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Post by Khei on Apr 26, 2010 3:18:09 GMT -5
"Aye. You girl. This is your stop." The deckhand nodded to the girl as he relayed the message. Truthfully she was more than happy to get off the ship. The crew hadn't been fond of the idea to take her aboard in the first place. Something about women being bad luck aboard a ship. They had treated her in a rather cold way during the entire voyage. She assumed that, had they not been blown so far off course and in need of money for restocking food and supplies, they would not have offered her a ride.
The ship dropped anchor just offshore and the crew loaded up what cargo they had to deliver along with the girl into a smaller boat. She estimated it was about midday by the time they had reached the docks. The men quickly helped the girl onto the dock and nodded goodbye as they went about their duties unloading the small vessel. The girl nodded back as politely as she thought it prudent, and headed into the city. Nervous or not, if she was going to make a life for herself, she wasn't going to get anywhere just standing on the docks.
Before long she found herself in the marketplace. The hustle and bustle of people moving to and fro, up and down the street, buying and selling, bartering and negotiating. It was all so much for her to take in. Never before had she seen so many people in one place. The chaos of them all managing to shove their ways through the crowds to reach the stands they intended to purchase from. All the activity made her very nervous. If it wasn't obvious that she was new in town before, it sure was now. And her apparent nervousness had already captured the interest of a common street thug.
The girl gulped and started to push her own way through the mass of people, counting what few coins she had left after paying the captain of the ship who had brought her to Baghdad. Hunger now making itself known to her, she made her way to a stand with some fruits and the like but found she lacked enough money to purchase even a simple apple. She didn't have time to look for another stand where she might find something she could afford when a man beckoned her over, down a side alley. Blissfully ignorant of the real world's pitfalls, she followed in hopes he might be of help.
"Well well well. Look at what we have here. Whaddya think boys? What's a girl like you doing all alone in the streets of Baghdad? Why. You could get hurt wandering around the market by yourself." He smiled as three more men gathered around. The girl started to grasp some idea that, perhaps, she was not in the best of situations. "It's your lucky day miss. For the low, low price of all the coin you have, we will allow you to go along your way unscathed. Now how's that for a bargain? Eh?"
The girl frowned and tucked the bag of money into her pocket before shaking her head. "I thank you for your generous offer sir but I must decline. I need what I have to purchase food. I've just ended a very long tri.." Her sentence is cut short when the first thug slaps her across the face and sneers. "You don't seem to understand girl. We are not leaving until you give us that bag of coin!" The girl draws her crude dagger in an effort to defend herself but yelps as she finds herself overwhelmed when three of the four men rush her, punching and kicking her as they bring her to the ground and attempt to remove the bag of money from her position.
The girl began crying out for help only to be slapped once again. "Maybe I should have stayed home.." She lamented as she struggled against the men who were making every attempt to mug her.
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Post by Guest on Apr 28, 2010 3:02:23 GMT -5
Anthea walked through the crowd of the market place in need of supplies. She was considering getting a new grinder for sharpening swords for her armoury. She had a bag slung over her shoulder holding some bread and apples she had bought earlier. She was busy digging through her bag when she heard a cry. Her head jolted up and she looked around trying to see where the sound might have come from.
In the alleyway is where she saw it. Thieves mugging a girl. Before she knew what she was doing, she ran to the alleyway, dropping her bag and apples rolled across the ground. Bag forgotten, her only focus was the alleyway. The girl was holding a dagger in her hands. Anthea grabbed one of the thieves off the girl by the hood of his robe and jerked him backwards to the ground.
He tried throwing a few swings at her but she deflected the blows. She pulled him upwards and stood. She drew her knife that was hidden in a strap in the folds of her sleeves and held it against his neck. He let out a whimper of fear. She wouldn’t use her knife against this thief, but he didn’t need to know that. She would manipulate his fear of the knife and also use the fear against his companions as well.
“Get off of her!” she yelled at the other men attacking the girl.
The men suddenly became aware of situation their companion was in, her holding a knife against their friend’s neck, and halted. The men laughed. Apparently they found it funny that she had a knife.
Anthea was scared and was trying very hard not to let it show.
“Get off her and leave and I’ll let your friend go!” She pressed the knife closer to the man’s throat. The man let out another whimper and his companions faces told her they were finally taking this situation seriously.
One of the men approached her cautiously. “Now look here, lady…”
He was cut off when Anthea backhanded him hard across the face. He fell to the ground, rubbing his cheek. She knew these men would attack her the same way they attacked the girl so she was taking no chances. Her Britannia childhood lessons of war and fighting guided her most of the time.
