“You too, huh?” He asked gently, pausing for a moment. He looked to her and lifted his chin. “Tch. I’m more than happy that I left my old life. Too much pressure to be like my father, too much pressure from the higher ups… and god were the elders insufferable telling me I had to find a woman who would bring the best resources to us… nearly forced me to marry.” Why he was spilling this he couldn’t say, he just knew he felt comfortable around her.
“You look starved. Come back and eat more if you leave us.”
"My mother was a vindictive and manipulative woman, who's only concern was pulling herself up through the ranks of society, even if that meant sending off her daughter as soon as she was old enough." You're a servant. "Which meant as soon as I was old enough to work. And then…marriage as well. She wanted to find me a wealthy man, and my father was never able to say no to her, so love was off of that table." Amira shrugged a shoulder, returning to inhaling her curry until he spoke again. Blinking, she looked up at him. "I feel half starved, especially while eating food this good. And while that offer is entirely tempting, I might not have the time too often."
“Tsk. That’s exactly why I lead these people. They’ve all come from places where the rich and those higher up have fucked them over. Servants, children of nobles, poor farmers, former blacksmiths run out of business; all sorts of people.” He let her eat, only staring at his curry.
“Come by as much as you can.” He said again, this time with more determination in his voice. “You have brought life back to this guild.”
"You're doing a good thing." She said, meeting his eyes with her own strange ones. There was something soft and at the same time painful in her gaze, the look of someone who wished so badly that kind of opportunity, that kind of home, had been and would ever be an option for her. "I…what?" Tilting her head, the look was replaced by confusion and surprise with a blink. "Life?"
Am I really? Nordali couldn’t voice his concerns. They were childish, not at all princely in anyway. But you’re not a prince anymore… He was still a leader. But a bad one. No, he could be a good leader… Drunkard…
The male suddenly bit down hard on his lip, his sharper teeth drawing blood. It shook him out of his thoughts enough for him to answer her.
“Yes, life. I haven’t been able to get my guild that happy in a long time. It’s refreshing to see them all dancing and smiling again.”
"You…can't get them to be happy if you aren't happy yourself." Amira said, her voice growing soft as she spoke. Setting aside her bowl, she carefully took his and did the same. "And Zar, you really aren't the happiest. I've known you for maybe an hour of combined interaction at most, and I've seen you smile maybe a handful of times, most of them not even real. Happy people make happy people. Princess Rana used to tell me constantly." She bit her chapped lip for a moment, sighing softly. "I'll return as often as I can. Because when you do smile, when you actually smile, it's like the sun setting to make way for all the night stars. And I would like to see if I can make you smile a bit more often."
His eyes lowered, following the movement of her hands as she took the bowl from him. “I’m not a leader. Never was meant to be one. They tried to force me into a role I can’t handle. I’m barely keeping us together here.” He murmured. “I am a prideful man. But I also recognize how unsuited I am for this role. How could one be happy as someone they know they are not?”
The ex-prince lifted his eyes to her face, the softness in her eyes taking him by surprise. One of his sad, untrue smiles followed her words. “I would like that very much.”
“You are whatever you say you are, hallaski. I am not born a thief or a nomad, and yet, it is the life I have chosen. You make your path and role in life, Zar. And what you are making with yours is going to be rough, while the path is sure to be strewn with obstacles, you are doing beautifully.” She released his hands to place them on either side of his face, unaware of the fact that in this country and most, that much physical contact wasn’t quite the norm. “And maybe you just need a little help. Asking for help is not a bad thing, when you find yourself drowning in too much. You’ve done so well up till now, why not let someone help you further that progress?”
He listened with something that almost seemed like a scoff. He didn’t believe her words fully, and yet they still resounded in his heart. “Thank yo-“ he froze when her hands found his face, a light blush rising in his cheeks. It was barely noticeable but there nonetheless. A few of the guild members by the fire flashed him stupid grins and winks. He only flushed more.
“Are you offering your help?” He asked in a neat whisper. “Or are you telling me to find someone to help me?” His eyes glinted in the light that filtered through the trees. He belonged in the wild and his entire body seemed to know and agree with that, bringing out his best attributes (both physical and emotional it would seem.)
His eyes are so pretty. Amira didn’t notice the looks the other guild members sent him, too focused on the man in front of her. “I’m saying you are going to have to make that decision yourself. But I am also saying…my help is all yours, should you want or need it. I cannot guarantee an ability to stay in one place for too long, but I can guarantee an effort. Though, I should warn you, I may not entirely be the best at leading much. You’ll be picking up a bit of slack.” She flashed a quick smile, trying to lighten the mood up somewhat.
