Malik gently patted the horse's snout as he tethered it to the posts, stroking its coat. Once he was certain it was secure, he turned to look at the gates.
Just beyond, he could see the usual bustle of activity, listening to the murmurs of the citizens as they went about their tasks and business.
It was not often he set foot into the major cities, preferring to keep to the smaller towns and villages, but he had no choice. He was desperately in need of adequate supplies. The attacks of last week had kept him in the wilderness too long, and he had been unable to restock in his usual haunts, forcing him to wait until things quieted down and then braving to visit the city.
Ah well. He had been careful at least to compose a proper list of everything he would need and he supposed he could stand to refresh his haggling skills. It had been a while since he'd last butted heads with merchants and the outlet might do some good after his recent sufferance. He grinned a little at the thought, chuckling.
There was a curious sounding squawk before a beak bumped his cheek. He smiled a little as he turned his head to meet golden eyes, raising a hand to stroke the bird's head.
"It is nothing, my friend. It has just been a while since we've been to a city."
The eagle perched on his shoulder gave a soft keen and ruffled its feathers.
He stroked along its wing. "Shall we go then?"
The eagle tilted its head and he nodded, falling into an easy step as he passed the gates and headed down the streets, milling through the crowds and examining the wares and stalls. A few civilians gave him a curious glance, no doubt due to his dusty black cloak, which spoke through its wear his excursions in the wilderness, and the great bird perched carefully on his person. As he bent to examine some goods at a stand, the man running it withdrew at little.
"Your bird doesn't bite, sir, does it?"
Malik glanced up briefly before picking up a piece of dried fruit from one of the many bowls. "No, he is tame enough. If he bothers you..."
The merchant waved his hand. "No, it is alright. It's just...unusual. Eagles are not a rare sight, but I usually observe them at higher altitudes."
Malik chuckled. "I suppose."
"He's quite a sight though. How did you manage to catch him?"
"Ah, he has been my companion for many seasons. I did not catch him, he has simply always been with me."
The man raised a brow. "Fortune favors you then."
Malik smiled a little bitterly. "Sometimes I wonder."
He helped himself to what he needed before paying his coin and moving on.
A Long Time in Coming- Favorable Chance Encounters 2/?
Malik gently patted the horse's snout as he tethered it to the posts, stroking its coat. Once he was certain it was secure, he turned to look at the gates.
Just beyond, he could see the usual bustle of activity, listening to the murmurs of the citizens as they went about their tasks and business.
It was not often he set foot into the major cities, preferring to keep to the smaller towns and villages, but he had no choice. He was desperately in need of adequate supplies. The attacks of last week had kept him in the wilderness too long, and he had been unable to restock in his usual haunts, forcing him to wait until things quieted down and then braving to visit the city.
Ah well. He had been careful at least to compose a proper list of everything he would need and he supposed he could stand to refresh his haggling skills. It had been a while since he'd last butted heads with merchants and the outlet might do some good after his recent sufferance. He grinned a little at the thought, chuckling.
There was a curious sounding squawk before a beak bumped his cheek. He smiled a little as he turned his head to meet golden eyes, raising a hand to stroke the bird's head.
"It is nothing, my friend. It has just been a while since we've been to a city."
The eagle perched on his shoulder gave a soft keen and ruffled its feathers.
He stroked along its wing. "Shall we go then?"
The eagle tilted its head and he nodded, falling into an easy step as he passed the gates and headed down the streets, milling through the crowds and examining the wares and stalls. A few civilians gave him a curious glance, no doubt due to his dusty black cloak, which spoke through its wear his excursions in the wilderness, and the great bird perched carefully on his person. As he bent to examine some goods at a stand, the man running it withdrew at little.
"Your bird doesn't bite, sir, does it?"
Malik glanced up briefly before picking up a piece of dried fruit from one of the many bowls. "No, he is tame enough. If he bothers you..."
The merchant waved his hand. "No, it is alright. It's just...unusual. Eagles are not a rare sight, but I usually observe them at higher altitudes."
Malik chuckled. "I suppose."
"He's quite a sight though. How did you manage to catch him?"
"Ah, he has been my companion for many seasons. I did not catch him, he has simply always been with me."
The man raised a brow. "Fortune favors you then."
Malik smiled a little bitterly. "Sometimes I wonder."
He helped himself to what he needed before paying his coin and moving on.