The men then started running down the alley, not looking back. She then noticed the man she held the knife against had the bag of coins they had been trying to steal. He caught her off guard and kicked her hard in the shins. She let out a muttered curse as he retreated after his friends. It is over, she thought thankfully.
She looked at the girl in the eyes. Her eyes were so green…She limped forward towards the girl and held out her hand.
“Are you alright?”
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Post by Khei on Apr 28, 2010 16:03:51 GMT -5
Once the thugs had been chased off, the girl started trying to get up. She looked up at the person who had succeeded in running her muggers off. She managed a smile and nod in thanks as she accepted the offered hand to help her up.
"Thank you very much Miss. I wasn't quite expecting hostility when I got here."
She nodded again, brushing her hair back and examining herself for damage. Other than her clothes being a bit dusty and a few cuts and scrapes she was alright physically.
"I think I'm alright. yes, Thank you."
She went about dusting herself off, gently shaking out her shirt and patting herself down all over in an effort to remove as much dust and sand as she could. At one point she seemed to reach behind her, grabbing at the air briefly before silently cursing to herself and attempting to ignore her error. Much in the same way a cat attempts to ignore a less than graceful fall.
Satisfied all the dust that could be removed had been, She adjusted her bracers, picked up her dagger from the ground, returned it to it's place on her belt, and returned her attention to her rescuer, extending her own hand in greeting.
"It is a pleasure to meet you. Admittedly, perhaps not under the best of conditions. My name is Khei."
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Post by Guest on Apr 29, 2010 2:12:56 GMT -5
Anthea smiled. “The name’s Anthea.”
Anthea tried to ignore the aching in her leg. She rubbed it quickly in some vain attempt in hope it would mellow the pain. She would get a bruise, she knew that. Her mind then turned back to Khei.
She realised that Khei’s money had been taken because she had been distracted for a few moments. If the bruise leg caused by some cowardly thieves wouldn’t be humiliating enough it was nothing compared to her feeling like it was her fault that Khei’s money had been stolen.
“I’m sorry about your money. If I can help in anyway let me know."
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Post by Khei on May 2, 2010 1:26:40 GMT -5
Khei smiled and nodded as they exchanged greetings. Surely there was no harm in trying to make friends in this new place. Khei thought to herself. After all she did just help run off her attackers though they still succeeded in robbing her. She noticed Anthea seemed injured in the ruckus. She was about to inquire when her thoughts were interrupted by a grumbling in her stomach. She winced lightly and tried to manage a weak smile.
"I had planned to buy some food. It was quite a long voyage to get here and It's been some time since I last ate. Would you happen to have any food you'd be willing to share?"
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Post by Guest on May 2, 2010 1:57:32 GMT -5
Anthea’s hand wandered absently to her shoulder where her bag would have been. Her bag had food. She realised she had dropped it during the mugging. She quickly shoved her knife back in her sheath. She turned around and saw her bag lying in the middle of the street.
“Wait here,” she said to Khei.
She ran to the street and, avoiding the obstacles of people. She was moving at a quick speed and had to jump over a couple of things until she finally reached her bag at a skidded halt. She picked up her bag and saw only a few apples had fallen out of the it, everything else was safely tucked away. She put the bag over her shoulder and made her way back to Khei.
She offered Khei the bag and showed its contents. “It’s apples and bread. Not much, but its still food.” She gave Khei a smile, hoping the food would do her well.
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Post by Khei on May 6, 2010 1:38:59 GMT -5
Khei nodded gratefully reaching for an apple.
"You're too kind. Thank you."
She smiled back, using her dagger to cut a slice from the apple before eating the slice. She took a moment to watch the movement of the people going about their daily grind. She sighed a bit to herself. This had been quite a day.
"I suppose I should look for work somewhere soon.. If I want to be able to afford a room at an inn tonight."
She ate another slice from the apple before continuing.
"Would you have any recommendations? I've never been here before so I'm afraid I don't know my way yet."
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Post by Guest on May 7, 2010 2:02:54 GMT -5
Anthea still didn't know if Khei was friend or foe. Khei seemed nice but she was a stranger. But something about Khei seemed to stick with her that Anthea decided that she was a friend.
"Follow me."
She motioned her hand the way to go and started to walk.
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Post by Khei on May 9, 2010 3:34:42 GMT -5
Khei wondered if it was a wise move to follow someone she's only just met but her wariness was quickly silenced by her logic. Here was a person who, without hesitation, helped her out of a very bad situation, shared her food, and was now likely helping her find shelter. Surely no harm could befall her by following.
With this resolve, Khei nodded and began following as instructed, finishing the apple along the way.
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Post by Guest on May 10, 2010 6:10:29 GMT -5
Thea had a lot of questions for Khei like, "Where are you from?" or "What brings you to Baghdad?" She decided to keep the questions silent for now but would ask later.
