“…Oh,” Naji glanced over the bird, unnerved by its piercing stare, “So he’s safe?”
“More or less, so long as you do not provoke him.”
Naji looked less than convinced. “Great.”
Malik chuckled, bending down to gather his things and passing some of them into Naji’s arms.
“Come, we have what we need.”
He peered around the corner before leading them down another road.
By the time they reached the gates Naji was beginning to question the wisdom of this decision. Malik seemed like a trustworthy individual, but he knew nothing about the man or his travels, and this business about staying out of the cities troubled him, as it implied there was more going on then he was going to like. But he couldn’t exactly just bail. Perhaps he could simply come along until they reached the next city and then be on his way.
Malik didn’t pay him much mind as began packing his horse, murmuring gently to it as the eagle took flight and hovered in small circles above them. Naji watched him before Malik nudged his side and he returned his attention to handing over his bundles. Once they were secured Malik mounted the horse and reached out a hand.
“Get on,” he said.
Naji frowned as he regarded it, unsure. “I…I have not really ridden horses before.”
A raised eyebrow was all he received in response. “Just put your foot in the stirrup and grab hold. I’ll pull you up.”
He did as Malik instructed, bumping his leg into the horse’s rump as he tried to swing it over.
“Are we really going to spend the night out in the wilderness?” he asked, already feeling reluctance at the mere idea.
Malik chuckled. “No. There is a village a short ride from here. We should reach it in a few hours. We will find accommodations there, so I may gather the rest of what I need, and be on the road tomorrow.”
A Long Time in Coming- Favorable Chance Encounters 8/?
“More or less, so long as you do not provoke him.”
Naji looked less than convinced. “Great.”
Malik chuckled, bending down to gather his things and passing some of them into Naji’s arms.
“Come, we have what we need.”
He peered around the corner before leading them down another road.
By the time they reached the gates Naji was beginning to question the wisdom of this decision. Malik seemed like a trustworthy individual, but he knew nothing about the man or his travels, and this business about staying out of the cities troubled him, as it implied there was more going on then he was going to like. But he couldn’t exactly just bail. Perhaps he could simply come along until they reached the next city and then be on his way.
Malik didn’t pay him much mind as began packing his horse, murmuring gently to it as the eagle took flight and hovered in small circles above them. Naji watched him before Malik nudged his side and he returned his attention to handing over his bundles. Once they were secured Malik mounted the horse and reached out a hand.
“Get on,” he said.
Naji frowned as he regarded it, unsure. “I…I have not really ridden horses before.”
A raised eyebrow was all he received in response. “Just put your foot in the stirrup and grab hold. I’ll pull you up.”
He did as Malik instructed, bumping his leg into the horse’s rump as he tried to swing it over.
“Are we really going to spend the night out in the wilderness?” he asked, already feeling reluctance at the mere idea.
Malik chuckled. “No. There is a village a short ride from here. We should reach it in a few hours. We will find accommodations there, so I may gather the rest of what I need, and be on the road tomorrow.”
With that, he kicked his heels and they were off.