Two hours later found Naji bored and burning under the mid afternoon sun. He had not even had time to acquire a proper cloak, though Malik assured him they would remedy that once they reached the village. He had entertained himself a while by watching the eagle, who followed them steadily overhead.
“Does your bird have a name?”
“He does.”
“…Are you going to tell it to me?”
“Perhaps later.”
He groaned.
"Did you have any family or friends in the city?" Malik returned, "Someone you might have wished to appraise of you departure?"
"Do you always talk like this? And no. I'm not from that city. It's just, uh, just where I wound up."
"I see."
Naji was not about to make Malik aware of his thieving ways. Not yet anyway.
"Where are you from?" he asked instead.
"The city of Masyaf. It is a long journey from here."
Naji looked a little surprised. "Masyaf? Really? I've only heard stories of it."
"Oh?" Malik grinned a little, glancing over his shoulder, "What exactly have you heard?"
"That it's home to cutthroats and murderers, and secretly houses an army intent on someday taking over the neighboring cities."
Malik laughed. "Truly? How curious." He turned back to the road. "The Masyaf I grew up in is a peaceful city, full of interesting people. It's had a few troubles here and there," his eyes darkened for a moment in thought, before continuing, "but it is strong, and does not bow under hardships."
"Sounds like a nice place to live."
"It is. Though further out and more isolated than many people prefer. We are somewhat self-sustaining that way."
A Long Time in Coming- Favorable Chance Encounters 9/?
Two hours later found Naji bored and burning under the mid afternoon sun. He had not even had time to acquire a proper cloak, though Malik assured him they would remedy that once they reached the village. He had entertained himself a while by watching the eagle, who followed them steadily overhead.
“Does your bird have a name?”
“He does.”
“…Are you going to tell it to me?”
“Perhaps later.”
He groaned.
"Did you have any family or friends in the city?" Malik returned, "Someone you might have wished to appraise of you departure?"
"Do you always talk like this? And no. I'm not from that city. It's just, uh, just where I wound up."
"I see."
Naji was not about to make Malik aware of his thieving ways. Not yet anyway.
"Where are you from?" he asked instead.
"The city of Masyaf. It is a long journey from here."
Naji looked a little surprised. "Masyaf? Really? I've only heard stories of it."
"Oh?" Malik grinned a little, glancing over his shoulder, "What exactly have you heard?"
"That it's home to cutthroats and murderers, and secretly houses an army intent on someday taking over the neighboring cities."
Malik laughed. "Truly? How curious." He turned back to the road. "The Masyaf I grew up in is a peaceful city, full of interesting people. It's had a few troubles here and there," his eyes darkened for a moment in thought, before continuing, "but it is strong, and does not bow under hardships."
"Sounds like a nice place to live."
"It is. Though further out and more isolated than many people prefer. We are somewhat self-sustaining that way."