Zeke chuckled. "Yeah." He sighed. "I used to do well enough in the romance area. But I was captain of the guard, a well honed fighter. Ladies liked that, I suppose. But ... well. Alot changed when Ziad was razed to the ground. More than just our home or our way of life. I suppose you'd understand that, having taken refuge in the mountains."
~
For some reason, her reaction to his reply made him feel guilty again. Like he'd hurt her without intended, even if his answer was the one that should have hurt less. "If you ask me, running into quests sounds a lot easier than trying to run a kingdom. Or empire." He put in. "But travel, that makes sense. You already have seen more worlds than most people can say in a lifetime. Thanks to you, as have I, so. Guess you have some competition.
And then she brought it up. Faced him and asked if he was alright, and about the poison. Ruli clicked his tongue and turned his head. "Kire," He sighed, looking along the beach, away from her. "I'm alive, aren't I?" He asked, looking down to grab a handful of sand, and letting the grains pour from between his fingers.
"I had one thought when they dosed me with it. When I knew it was strong and would kill me. That it was meant for you. That he thought I was you, and that you would be the one to step forward. That that poison was meant for you. Again. And I decided that I would accept it." Ruli rubbed at the healing gash on his cheek that would be another scar to add to his collection. "It meant you lived. That you didn't have to experience it."
~
For some reason, her reaction to his reply made him feel guilty again. Like he'd hurt her without intended, even if his answer was the one that should have hurt less. "If you ask me, running into quests sounds a lot easier than trying to run a kingdom. Or empire." He put in. "But travel, that makes sense. You already have seen more worlds than most people can say in a lifetime. Thanks to you, as have I, so. Guess you have some competition.
And then she brought it up. Faced him and asked if he was alright, and about the poison. Ruli clicked his tongue and turned his head. "Kire," He sighed, looking along the beach, away from her. "I'm alive, aren't I?" He asked, looking down to grab a handful of sand, and letting the grains pour from between his fingers.
"I had one thought when they dosed me with it. When I knew it was strong and would kill me. That it was meant for you. That he thought I was you, and that you would be the one to step forward. That that poison was meant for you. Again. And I decided that I would accept it." Ruli rubbed at the healing gash on his cheek that would be another scar to add to his collection. "It meant you lived. That you didn't have to experience it."