675-09-27 - Variations of Blushing
| Variations of Blushing | |||||||
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| Summary: Sherzad has another encounter with Sallah, and a plan is made to deepen their acqaintance. | |||||||
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It is a wonderful late afternoon, and Sherzad has ventured into the gardens of delight. Accompanied as usual by her chaperone, she can be found beside the pavilion sitting on a comfortable cushion while she is sipping some melon wine from a cup, casually engaged in conversation with one of the Sefu ladies, Begum Qamara.
Sallah has been given the day off, having spent four days of entince desert training and now enjoying the cooler weather the shade of the Gardens provide. Walking with him is one of his slaves, holding a massive umbrella over his head. While Sallah enjoys a refreshing sip from his Water skin.. "O'nagwah.. I wish the waters here were a tad cooler. probably be if we'd had access to northern snow. "
Sherzad interrupts her conversation with Qamara when her hazel brown eyes shift and recognize the nobleman. Her slightly pensive is lightened up with a smile and she rises to wave Sallah over - a gesture maybe a bit out of place, but nonetheless welcoming. "Oh! It is Faris Sallah." This is remarked towards the Sefu lady. "How good to see you! I did not expect to see you here.", the young woman says with sparkling eyes to the knight.
Sallah smiles a she spots the lady Sherzad and gives a small bow. Sallah slowly walks over the pair of ladies. "Greetings, how are you this fine day.?" Sallah's gaze more on Sherzad than her companion but he does look at the other woman too, as to not do so would be rude. "My appologies, The unit had the day off, been out desert training and Needed to get in for fresh supplies and for a few of the hot heads to cool off as it were. " he says with a toothy grin, revieling his perfectly white teeth.
Begum Qamara inclines her head politely to Sallah. But Sherzad does more than that, she smiles. "I am well enough, Sallah. So you are hoving a bit of leisure time? Pray do join us. There is a wonderful shade her below the canopy. And..." her hand points to the table with various paltes with finger food. "There are some refreshments as well."
Sallah smiles warmly at the two of you and inclines his head. "I'd be delighted too Lady Sherzad... " as he nods to O'nagwah and offers his arms to both ladies .. "Well then shall we enjoy the shade and refreshments. ?" as he grins. "Leisure time on the commanders order, but a welcomed thing too. "
Qamara rises now as well. "Forgive me, Faris, but I feel a little fatigued by the afternoon heat. I will retire for a bit. If you will excuse me?" The Begum moves off with her own handmaiden in tow, while Sherzad offers her the due curtsey. Her face lightens up once the woman is gone. "Pray, have a seat." she smiles, and sits down on her cushion. "How have you been, after the wedding. It was such a delightful occasion to see Nawaab Arif marry this charming lady of the Isles..."
Sallah nods to Qamara and gives her a respectful bow. "be well and enjoy the cooler weather. " he tells her and then looks to Sherzad and takes up a seat and returns her smile. "I have been well, spent a bit of time on the Isles, though I find them a strange enough lot on the best of days and was pleased when a ship was finnaly made ready to retun to the lion.. It was getting too cool on the Isles for my liking.. " he nods at the comment about arif and his lady, while grabbing a small snack to nibble on. "So I wasn't able to see much of you save that one time.. How was your time on the Isle.. did you have a plesant time?"
Sherzad smiles and nods when Sallah speaks of the Islanders. "Yes... they are so... foreign." She chuckles, a hand moving to cover her mouth. "But I found it interesting. As part of the Sefu retinue I did not get much opportunity to look about the city or the Isle even, as I had to attend to the begums Qamara and Inaya. But overall, yes, it was a good time... I appreciated the change of scenery. Certainly." And here she lowers her gaze and bites her lip. Her cheeks having turned slightly rosy.
Sallah tilts his head and grins. "What could have such a charming lady blushing. " he inquires a bit, smileing brightly. "If it wasn't so late in the afternoon, I'd even offer to see if you'd like to go riding, I bet you and Nefe'r would get along famously."
Sherzad looks up, maybe looking a bit mortified. "Oh, did I blush?" Her eyes from Sallah to the departing retinue of Qamara. "You would not want to know, believe me," she murmurs, a tinge of sadness entering her gaze. But she really tries to force back what is bothering her. At the offer of going for a ride she looks again at Sallah with a faint smile. "Nefe'r?", she inquires, "Who is that?"
Sallah chuckles and nods. "tis okay to blush lady Sherzad. Besides who would I wish to inform of sush a natural reaction, as for Nefe'r well he's my Stallion. I won him in the tourny those of Two rivers had. He's a magnificant beast and quite gentle too. " he takes a sip from his skin and then adds. "Though if what caused you to color is of embarrasement then I shall not press the issue. "
Sherzad nods, when Sallah replies about the horse. "Ah! I remember! You brought him to the Isles with you! Such a wonderful steed!" She smiles. "And... how valliant of you to win a tourney... in Two Rivers?" She may even not know where that is. As for the embarrasment... she lowers her gaze again. "I would be most grateful," she admits. "As I'd rather not want to talk about it."
Sallah holds up his hand while smileing. "then concider it drop'd as the last thing I'd wish to do is upset or embarrase a charming and lovely lady such as yourself. " he sips more water from his skin and grins. "yes.. I too was quite surprised to win him, the last contestant was quite skilled and its was luck of the gods that tip'd the lance in my favor on the final pass I believe. "
A warm smile comes to Sherzad's face, and she nods. "You are a most considerate man, Faris Sallah. If I may say so. And... just call me Sherzad. If I may call you just Sallah?" As she already has done, but it seems her lapse in etiquette seems to have dawned on her, a little belatedly. "I can ride of course, but I am not as skilled as you I suppose." She smiles. A daughter of the desert would not be complete with at least some knowledge of horses.
Sallah chuckles and nods. "I would suspect you could, as for skill well thats all a matter of practice. Having been on horseback as soon as my father deemed it safe. Tis good thing about sand as its quite forgiving when one falls. " he chuckles softly. "As for what you asked Calling me Sallah, is quite fine. Though I think I prefer hearing you name more as its quite lovely."
"Thank you," Sherzad replies and blushes. But this time a smile lightens her features, so it certainly is not a blush of embarrassment. "You suggested to go on a ride together? I will have to take my guards with me then," she remarks. "My own horse Leila is as gentle as a lamb, but she can run pretty fast if I let her." She chuckles. "Which I do. Sometimes."
Sallah grins and nods. "you're quite welcome. Though I think maybe in the morning, when its much cooler, would be ideal, I've got a few days before were to head back out for deep desert training. Perhaps we, you and I could ride along the coastal waters. To enjoy the surf and sun.. Perhaps even bring a lunch with us and if were lucky some chilled drink?"
Sherzad seems to be a little taken aback by that offer, as her sudden silence betrays. "Oh... that is a delightful idea," she admits then, her eyes sparkling. "I could arrange for some food and drink to be brought along. Certainly." Her guards and her handmaiden will accompany her of course! But that is only a precaution, and will certainly do no harm to the delightful day they could enjoy.
Sallah grins as he see's the reaction his comment presented. "Well I figgure it'd give us both a chance to let our mounts run free for abit and enjoy the surf too. Besides It has been a while since I was in such delightful company. " as he grins softly at you and gives you another warm smile.
...continued here
