathered to tell stories.
A bard plucked long strings of a kobyz, the notes mournful and ancient.
Ayisulu sat on the ground, legs tucked under her, and stared into the fire.
It danced strangely tonight.
Twisting. Spiraling. Splitting.
Arslan sat beside her — not close enough to touch, but close enough to feel.
"What do you see?" he asked quietly.
Ayisulu hesitated.
She didn't want to draw attention.
She didn't want pity.
She didn't want fear.
But she also didn't want to lie to him.
So she chose the middle path.
"The fire tells stories," she said softly. "It always has."
Arslan watched the flames. "What story now?"
Ayisulu pointed.
"There," she whispered. "See how the smoke curls left? That means someone is thinking of you. Someone far away."
Arslan raised an eyebrow. "A political rival?"
"Could be," she said. "Or a friend. Or someone who owes you a horse."
Temir butted in from behind them. "Or someone who wants to marry you!"
Arslan choked on his breath.
Ayisulu nearly threw a burning stick at Temir.
Kanykei muttered, "I'm surrounded by idiots."
But Bair leaned forward, intrigued.
"And what does this shape mean?" He pointed at a sharp flicker in the flame.
Ayisulu's face grew thoughtful.
"That," she said slowly, "means change. Something unexpected."
Arslan turned to her sharply.
"What kind of change?"
Ayisulu shook her head. "Not dangerous. Just… important."
Arslan watched her longer than he watched the fire.
Far longer.
---
Ability #3: Knots and Clues
Later that night, Kanykei struggled with the decorative knots on her saddle straps — intricately woven, traditional patterns symbolizing protection and harmony.
She scowled. "Why are these so absurdly complicated?!"
Ayisulu approached, kneeling beside her.
"These knots are from the western tribes," she explained. "They weave stories into their patterns."
Kanykei raised an eyebrow. "Stories?"
Ayisulu touched a knot gently.
"This one means 'Steadfast Heart.' This one means 'Path of Rivers.' And this—"
She hesitated.
Kanykei leaned closer.
"And this?" she demanded.
Ayisulu smiled faintly.
"'Hidden Love.'"
Kanykei froze.
Temir cackled.
Bair gasped dramatically.
Kereg blinked slowly.
Arslan nearly dropped the leather strap he was holding.
Ayisulu coughed.
"It is just a symbol. Not a prophecy."
But Arslan stared at her with an expression that said:
I wonder what you're hiding.
Ayisulu avoided his eyes immediately.
---
Ability #4: The Horse Whisper (Arslan Did Not Appreciate This One)
One of the aul's prized horses — a tall, silver-gray stallion — refused to let anyone saddle him.
He bucked, stomped, and tried to bite at least three innocent bystanders.
Ayisulu approached calmly.
"May I?"
The owner nodded, exasperated.
Ayisulu slowly reached for the stallion's muzzle…
paused…
adjusted her hand angle…
and gently scratched beneath his left ear.
The horse melted.
Temir: "She has tamed the demon."
Kanykei: "How offendable."
Bair: "Incredible! She soothed him with a single touch!"
Arslan watched, expression darkening slightly.
"You handle horses very well," he said.
Ayisulu smiled. "I grew up with them."
"Mm," Arslan murmured. "Do you charm all stubborn creatures so easily?"
Ayisulu blinked innocently. "Only the ones worth the effort."
Arslan stared.
Hard.
Kanykei groaned and walked away.
Temir whispered, "She called YOU stubborn."
Bair whispered, "That means she likes you."
Kereg whispered, "Her taste is questionable."
---
A Quiet Moment (and a Dangerous Confession Almost Made)
As the moon rose, Ayisulu slipped away from the crowd to breathe in the quiet steppe air.
Of course Arslan followed.
He approached her gently, as if afraid she'd disappear if he stepped too heavily.
"Today," he said, "I realized something."
Ayisulu raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"You are…"
He paused, searching for a word.
Not the usual sharp, strategic one.
A soft one.
"…remarkable."
Ayisulu laughed quietly.
"No I'm not."
"Yes," Arslan said firmly. "You are."
She swallowed.
He stepped closer.
"Ayisulu… every time I watch you, I—"
Kanykei's voice screeched from across the aul:
"PRINCE ARSLAN! SOMEONE STOLE MY BOOTS!"
Arslan closed his eyes in pain.
Ayisulu tried not to laugh.
Failed.
Arslan softly murmured:
"Next time, I'm finishing that sentence."
Ayisulu's heart did something complicated.
She wasn't sure whether she hoped he would…
…or hoped he wouldn't.