Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Jul 6, 2009 13:39:08 GMT -7
Ya'qub reined in Nasim at this awesome sight. For many precious moments he stared, dumbfounded. First at the senseless, brutal battle between two skilled warriors, then at the disappearance of Lum and his novice Amin.
Suddenly, he shook his head as if to clear some mental fog and looked toward the line of approaching nomads. He tried to judge their distance, and to see whether they were, in fact, nomads, or if it was a war band that approached. He also worried what they must be thinking at the sudden appearance and disappearance of the ifrit. There was no possible way they could miss that sight!
"Of all the times to let foolish pride rear its unwanted and ugly head..." he muttered. He could feel his nervous lisp trying to work its way into his speech -- valiantly he fought to maintain control...
Silently, Ya'qub nudged Nasim towards Amir as he struggled to mount his horse. The caravaneer, angry at the turn of events, decided that discretion was the better part of valor in this instance, and held his tongue.
He considered that it was best to deal with the situation at hand, rather than berate the injured survivor of in-house fighting.
As he kept one eye on the approaching caravan, he let his mind wrestle with the discouraging turn of events. "We survived a Zin and serpent bite, the attacks of an ankheg and rocs. We are more dangerous to ourselves than anything else! May Fate show us mercy for our stubborn pride..."
"You speak to me of pride?" Amir al-Ahmar snapped. "Zhalum risked the safety of the caravan because of his pride. His choice to flee these nomads would have sealed all of our fate, not his alone. And perhaps you have forgotten that he recklessly freed a powerful efreet merely to save his own doomed hide, the fate of the caravan be d**ned! I tried reasoning with him and he insulted and threatened me. The fool! Yes, I have pride, merchant. But it is the pride which keps a man alive and strong and loyal to his friends. The mamluk's fate is sealed, yet ours is still in our hands. Will you ride with us, or no?"
"A thousand pardons, Amir! I had not realized I was speaking aloud. I had not wanted my frustration to further divide our band. Yet I could not help thinking about what has occurred.
Whatever the cause, what is done is done. We cannot undo it, but as you have said what happens next is in our hands. I have committed to finding the lost love of our patron; I do not easily abandon my tasks, nor will I do so now. If by riding with you means we complete our mission, I will do so. I have no desire to cross blades with you; I fear even though you are wounded I would be as a child holding a stick compared with your skill.
I only pray that we may settle our differences in a more civilized manner. We still have the nomads approaching. Let us speak no more of this until we are certain they mean us no harm."
"Agreed!" Amir laughs with a strange, fatalistic laugh. "You have nothing to fear from me, Ya'qub. You have more wisdom in you than I have seen in many men, and your heart is loyal and true. A rare quality among men of any ilk."
Ya'qub looks dubiously at the wounded warrior. "Are you able to ride?" he asks, earnestly. Inwardly, the merchant is concerned about his ability to fight, if the occasion were to arise, as the nomads made their approach to their location.
"Well enough." Amir replies, clambering with some effort onto his steed. "Sulayman will do the rest. Even were I at my best, there is little I could do against a hundred men, but if they wish a fight, by Fate they will remember me!"
Suddenly, he shook his head as if to clear some mental fog and looked toward the line of approaching nomads. He tried to judge their distance, and to see whether they were, in fact, nomads, or if it was a war band that approached. He also worried what they must be thinking at the sudden appearance and disappearance of the ifrit. There was no possible way they could miss that sight!
"Of all the times to let foolish pride rear its unwanted and ugly head..." he muttered. He could feel his nervous lisp trying to work its way into his speech -- valiantly he fought to maintain control...
Silently, Ya'qub nudged Nasim towards Amir as he struggled to mount his horse. The caravaneer, angry at the turn of events, decided that discretion was the better part of valor in this instance, and held his tongue.
He considered that it was best to deal with the situation at hand, rather than berate the injured survivor of in-house fighting.
As he kept one eye on the approaching caravan, he let his mind wrestle with the discouraging turn of events. "We survived a Zin and serpent bite, the attacks of an ankheg and rocs. We are more dangerous to ourselves than anything else! May Fate show us mercy for our stubborn pride..."
"You speak to me of pride?" Amir al-Ahmar snapped. "Zhalum risked the safety of the caravan because of his pride. His choice to flee these nomads would have sealed all of our fate, not his alone. And perhaps you have forgotten that he recklessly freed a powerful efreet merely to save his own doomed hide, the fate of the caravan be d**ned! I tried reasoning with him and he insulted and threatened me. The fool! Yes, I have pride, merchant. But it is the pride which keps a man alive and strong and loyal to his friends. The mamluk's fate is sealed, yet ours is still in our hands. Will you ride with us, or no?"
"A thousand pardons, Amir! I had not realized I was speaking aloud. I had not wanted my frustration to further divide our band. Yet I could not help thinking about what has occurred.
Whatever the cause, what is done is done. We cannot undo it, but as you have said what happens next is in our hands. I have committed to finding the lost love of our patron; I do not easily abandon my tasks, nor will I do so now. If by riding with you means we complete our mission, I will do so. I have no desire to cross blades with you; I fear even though you are wounded I would be as a child holding a stick compared with your skill.
I only pray that we may settle our differences in a more civilized manner. We still have the nomads approaching. Let us speak no more of this until we are certain they mean us no harm."
"Agreed!" Amir laughs with a strange, fatalistic laugh. "You have nothing to fear from me, Ya'qub. You have more wisdom in you than I have seen in many men, and your heart is loyal and true. A rare quality among men of any ilk."
Ya'qub looks dubiously at the wounded warrior. "Are you able to ride?" he asks, earnestly. Inwardly, the merchant is concerned about his ability to fight, if the occasion were to arise, as the nomads made their approach to their location.
"Well enough." Amir replies, clambering with some effort onto his steed. "Sulayman will do the rest. Even were I at my best, there is little I could do against a hundred men, but if they wish a fight, by Fate they will remember me!"