[The Gate] And So, The Tourists Arrive. (Fraha)

[Khaled]

Timestamp: 1st day of Fall, 511 AV. Khaled was amazed, Syliras was perhaps not everything he had imagined in some some aspects, but in others it had far surpassed his wildest imagination. Nidal was currently in the process of trying to nibble on someone's hair, but for once Kahled paid the stallion little heed, he was too busy taking in the scenery. It was packed with people though, far more people than he had ever seen in his life and that alone astonished Khaled, with so many people around, what wonders could they come up with. Carefully, Khaled dismounted, letting his sandals touch cobblestone for the first time. As he walked, he hummed a little song to himself, if memory served, the knight at the gate had directed him in this direction. As he walked, several people came up to Khaled, trying to sell him something, presumably, the fact that they were speaking so fast was not helping him any ”I am sorry, I do not understand. You speak too fast.” said Khaled meekly, but his voice was drowned out by the background noise of the cities daily routines.

[Fraha]

It was a shiny day, Fraha went out with her new dress; a white, longsleeved shirt long enough to cover half hips and very loose. Lower she wore tight leggins, they were black and past knee long. At her feet her black sandals, stable reliable and cute sandals she wore with pride since long time. Her hair, loose and straight were held at their place by a white headband tied on the forehead, covering it completely so that it wouldn't be. A bit of hair managed to escape from the sides of her haed to move near her eye. She puffed it away as her feet reached the traweler's row. She wanted to do something but wasn't sure what. It was then that she saw a man that captured her interest. Not because he was good looking and had a nice horse, but because of his skin and eyes. People were talking to him but he didn't seem to know them. She got closer too avoiding to be noticed. Her Wakizashis, tied behind her back on the waist bumped in someone's bag when she got near him. The guy had to be a Benshira, or was wery close to be one. She went near him, seing that he was confused and tried to check if he's a benshira. Are you from Yahebah my friend? asked Fraha in Shiber. A wide smile on her face was showing her white teeth as her head lowed down looking at him waiting for an answer.

[Khaled]

Even though the person in front of him was taking so much of his attention, he still managed to hear the friendly Shiber voice, at which point he turned and was greeted by a smiling woman, such a nice smile he thought, quite contagious, ”I hail from no town in Eyktol, my tribe were wanderers. And so too, do I wander” came his reply, it felt nice to speak his native tongue again, if only because it meant he could speak as he felt, his common was still so bad, and there was much he couldn't properly express. ”Piss off!” yelled the store man agitated, ”I've just about sold this one,” Khaled ignored the man, he didn't understand half of what was said, and the other half was speaking too fast. ”It is good to meet one from the desert lands, I was starting to think that no one had ever left.” said Khaled as he lead Nidal, his horse, closer as to enhance his hearing, if only by reducing the noise interferrence. ”and you, have you seen the city of Yahal?”

[Fraha]

So he was from the desert, which made Fraha think. What if the guy was Scezha? What is your name? asked she quickly pushing away a store man You piss off, he's not buying anything! So What's your name? asked she in Shiber again. Her eyes were full of hope, waiting for the answer to Scezha, the boy that set her mind on travel long time ago. Slowly the people would go away, following the man, angry at Fraha for being rude. My name is Fraha and I was born in Yahebah..

[Khaled]

As the store owner turned away from Fraha, he spoke curses better left unsaid, for some people superstition is just that. Startled by the woman's abrupt reaction, Nidal moves about restless, Khaled puts his left hand on the stallion's mane, revealing the mark of Rak'keli which marks the entire backside of his hand, he hushes the stallion gently ”shhh, it's alright my friend”, then he turns back to the woman, Fraha, and smiles remorsefully ”I must disappoint you I am afraid, my name is Khaled, from the tents of Shahazerad, of the sons of Hirim. And this here is Nidal.” he gestures towards the stallion, which shifts uneasily again. Khaled then turns towards the gate, searching for something ”were you awaiting someone else, if so I should gladly help you find him. Does he look like me?” Khaled continues to let his gaze wander around the crowd, she seemed so distressed about meeting this person, so he should help her find him.

