ZUZU MANSUR
As evening coaxed the Sun into slumber, Zubaidah and Constantine cosied themselves within an abandoned Reiman outpost. After their travels across the Western frontier, they were nearing the southern Reiman port-towns where Zubaidah wished to cross into Heliohapt. There had been some delays, however, since Constantine had advised that they steer clear of Sasan and its border-towns. Indeed, despite their best efforts, it seemed that Sassanid forces had caught wind of their location. As such, they had chosen a particular Reiman outpost where they might rest and prepare themselves for the upcoming battle.
Indeed, once evening had covered the tawny skies, white and gold Sassanid banners appeared upon the far-off horizon. As they neared their location, Zubaidah called for Constantine and discussed their preparations, arming themselves as best they could. Indeed, within less than a minute, they were surrounded with Sassanid knights, pointing swords and lances towards them both.
‘It seems that brother Geranot wasn’t joking.’ One man made his way through the armed ranks, towering over his fellow Sassanids, sleep resting within his eyes. ‘It had to be you, Arthur.’ He snarled towards Arthur, out-matching the man with his height, and looked down upon the Sassanid newcomer.
‘I’ve missed you, brother Constantine.’
‘Ah, pardon,’ A smile came upon his relaxed expression, light and airy, as if clouds within a dream. ‘I mean, former brother Constantine, of course.’
‘What have you come here for, Arthur.’
‘I just wanted to see what little Constantine was doing, that’s all.’ He toyed around with Constantine, smiling all the time. ‘Am I not allowed that?’
‘As if you ever cared for me.’
‘No, I suppose you’re right.’
‘I never did.’
‘You know what position I have now?’ He stepped towards Constantine, a yawn breaking his smile. ‘I’m an apprentice to Leon, just like you were.’
‘But unlike you, I don’t intend to lose my position for some woman.’ A scowl came upon Constantine’s face when he heard Arthur disrespect Zubaidah, his golden cheeks painted with anger. ‘Ah, you don’t like that?’ Arthur took another step towards Constantine, chuckling with resentment more than humour. ‘I find that amusing.’
‘You didn’t care when I discounted your connections with Sasan and lord Leon,’ He began losing the smiles and laughter that had graced his expression, replacing them with stony-faced indignation. ‘But you cared when I insulted this woman of yours.’
‘She is not mine.’
‘Then whose is she?’
‘She is nobody’s.’
‘How about I take her for myself then?’ As he stepped towards Zubaidah, Constantine placed one hand upon his sword-belt and snarled, ‘You would not dare.’
‘I wouldn’t dare what?’
‘You say that she bested you, right?’
‘At least, that’s the story you told brother Geranot.
‘Well, I think you’ve just grown weak.’
Constantine stared straight into Arthur’s eyes and growled like a wild beast,
‘Then let me show you just how strong I am.’
Indeed, once evening had covered the tawny skies, white and gold Sassanid banners appeared upon the far-off horizon. As they neared their location, Zubaidah called for Constantine and discussed their preparations, arming themselves as best they could. Indeed, within less than a minute, they were surrounded with Sassanid knights, pointing swords and lances towards them both.
‘It seems that brother Geranot wasn’t joking.’ One man made his way through the armed ranks, towering over his fellow Sassanids, sleep resting within his eyes. ‘It had to be you, Arthur.’ He snarled towards Arthur, out-matching the man with his height, and looked down upon the Sassanid newcomer.
‘I’ve missed you, brother Constantine.’
‘Ah, pardon,’ A smile came upon his relaxed expression, light and airy, as if clouds within a dream. ‘I mean, former brother Constantine, of course.’
‘What have you come here for, Arthur.’
‘I just wanted to see what little Constantine was doing, that’s all.’ He toyed around with Constantine, smiling all the time. ‘Am I not allowed that?’
‘As if you ever cared for me.’
‘No, I suppose you’re right.’
‘I never did.’
‘You know what position I have now?’ He stepped towards Constantine, a yawn breaking his smile. ‘I’m an apprentice to Leon, just like you were.’
‘But unlike you, I don’t intend to lose my position for some woman.’ A scowl came upon Constantine’s face when he heard Arthur disrespect Zubaidah, his golden cheeks painted with anger. ‘Ah, you don’t like that?’ Arthur took another step towards Constantine, chuckling with resentment more than humour. ‘I find that amusing.’
‘You didn’t care when I discounted your connections with Sasan and lord Leon,’ He began losing the smiles and laughter that had graced his expression, replacing them with stony-faced indignation. ‘But you cared when I insulted this woman of yours.’
‘She is not mine.’
‘Then whose is she?’
‘She is nobody’s.’
‘How about I take her for myself then?’ As he stepped towards Zubaidah, Constantine placed one hand upon his sword-belt and snarled, ‘You would not dare.’
‘I wouldn’t dare what?’
‘You say that she bested you, right?’
‘At least, that’s the story you told brother Geranot.
‘Well, I think you’ve just grown weak.’
Constantine stared straight into Arthur’s eyes and growled like a wild beast,
‘Then let me show you just how strong I am.’
200/200 | word/1000 | 315/315
❅
Last edited by Zuzu Mansur on 07/02/22, 06:04 pm; edited 2 times in total
