Post by Zaim al-Daleel on Nov 24, 2008 19:23:40 GMT -7
The party was ushered back to the camp in a rush of great excitement. The whole camp was out; campfires blazed brightly.
Captain Ramad bin Yusif al-Kahn met each member of the party with a sincere embrace of gratitude.
"The tale of your courage will forever be a part of the House Fajirik!" he exclaimed. "And as such we wish to give to you two of our most valued historical possessions."
As the moon continued its path toward its zenith, he presented two items, wrapped in fine silks: a scimitar of exceeding quality and a light wooden shield. The shield was round and banded with a rune engraved brass band.
"These items where taken from a mighty House Ashurim warrior over 200 years ago. He fell in battle, but only after 22 arrows pierced his mighty frame!" Ramad proclaimed loudly. Then a cloud of confusion passed across his face. He wasn't sure who to hand them to. Then, he smile was back. He handed the items to his assistant.
"But first," he beamed, "join me in my tent for a coffee."
Captain Ramad held the tent flap open, waving the party inside. When Sahra hesitated he insisted she join in. "My soldiers spoke of your courage as well, camel driver."
Once everyone was inside he stepped in, lowering the flap behind him and leaving his personal guards outside. Inside the light was much more subdued. Scented candles flickered filling the air with a touch of cinnamon. A veiled woman in the darkest of blue robes sat in the shadows, cross-legged on some thick pillows.
Captain Ramad, cleared his thoat and introduced her. "Dalilah al-Harounah, advisor and daughter of House Ashurim's commander Takaz al-Harounah."
Dalilah nodded to each in turn.
"We were," Ramad began, then hurriedly continued, "meeting to discuss a particular point of the treaty, when this night's terrible events began."
"You will forgive my impudence," Amir al-Ahmar begins, clearly impatient with such posturing. "But I do not have the tongue of a diplomat. This allag is a slow death for both your houses. Warriors who are denied their vengence twist upon themselves until they become a poison root like the sorcerer Hirakur. You squabble over petty details while men's hearts grow dark and black only to shrivel and die or be restored in the blood of their enemies. Fate has scoured these lands of all manner of bird and beast. Are you so eager to erase every human soul as well? I would rather see those treasures you offered, Captain Ramad, returned to their families as an offering of peace or an invitation to war. Your arrogance lost you a paradise few people ever know. Perhaps now is the time to lay down the sword and see if Fate will turn her hand once again and restore what she took."
With a scowl Amir stands, arms crossed, half-expecting to be thrust from the tent by a furious Captain Ramad.
"We have no fate but that which we are given," Ramad replied with a sigh. "Mine is to maintain peace between two families. Not one drop of blood has been shed in two hundred years... well, until the traitor Hirakur tried to force us to renew the battle that killed his ancestor."
"Our comrade, if anything else, is very outspoken." Said Lum trying to diffuse the situation with a smile, "but he does not speak for all of us. It would be rude of us, and I humbly apologize, for not accepting your gracious gifts earlier and I do so now on behalf of our group." As Lum awaited the handing over of the scimitar and shield he attempted to carefully phrase his next statement. "War, when there is reason, is the true test of a warrior and it's leader. I see no reason here Captain Ramad. I see a waste of energy that could be redirected to make both your houses greater." Bowing deeply to Dalilah al-Harounah, and holding his bow the correct moment of time, he raised up and looked into her eyes and spoke gently, "Peace would be welcome, would it not? I see you here on your own, without a husband, am I correct? Please do not take offense. I ask because it has always been a means to an end to unite two clans through the proposal of marriage. Would you entertain such a proposal for the good of your clan?"
Captain Ramad bin Yusif al-Kahn met each member of the party with a sincere embrace of gratitude.
"The tale of your courage will forever be a part of the House Fajirik!" he exclaimed. "And as such we wish to give to you two of our most valued historical possessions."
As the moon continued its path toward its zenith, he presented two items, wrapped in fine silks: a scimitar of exceeding quality and a light wooden shield. The shield was round and banded with a rune engraved brass band.
"These items where taken from a mighty House Ashurim warrior over 200 years ago. He fell in battle, but only after 22 arrows pierced his mighty frame!" Ramad proclaimed loudly. Then a cloud of confusion passed across his face. He wasn't sure who to hand them to. Then, he smile was back. He handed the items to his assistant.
"But first," he beamed, "join me in my tent for a coffee."
Captain Ramad held the tent flap open, waving the party inside. When Sahra hesitated he insisted she join in. "My soldiers spoke of your courage as well, camel driver."
Once everyone was inside he stepped in, lowering the flap behind him and leaving his personal guards outside. Inside the light was much more subdued. Scented candles flickered filling the air with a touch of cinnamon. A veiled woman in the darkest of blue robes sat in the shadows, cross-legged on some thick pillows.
Captain Ramad, cleared his thoat and introduced her. "Dalilah al-Harounah, advisor and daughter of House Ashurim's commander Takaz al-Harounah."
Dalilah nodded to each in turn.
"We were," Ramad began, then hurriedly continued, "meeting to discuss a particular point of the treaty, when this night's terrible events began."
"You will forgive my impudence," Amir al-Ahmar begins, clearly impatient with such posturing. "But I do not have the tongue of a diplomat. This allag is a slow death for both your houses. Warriors who are denied their vengence twist upon themselves until they become a poison root like the sorcerer Hirakur. You squabble over petty details while men's hearts grow dark and black only to shrivel and die or be restored in the blood of their enemies. Fate has scoured these lands of all manner of bird and beast. Are you so eager to erase every human soul as well? I would rather see those treasures you offered, Captain Ramad, returned to their families as an offering of peace or an invitation to war. Your arrogance lost you a paradise few people ever know. Perhaps now is the time to lay down the sword and see if Fate will turn her hand once again and restore what she took."
With a scowl Amir stands, arms crossed, half-expecting to be thrust from the tent by a furious Captain Ramad.
"We have no fate but that which we are given," Ramad replied with a sigh. "Mine is to maintain peace between two families. Not one drop of blood has been shed in two hundred years... well, until the traitor Hirakur tried to force us to renew the battle that killed his ancestor."
"Our comrade, if anything else, is very outspoken." Said Lum trying to diffuse the situation with a smile, "but he does not speak for all of us. It would be rude of us, and I humbly apologize, for not accepting your gracious gifts earlier and I do so now on behalf of our group." As Lum awaited the handing over of the scimitar and shield he attempted to carefully phrase his next statement. "War, when there is reason, is the true test of a warrior and it's leader. I see no reason here Captain Ramad. I see a waste of energy that could be redirected to make both your houses greater." Bowing deeply to Dalilah al-Harounah, and holding his bow the correct moment of time, he raised up and looked into her eyes and spoke gently, "Peace would be welcome, would it not? I see you here on your own, without a husband, am I correct? Please do not take offense. I ask because it has always been a means to an end to unite two clans through the proposal of marriage. Would you entertain such a proposal for the good of your clan?"