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After her eye-opening bout of training at the Coliseum, Zubaidah had been invited by the gladiator mentors to their local haunt, complimenting her skills with drink. Showered with beer and wine, she found firm friendships in Poilliver and Korrina, and even Breaker, sharing stories of her time in the Dungeons. As she downed her fifth pint, however, a new face sauntered over, accompanied with five black-haired men in strange masks.
‘You’re the Mansur girl, eh?’ This broad-shouldered man, his black hair greying with advancing age, leered down at Zubaidah with a massive pint-glass in hand, ‘I prefer the name Sukhainah, but you do you, mister Yambhala.’
‘Heh, so you’ve heard of us?’ ‘Have I heard about the Yambhala gladiators and their drunkard of a leader?' As she smirked up at the grey-haired Yambhala, Zubaidah could feel his masked bodyguards bristle - but she could not care less. ‘Put that way, I have! What have you heard about me?’ ‘Nothing other than how the Hashashin's newest head-mentor slept her way to the top!’ ‘What can I say? Rashid is quite the looker!
Insulting one another without hesitation, like they were old friends, Zubaidah could feel herself and the Yambhala man ease into a more relaxed mood, ‘Heh, I like your spirit! Whaddya say, want to join us for a drink?’ Joining the Yambhala men in downing another pint, Zubaidah met their challenge of alcoholic endurance head-on, ‘Maybe you’re more of a gentleman than the rumours suggest!’
‘Now then, drink aside, why have you scouted me, mister Yambhala?’ ‘Come, come, call me Rinpoche!’ Slamming his pint-glass down with a satisfied aha, Rinpoche would introduce himself to Zubaidah with a firm handshake, ‘We scouted you after witnessing your training in the Coliseum, thinking you might have a strong compatibility with the Yambhala’s techniques.’ ‘Hmm, I had heard that you were searching for successors to the Yambhala legacy.’ ‘Seems like no rumours escape the Hashashin, eh?’ ‘Well, it is our job, after all.’ ‘Heh, very true!’
‘But, yes, I must say that I’m quite interested.’ ‘If you’re still interested, come to the lower Coliseum tomorrow morning!’ As she began to respond, however, Rinpoche thrust another drink into Zubidah’s hand, ‘But till then, let’s drink up and keep the party going!’
‘You’re the Mansur girl, eh?’ This broad-shouldered man, his black hair greying with advancing age, leered down at Zubaidah with a massive pint-glass in hand, ‘I prefer the name Sukhainah, but you do you, mister Yambhala.’
‘Heh, so you’ve heard of us?’ ‘Have I heard about the Yambhala gladiators and their drunkard of a leader?' As she smirked up at the grey-haired Yambhala, Zubaidah could feel his masked bodyguards bristle - but she could not care less. ‘Put that way, I have! What have you heard about me?’ ‘Nothing other than how the Hashashin's newest head-mentor slept her way to the top!’ ‘What can I say? Rashid is quite the looker!
Insulting one another without hesitation, like they were old friends, Zubaidah could feel herself and the Yambhala man ease into a more relaxed mood, ‘Heh, I like your spirit! Whaddya say, want to join us for a drink?’ Joining the Yambhala men in downing another pint, Zubaidah met their challenge of alcoholic endurance head-on, ‘Maybe you’re more of a gentleman than the rumours suggest!’
‘Now then, drink aside, why have you scouted me, mister Yambhala?’ ‘Come, come, call me Rinpoche!’ Slamming his pint-glass down with a satisfied aha, Rinpoche would introduce himself to Zubaidah with a firm handshake, ‘We scouted you after witnessing your training in the Coliseum, thinking you might have a strong compatibility with the Yambhala’s techniques.’ ‘Hmm, I had heard that you were searching for successors to the Yambhala legacy.’ ‘Seems like no rumours escape the Hashashin, eh?’ ‘Well, it is our job, after all.’ ‘Heh, very true!’
‘But, yes, I must say that I’m quite interested.’ ‘If you’re still interested, come to the lower Coliseum tomorrow morning!’ As she began to respond, however, Rinpoche thrust another drink into Zubidah’s hand, ‘But till then, let’s drink up and keep the party going!’
mag: 340/340 | word: 372 | stam: 390/390
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