The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post

Ealasaid · 08-07-2003, 09:25 AM

Ahmad and Adhem

Ahmad awoke early, just as the sun’s rays broke over the eastern horizon. He felt restless and oddly impatient for the day to begin, for the group of them to get moving again, to do what they had ridden so far to do. Usually a patient man, this time he found the waiting to be wearing on his nerves. He rose quietly and went out of the tent to check his weapons again or to fuss with his saddle… anything to keep himself occupied. He had not been outside more than a few minutes before he was joined by Adhem, who had an odd, haunted look about him.

Ahmad wished him a good morning and went on checking the straps and buckles on his saddle. He knew that if Adhem had something he wished to talk about, he would get to it in his own time. Adhem simply nodded his greeting and walked past Ahmad to look into the now brightening western sky. After a long moment, he turned and strode back to where Ahmad still stood. He held out a small leather pouch.

“I was hoping you would take this for me,” he said quietly. “Give it to my wife should I be slain here.”

Ahmad took the pouch. It felt very light, almost empty. “Why me?”

Adhem smiled. “Because I trust you. And, besides, you have the luck of the jackrabbit who stole the merchant’s grain,” he added, referring to an old fable they had all heard as children. “I, on the other hand, seem to have the luck of the merchant.”

Ahmad grinned. It was a bit of an exaggeration, but not enough to quibble over. “What if I am the one to die?”

“Then a very personal letter to my wife falls into the hands of the enemy.”

“Ah!” Ahmad nodded and tucked the pouch away. “Your love letters are safe with me.”

Adhem gave him a sideways glance, but, for a moment or so, said nothing more. When he did speak, it was quietly, as if he feared being overheard.

“Did you dream last night?” he asked.

Ahmad stopped what he was doing. “No. I slept like a stone. Did you?”

Adhem nodded. “It was probably the most vivid dream I have ever had. And I have never been much for dreaming.” The haunted look that had vanished as they talked had crept back into his eyes. “It was the Eye. I saw it.”

“And it saw me,” he finished. “Something is very wrong here.”

*****************************************

Yusef

Yusef watched first Ahmad, then Adhem, leave the tent shortly after dawn. When he was sure that they were gone, he reached into his bedding and pulled forth a leather pouch of his own. Opening it, he dropped a small stone into the palm of his hand. About the size of a gold coin, it was nearly perfectly round and of such a dark shade of red that it looked nearly black until he held it up toward the light. Then, it shone a vibrant crimson.

After admiring it for an moment against the morning light that filtered through the fabric of the tent, Yusef closed his fist around it. The stone had been weighing heavily on his mind lately. Now that they had gotten so near to the camp of the priestesses, it had become nearly an obsession. There was no voice or presence that spoke to him through the stone the way it had spoken to Fouad before, but he was constantly aware of it. He knew he had to bring it, to deliver it somehow, to the priestess. She would reward him. She would reward him handsomely. He smiled to himself.

Had it been merely luck that he, and he alone, had been the one to see the stone fall when Fouad had been seized? Had it been merely luck that no one had seen him retrieve the stone from where it lay, half-concealed, in the dust? He thought not. The Eye had willed the stone to come to him. It had a plan for him. A purpose. Yusef knew it, and he waited.

[ August 10, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]

08-07-2003, 09:25 AM	#138
Ealasaid Wight Join Date: May 2003 Location: under a large pile of dirt & gravel Posts: 193	Ahmad and Adhem Ahmad awoke early, just as the sun’s rays broke over the eastern horizon. He felt restless and oddly impatient for the day to begin, for the group of them to get moving again, to do what they had ridden so far to do. Usually a patient man, this time he found the waiting to be wearing on his nerves. He rose quietly and went out of the tent to check his weapons again or to fuss with his saddle… anything to keep himself occupied. He had not been outside more than a few minutes before he was joined by Adhem, who had an odd, haunted look about him. Ahmad wished him a good morning and went on checking the straps and buckles on his saddle. He knew that if Adhem had something he wished to talk about, he would get to it in his own time. Adhem simply nodded his greeting and walked past Ahmad to look into the now brightening western sky. After a long moment, he turned and strode back to where Ahmad still stood. He held out a small leather pouch. “I was hoping you would take this for me,” he said quietly. “Give it to my wife should I be slain here.” Ahmad took the pouch. It felt very light, almost empty. “Why me?” Adhem smiled. “Because I trust you. And, besides, you have the luck of the jackrabbit who stole the merchant’s grain,” he added, referring to an old fable they had all heard as children. “I, on the other hand, seem to have the luck of the merchant.” Ahmad grinned. It was a bit of an exaggeration, but not enough to quibble over. “What if I am the one to die?” “Then a very personal letter to my wife falls into the hands of the enemy.” “Ah!” Ahmad nodded and tucked the pouch away. “Your love letters are safe with me.” Adhem gave him a sideways glance, but, for a moment or so, said nothing more. When he did speak, it was quietly, as if he feared being overheard. “Did you dream last night?” he asked. Ahmad stopped what he was doing. “No. I slept like a stone. Did you?” Adhem nodded. “It was probably the most vivid dream I have ever had. And I have never been much for dreaming.” The haunted look that had vanished as they talked had crept back into his eyes. “It was the Eye. I saw it.” “And it saw me,” he finished. “Something is very wrong here.” *************************************** Yusef** Yusef watched first Ahmad, then Adhem, leave the tent shortly after dawn. When he was sure that they were gone, he reached into his bedding and pulled forth a leather pouch of his own. Opening it, he dropped a small stone into the palm of his hand. About the size of a gold coin, it was nearly perfectly round and of such a dark shade of red that it looked nearly black until he held it up toward the light. Then, it shone a vibrant crimson. After admiring it for an moment against the morning light that filtered through the fabric of the tent, Yusef closed his fist around it. The stone had been weighing heavily on his mind lately. Now that they had gotten so near to the camp of the priestesses, it had become nearly an obsession. There was no voice or presence that spoke to him through the stone the way it had spoken to Fouad before, but he was constantly aware of it. He knew he had to bring it, to deliver it somehow, to the priestess. She would reward him. She would reward him handsomely. He smiled to himself. Had it been merely luck that he, and he alone, had been the one to see the stone fall when Fouad had been seized? Had it been merely luck that no one had seen him retrieve the stone from where it lay, half-concealed, in the dust? He thought not. The Eye had willed the stone to come to him. It had a plan for him. A purpose. Yusef knew it, and he waited. [ August 10, 2003: Message edited by: Ealasaid ]