Around his age?

Maral treats Yelp as a helpless child. By the looks of it, this boy is almost a full man, old enough to sire cubs of his own, shoulder responsibilities, and possess enough wit to speak sure for himself.

But he is grateful for her translations, and maybe his heart softens too for all she has endured. He too considers that this is something she needs. For her sake, Batu relents upon a shared ger. It is the way of the Mongols to gather others beneath their wings, to claim as kin even those who share no blood. Maral reminds her khaan of this.

“You call if he does anything inappropriate,” in mongol-tongue he commands. The idea of a strange man in the ger of one of their women puts to tongue a sour taste. But Maral has spent a stretch of time with the youth, and she has a greater read on his character. Clearly, some trust has built there.

And Batu suspects great amusement when a small child is revealed as his playmate.

“Be welcome on steppe,” he yields, dismissing with a look of knowing to Maral.