𝘸𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘴𝘪𝘭𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦

Cold Comfort

Zappuo slashed throats wide open and hands clean off, stopping archers from firing before their horses kicked them off the ledge. He and the princess followed the bodies down the ledge at a safer rate, greeting the three they had just been pursuing.

"We found you, Arslan!" Ceva cheerfully said, waving with one of her hands. She was happy finally having accomplished avoiding the blood getting all herself, so she was in a presentable state. She paused, noticing both Elam and Arslan on the ground, Elam moving sluggishly leading her to believe he'd been hurt. Of course she couldn't see, but she didn't think blood was rushing out of his body either, so luckily they had avoided an aerial attack of arrows. Luckily the rest of the Lusitanians were distracted by pearls and jewels, save their captain who was quickly decapitated. That sent them running.

"Not a bad time to come, 'highness," Gieve said.

"--I think you guys would have been fine without us. Still, from one ambush, to another, and now it's three times the charm," Ceva said, put a finger to her chin. "This "just dandy" talk in this company has rubbed off on me, it seems. I've lost my proper tongue... Are you alright, Elam?"

"I fell off my horse, which is why I'm in such a state. No need to worry," Elam replied, pushing off of Arslan's support. "I can walk on my own, please let go of me, your highness."

Arslan watched him, his expression saddening to what seemed like an emotion of reject to Ceva. "Elam," Arslan said. "Do you hate me?"

The company was all surprised, taken aback. Elam, most of all. "What would you ask such a thing?" he asked.

"I wish to become friends with you, " Arslan said, surprising Elam even more. "So long as you don't hate me, will you become my friend?"

"I'm the former son of slaves," Elam replied. "Our stations and class are also far to different for us to become friends."

"By that logic, I'd never be able to make any friends!" Arslan declared. "There's no one around in the palace, me and Ceva were hardly permitted more than a few minutes of talking. I used to play with gypsies and friends on the street, you see! I was raised outside of the castle by a nursemaid and her husband, and would always come back from a lost fight. But then, a couple years ago they died of alcohol poisoning from drinking nabeed that was too old... then my life in the palace began."

"Nabeed that was too old?" Ceva mumbled to herself. It was a fermented drink, and one that didn't take a relatively long time to make so why would it go bad so easily? Most couples made their own, after all...

She shrugged it off, not bothering to go out of box of thinking. This time she was happy to finally sheath her rapiers and follow Elam and Arslan.

"Is that not Peshawar? Look!" Elam called, his horse stopping at the cliffside to overlook the valley.

"Wish I could..." Ceva blew hair out of her face in annoyance, even though it didn't matter to her since she of course couldn't see. She certainly could not sense something that far away, especially since citadels didn't move... or talk... or breathe.

"A fortress of red sand..." Arslan said. "It's just as Daryun said! We should head there! Finally we've made it to the edge of the east..."

What was red, again?

"Yes! But this is not the edge," Elam said, a smile coming across his face. "Beyond the citadel lies the Kaveki river. Then across the river Sindhura. Then Turk, and Turan..."

"Then beyond Turan is Serica, the county of silk. Daryun also told of that, and his travels there!" Arslan said. "It's a beautiful kingdom, I hope to see it some day."