He nodded. "Yes. He, ahh, he told me to, ah, watch his pet--bird--you, I suppose, and--"
The man suddenly looked fierce, stiffening. "He told you of us?" he hissed.
Naji could practically see every muscle in the man's body coiling.
"Wait, wait!" he cried, fearing the man was about to gut him, "He said he'd explain, that you'd know what to look for, he said he left you a message! It's the truth, I swear!"
The man was silent for a moment before turning his head. He gazed back at Naji. "Don't move."
Naji shook his head vigorously, hoping that quick compliance would stay the other's hand from violence.
The man kept his eyes firmly fixed on him as he stepped back, retreating back to where the horse was tethered nearby. Finally, he turned his head and rummaged through the saddle bag. Normally, Naji would've bolted the second he was not being watched, but he had read the message loud and clear in the other's gaze, and didn't dare tempt the consequences. Stupid he might sometimes be, but not suicidal!
Finally the man withdrew a somewhat small but thick book from the bag and quickly thumbed through it to the back. Then he paused, reading. Naji watched anxiously, swallowing.
A few long minutes past before the elder looked up and glared fiercely at him, clearly not happy with whatever information the book had dispensed. He gave a snort and replaced it, before striding forward until he was practically toe to toe with Naji, looming in his face, assessing.
"What has he told you of me?"
Naji relaxed a little, and thought on an acceptable answer. "...Not to run?"
At this the man quirked an eyebrow.
Naji gave a nervous laugh. "Ah, ah ha, uh...I might...that is..." he fidgeted and willed himself to meet the man's curious golden gaze, "Are...are you...really the bird...?"
He couldn't believe he was even asking such a thing, it was so...ridiculous!
A Long Time in Coming- Men of Lore, The Myth Becomes 2/?
Naji jumped. "I--uh--Malik said that--"
"Malik?" the man cut him off.
He nodded. "Yes. He, ahh, he told me to, ah, watch his pet--bird--you, I suppose, and--"
The man suddenly looked fierce, stiffening. "He told you of us?" he hissed.
Naji could practically see every muscle in the man's body coiling.
"Wait, wait!" he cried, fearing the man was about to gut him, "He said he'd explain, that you'd know what to look for, he said he left you a message! It's the truth, I swear!"
The man was silent for a moment before turning his head. He gazed back at Naji. "Don't move."
Naji shook his head vigorously, hoping that quick compliance would stay the other's hand from violence.
The man kept his eyes firmly fixed on him as he stepped back, retreating back to where the horse was tethered nearby. Finally, he turned his head and rummaged through the saddle bag. Normally, Naji would've bolted the second he was not being watched, but he had read the message loud and clear in the other's gaze, and didn't dare tempt the consequences. Stupid he might sometimes be, but not suicidal!
Finally the man withdrew a somewhat small but thick book from the bag and quickly thumbed through it to the back. Then he paused, reading. Naji watched anxiously, swallowing.
A few long minutes past before the elder looked up and glared fiercely at him, clearly not happy with whatever information the book had dispensed. He gave a snort and replaced it, before striding forward until he was practically toe to toe with Naji, looming in his face, assessing.
"What has he told you of me?"
Naji relaxed a little, and thought on an acceptable answer. "...Not to run?"
At this the man quirked an eyebrow.
Naji gave a nervous laugh. "Ah, ah ha, uh...I might...that is..." he fidgeted and willed himself to meet the man's curious golden gaze, "Are...are you...really the bird...?"
He couldn't believe he was even asking such a thing, it was so...ridiculous!
The man gave him a hard, assessing look.
"If I am?" he said at last.