“We can both learn, Amira. I don’t mind picking up the slack if you will be my mentor.” He chuckled lightly and raised a hand as if he were going to take her hands from his face. But he didn’t touch her, his silver eyes asking for permission before his mouth could. “May I touch you?” He asked, zoning out the snickers from his group. They would get to him later, and later he would scold them for thinking such things of him.
Yes this woman was gorgeous in every way, but he could not court her. He had vowed to his father that he would never marry; an act of defiance that he intended to keep out of spite for his father. Not to mention that she was far too bright for him. She wouldn’t chose some lowly half-blooded ex-prince to mate with.
“You have earned the right to do so without asking, yes.” Amira said, arching a brow at him almost curiously. “Different times have different allowances, but as a general rule….you have my trust, Zar. As much of it as I can give.” This time, the smile was stronger, still soft but long lasting and sweet. And he really did have as much trust as she could give him. It was his smile that started it, likely. She had always been a sucker for a nice smile. And while many said the eyes were the window to the soul, she had always seen smiles as a secret language, one only she spoke.
Something like frustration crossed his eyes for a moment. He didn’t understand how this worked. He had earned the right to touch her now? What had happened before?
He brushed the thoughts away and sighed deeply, taking her hands and slowly lowering them away from his face. “You have my trust as well, Lady Amira.” He flashed her a stupid grin and kissed the back of her hand softly. His eyes twinkled in mischief, as if to say ‘I’m no gentleman, but I can be..’
Amira huffed a laugh, that same light and musical sound, as he kissed the back of her hand. “That’s good to know. And do not…worry about the lack of willingness to let you touch me. That has nothing to do with you and everything to do with other circumstances.” She explained, leaning just a bit closer to him as though showing that all was well for now. Proving that trust she had claimed.
His eyes softened, his whole body relaxing as she leaned closer. He felt safe. He always felt safe around those he accepted into the guild. They were his family and if one betrayed him, he would gladly die at their hand if it came to it.
“I am glad to hear you trust me.” He laughed and shook his head lightly. “Now, eat. Before your food gets cold.
“I bet you I can finish my food before you do.” She said, eyes glinting playfully as she grabbed both of their bowls. “In fact, I’ll bet you something more than just the challenge itself. How about a secret? Those are always fun to play with.”
He grinned wickedly at her suggestion. Nordali had gotten just a little bit addicted to gambling during his time on his own. The rush of it was fun. So a bet like this was exciting. “I’ll bite. What sort of secrets are we talking about. And if I lose do I tell you one of my secrets?”
“A level three at least. No ‘I used to steal desserts from the kitchen’ or anything like that.” She said, smirking up at him. “And ideally, yes, you would offer something if I win. Same requirements?” Tilting her head, she raised an eyebrow, the look almost challenging.
“Ah. What a shame.” He chuckled lightly and leaned back, thinking over what he could tell her if she would win. “Yes, same requirements.” He hummed, grinning at her as he took his bowl and lifted it to his face. “Want to start us off?”
“To secrets, then. Maybe this time I won’t cheat. Most people underestimate my ability to inhale food.” She joked, lifting her bowl as well. Fiddling with her food for a moment, she nodded in satisfaction. “Wahid, athyn, thlath….aintalaq.” On go, she began eating, at a little faster than she had been earlier, somehow not choking on the food.
He scoffed, waiting for her exclamation to start. The male tipped the contents of his bowl down his throat. It seemed he had done this many times before.
Rolif watched with displeasure as the two competed, eyes narrowed.
Amira was pulling ahead. She was going to win, and would have, too. If it weren't for the group of drunk guild members that passed them at that time. The stench of alcohol was strong enough that her nose, which she had already somehow trained to smell any and all alcohol, picked it up almost instantly.
And in the brief panic, she choked. Allowing Zar to finish off his food while she struggled to breathe, both from the food in her throat and the panic crawling up it.
Nordali set the bowl down and grinned triumphantly, only to frown a moment later. “Are you alright?” He asked, making his way to her and gently taking her bowl from her. He hesitantly placed a hand on her back, almost not touching her at all. “Here, have some water,”
Nordali lifted a canteen from his belt and offered it to her.
"Fine-" Amira coughed a few more times, still unable to get the food out of her throat or the memories out of her mind. Hesitantly, she accepted the water, gratefully taking a long drink to wash down the food. Malakai had approached at some point, nudging her worriedly, and she took comfort from his presence as the food problem was taken care of. "Swallowed wrong." She said, by way of explanation, her eyes flickering around in an almost panicked way.
“Drink.” He encouraged, watching her drink. He smiled softly when she spoke again. “Yeah, I noticed. But do you know what that means?” He asked with a laugh. “I win.”
