So after I lost the rest of the first chapter and had to rewrite it, I went back and changed a few things, so here's 14 again with new stuff. ___________________________________________________
“Here,” the elder said, holding out a small bundle.
He reached out to accept it, unwrapping it to find a loaf of fresh bread and a small cut of cheese, as well as fruit. Oh, it was humble, but it looked wonderfully appetizing right now. He hadn’t eaten since the day before, and his stomach rumbled appreciatively at the sight.
“Thank you.”
Malik nodded as he finished packing away his purchases, seating himself across from Naji in the straw and unwrapping his own food. They ate in silence for a while.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You may.”
“I was wondering…why did you save me from the guards, back in the city? I mean…you knew nothing about me, but you risked yourself to save me.”
Malik grinned smugly. “It was hardly a ‘risk’.”
“Whatever,” Naji grumbled, “Just…why?”
“I’ve been around long enough to know that the city guards are often brutes even on good days, and they are not above harassing citizens just to pass time. As for why I stepped in…I simply felt like it. I did not wish to stand by and watch you been slain. So I stopped it.”
“But…what if you’d know before? That I was thief?”
“It would not have altered my decision. Many people are thieves, for many reasons. I don’t think it picking pockets is worth dying over. My actions still would be the same.”
Naji was stunned, a little. “I…thank you. Most people…most people wouldn’t have cared. They probably would have been happy to see me put down.”
“I am not most people.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” he smiled.
Malik smiled back. “I suppose I’ll simply have to find a god use for you, until you can pay me back.”
Naji winced. Crap. He had half-hoped the other had forgotten. “You’re not going to…make me your slave or anything, are you?”
A Long Time in Coming- Favorable Chance Encounters 14/?
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“Here,” the elder said, holding out a small bundle.
He reached out to accept it, unwrapping it to find a loaf of fresh bread and a small cut of cheese, as well as fruit. Oh, it was humble, but it looked wonderfully appetizing right now. He hadn’t eaten since the day before, and his stomach rumbled appreciatively at the sight.
“Thank you.”
Malik nodded as he finished packing away his purchases, seating himself across from Naji in the straw and unwrapping his own food. They ate in silence for a while.
“Can I ask you something?”
“You may.”
“I was wondering…why did you save me from the guards, back in the city? I mean…you knew nothing about me, but you risked yourself to save me.”
Malik grinned smugly. “It was hardly a ‘risk’.”
“Whatever,” Naji grumbled, “Just…why?”
“I’ve been around long enough to know that the city guards are often brutes even on good days, and they are not above harassing citizens just to pass time. As for why I stepped in…I simply felt like it. I did not wish to stand by and watch you been slain. So I stopped it.”
“But…what if you’d know before? That I was thief?”
“It would not have altered my decision. Many people are thieves, for many reasons. I don’t think it picking pockets is worth dying over. My actions still would be the same.”
Naji was stunned, a little. “I…thank you. Most people…most people wouldn’t have cared. They probably would have been happy to see me put down.”
“I am not most people.”
“Yeah, I noticed,” he smiled.
Malik smiled back. “I suppose I’ll simply have to find a god use for you, until you can pay me back.”
Naji winced. Crap. He had half-hoped the other had forgotten. “You’re not going to…make me your slave or anything, are you?”