Thea wondered if it was wise to drop Khei off at an inn. But Khei seemed to be a stranger to Baghdad so it suited her to take Khei back to her home. Her home and shop was on the other end of the market and it took her a lot of patience to travel the distance.
She continued to walk but spoke, keeping her pace.
“Its getting dark now…I don’t like travelling to the market by foot, it’s dangerous and it takes much longer to get home. So I ride on horseback through the bare backstreets of the market place. We’re heading to the stables near the inn. You have the choice of the inn or you can come with me. I have my horse and I can supply you with one. Can you ride on horseback?” Thera asked.
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Post by Khei on May 15, 2010 3:14:44 GMT -5
Khei was running all her options through her head as she followed Thea. Paying for a room was going to be rather difficult. She hadn't noticed that the day was now giving way to dusk until Thea mentioned it. Her question brought another complication to Khei's mind.
She had never rode a horse before. She had always walked wherever she needed to go.. In fact before her arrival here in Baghdad, she had never been on a ship before either.
"Um.. Truthfully I've never been on horseback before. Is it difficult?"
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Post by Guest on May 15, 2010 10:59:20 GMT -5
Thea considered the question. She had known how to ride a horse since at young age and could barely recall what her first time on horse back was like. “It’s not that hard, just takes some time getting used to. I’m sure you’ll pick it up, I think you’ll like it.”
Thea saw they were now approaching the stables. Khei’s answer had told her she was coming home with her and it would be nice to have some company. She smiled.
“Khei, I’m going to need to need to talk for the stableman for a moment to make the necessary arrangements. You’ll be alright for a few moments?”
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Post by Khei on May 17, 2010 1:17:50 GMT -5
Khei nodded.
"Well. I'm willing to try."
She rung her hands nervously as they reached the stable. She nodded again as Thea directed her to wait while she spoke to the stable manager.
"I should be fine, Yes. I'll just wait here."
She paced slowly, ringing her hands again as she waited. She was unsure how a horse might react to her. She fiddled with her bracers, shifting them around on her arms before ringing her hands again.
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Post by Guest on May 17, 2010 6:10:17 GMT -5
Thea looked back at Khei and smiled. It had been so long since she had company and she was ecstatic about it. She was bounced a moment on her heels and nearly skipped the whole way to the stables. She entered the stables. She had lived in Baghdad for a long time but she had formed no permanent attachments. The only attachments she had made were business ones—and this is how she was going to supply Khei with a horse.
Corame was the stableman, old and friendly. Corame and Thea had a deal going on. He would care for her horse while she tended to her needs in the market for free and in return she would supply him with custom made horse shoes, a talent she picked up from her homeland. It was a good deal that both were happy with.
She approached him. “Hey, I’ve come to pick up Razi.”
“You’re late,” he replied and she saw over his head that he had Razi already saddled up and ready to go.
“I need a favour.”
“Shoot.”
“I need another horse.”
“What for?”
“A friend,” she replied.
Corame looked over her shoulder and took a quick glance at Khei and looked back to her. He nodded and sighed. “Very well. We have a few abandoned ones in the stalls back there, take your pick.”
She smiled and patted his shoulder. She ran behind him and in one sweeping movement, mounted Razi. She stroked his mane affectionately. She quickly wiped her hands on her trousers and took hold of the reins. She walked Razi over to Khei.
“Come in Khei and take your pick.” Thea’s grin broadened.
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Post by Khei on May 18, 2010 3:08:18 GMT -5
Khei looked into the stable, passed Thea and Razi, then swallowed before straightening up as she hardens her resolve.
You can do this. Just don't show fear. All animals can sense fear.
She nodded.
"Right. Here goes nothing."
She walked in and headed for the back where the available horses had been kept. As she neared the stalls, she fidgeted with her bracers again, worried that the horses might not be so easily fooled by her human guise.
I guess this is a good test of just how well these things work..
First she tried to approach the common sorrel, reaching a hand out toward her in a friendly gesture but pulled it back just in time to avoid being bitten. The sorrel shook her head and pawed at the ground, whinnying in an agitated tone, making it clear that she didn't like this girl.
Khei growled quietly though she stopped herself abruptly, looking around. Satisfied that no one saw her, she approached the blue roan, this time, having noticed an open bag of grain nearby, she held a handful out to the horse. The roan whinnied and paced at first but soon her belly won her over and she walked up to Khei to accept the grain. With the help of Corame, She managed to get the horse saddled up and even got herself up into the saddle.
After much coaxing and failed attempts to get the horse moving, she managed to walk out to meet Thea once again. Khei managed a wry grin, nodding to her new friend.
"So.. Um.. how do you get them to go?"
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