Noctisardor Bypass through caverns measureless to man

Her voice is sharp, changing from the saccharine tone of a girl playing games and — in to something he recognizes. The tone of an issumatar. There was something dangerous and possessive in her gaze for a moment, a spasm of contained violence, an electric current. Then, she was sweet again. He would be careful.

Tulimaq. He answers bluntly. He considers apologizing, but there is no reason to — it was a simple mistake and has been corrected.

No, not a slave then. Clearly there is a disparity between the bloodlines of her people; those that serve, and those that rule, are not equal. He does not care for such a lifestyle himself — and Tulimaq won't mention this to her, not wanting to earn her wrath and subsequently, the wrath of her horde. If he could rescue the boy-slave, he could fashion himself a loyal warrior. But it is unlikely.

Khanum—is that a title, or a name? He does not ask her outright for a name because he wants details, he wants to know how the horde functions and hear more of her strange tongue.