No surprise these morning announcements were all in Mongolian. Not that he had a problem with it. Honestly, he preferred it even if most of what he could pick up was the simplest vocab. It was still good practice, plus he did not like being singled out in Common during these things. So when Batu’s furrowed gaze settled on him, still speaking the same Alukhai tongue, it brought a kind of relief... A short-lived feeling as it sank in that Batu was talking to him.

Yelp straightened so fast it looked like a violent flinch.

You. With. Khaan.

Right. Him. And the khaan.

Fujiwara Dynasty. Okay, long name, going somewhere or doing something with that. Where was it? Then khatun’s vasa, ger, night. He caught those, too. Carry Oyun’s things, he gathered that much. Go with the khaan.

They were heading off somewhere, that was the gist of it, at least, and he was going with them.

Yelp’s mouth stayed shut, though a whole pile of questions was already forming behind teeth. How far was this Fujiwara? Did he need to bring anything for himself? Was his only job to be the carrying-guy? Ochir was assigned something too, right? Did that mean Maral wouldn’t be coming?

His eyes wandered toward her. He’d been lucky she’d found him when he appeared in this world. Since then, Alukhai had become the place he knew best. He knew its paths and its smells well enough by now. Outside of it, he couldn’t even picture where they’d be sleeping. The thought put a peculiar weight in his stomach. Not that he was about to say so. Besides, he’d been given a direct job, straight from the khaan’s mouth. Important stuff right there. Maybe he needed to get used to sleeping outside Maral and Ochir’s ger anyway…

Yelp lifted his chin a little higher.

Yes, he answered, one of the first Mongolian words he’d learned to use properly.

Dude, don’t screw this up.