[Fraha]

A slight shadow of disappoint was visible on Fraha's face for an instant. But then she forgot it, after all it was unlikely to meet someone from the past in a different place. She smiled "Nice to meet you, and nice to meet you too Nidal said she caressing the horse between the eyes. It always made her giggle, a horse face was funny sicne the eyes seemed to be on the side of the head. She giggles thinking about humans with eyes on their sides. No I'm not waiting for anyone, it's just that I saw you, welcome to Syliras. It was nice to see him like this. It reminded her of the first time she got in the fortress city, with pretty much the same expression she crossed the gates and stood there, watching. Now, what brings you here? Wanna go for a walk? I can guide you thru the city if you want. Fraha made some steps backwards and pointed to the traweler's row. Come on, park your horse and let's go! said she smiling, it was good to speak Shiber again and that heat she felt from being with someone of her own kind made it only better.

[Khaled]

Nidal's reaction was customary to people not Khaled, he tried to bite. trying his damnest to get Fraha's fingers into his mouth. With a swift, practiced motion, Khaled moves Fraha's hand from the stallion's face before anything were to happen to it. ”he bites” says he matter of factly, letting go of her hand. As she welcomes him to Syliras he practically beams, ”if you're sure I am not imposing on you, I shall take you up on that offer.” this was very exiting, everything he had been told about Syliras, and now he had a guide! Things could not be better, he leads a reluctant Nidal to the traveller's row and tethers him there, ”sorry my friend, but that's what you get for trying to bite.” An annoyed whinny is his retort, patting the horse on the mane he ensures that Nidal has some feed. Then, satisfied that he's done the best he can, to make his travelling companion comfortable, he heads back to Fraha ”lead the way” says he with a smile.

[Fraha]

As the horse suddenly raised it's head Fraha retreated the hand moving it back to her shoulder and closing the fist. "I see." Answered she looking at the horse. No there aren't any problems, I have a lot of spare time, too much actually, but that's another question. I am glad I can do this for I know the feeling and the emotions you're into now. Fraha thought about what she just said, it was a while since she didn't speak Shiber, she might have made some mistakes. So while Khaled was looking after her horse she asked "I'm not too sure about my Shiber, so if I commit any mistakes can you correct me?" It was a bit embarassing to ask such a thing, if her parents were to know about this they would get very angry at Fraha for...disrespecting her own roots. She shook off that idea *they aren't here anyway* Smiling. As the Benshira was done with his horse he asked to lead the way. Sure, from here on we have multiple choices, at the left stands the entrance of the great Bazaar, it's huge, full of everything you might need. Then she pointed in another direction "there are the taverns and inns for you to relax and sleep. and..." She looked at him with a lost expression, she actually didn't know what to do, how to tell what.."what else would you like to know?"

[Khaled]

Khaled looks around, joy vividly streaked across his face ”I wish to see it all, from the lowliest slums, to the highest estates!” He turns around a smiles mild-mannered at Fraha ”of course, I don't mean to insinuate that I wish for you to take me everywhere right this moment, or indeed everywhere at all. I would like you to show me what you think is the most important parts of this great place. A spot from which you like to gaze out over the city, or simply a tavern you like to frequent. Anything would make my day.” He speaks calmly, but there is a glint of excitement in his eyes. This was everything he had imagined and more, even if Zachary had never spoken altogether nicely of this town, he still somehow had managed to impart upon Khaled a sense of awe about the place. In the background, Nidal was snorting as he tried to free himself from the rope tethering him, the stallion was obviously not used to being tied up, and especially not used to having Khaled walk away from him.

[Fraha]

*seems legit, but how can one show the entire city?* asked herself Fraha after listening to Khaled."Well we could go to the Rearing Stallion, a well known tavern here" She looked around to localize it. It wasn't hard, so it took her a second. "over there, let's go, we can always move on later." Fraha noticed the horse snoring but didn't mind, Fraha didn't know why the horse was acting like that. After a quick peek at the horse she turned again back to Khaled "Meanwhile tell me, what brings you here? How did you get here from the burning lands?"