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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 1:32 pm
With a shake of his head, he let out a small breath. "No. I think you've gone too far in the story to stop now. Besides, hearing one part of a story is never enough. You need to hear it to the end to get a full view of what it is all about." His tail flicked across the grass that he lay upon. The long cape draped over his hinde quarters. Though he kept an every listening ear on her and their surroundings.
The story had caught his attention. Though he wasn't one to easily sit there and listen, this one was different. He knew that parts about the street rat and the Princess, but he had never fully learned of how this boy got his hands on the Princess. All that came to his ears before were pieces of a puzzle he had yet to understand. "Please, continue...."
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:08 pm
Scherazade nodded again, taking up another mouthful of grass and wishing nearby was water. "When the council broke up a week later, the Sultan finally said to his vizir: 'I see a woman in the audience-chamber every day carrying something in a napkin. Call her next time, that I may find out what she wants.' Next day, at a sign from the vizir, she went up to the foot of the throne, and remained kneeling till the Sultan said to her: 'Rise, woman, tell me what you want.' She hesitated, so the Sultan sent away all but the vizir, and told her to speak freely, promising to forgive her for anything she might say. She then told him of her son's love for the princess. 'I begged him to forget her,' she said, 'but in vain; he threatened to do a desperate deed if I refused to go and ask your Majesty for the hand of the princess. Now I pray you to forgive not me, but my son Aladdin as well.'
The Sultan asked her kindly what she had in the napkin, so she unfolded the jewels and presented them. He was thunderstruck, and turning to the vizir said: 'What say you? Ought I not to bestow the princess on one who values her at such a price?' The vizir, who wanted her for his own son, begged the Sultan to withhold for three months, in the course of which he hoped his son would contrive to make him a richer present. The Sultan agreed, and told Aladdin's mother that she must not appear before him again for three months. Aladdin waited patiently for almost three months, but after two had elapsed his mother, going into the city to buy oil, found everyone rejoicing, and asked what was going on. 'Do you not know,' was the answer, 'that the son of the grand-vizir is to marry the Sultan's daughter to-night?' Breathless, she ran and told Aladdin, who was overwhelmed at first, but presently bethought him of the lamp. He rubbed it, and the genie appeared, saying: 'What is thy will?'
Aladdin replied: 'The Sultan, as thou knowest, has broken his promise to me, and the vizir's son is to have the princess. My command is that to-night you bring to me bride and groom.'
'Master, I obey,' said the genie. Aladdin then went to his chamber, where at midnight the genie transported the bed containing the princess and her groom. 'Take this man,' he said, 'and put him outside in the cold, and return at daybreak.' So the genie took the vizir's son out of bed, leaving Aladdin with the princess. 'Fear not,' Aladdin said; 'you are my wife, promised me by your father, and no harm shall come to you.' The princess was too frightened to speak, and passed the night, while Aladdin lay down beside her and slept. At dawn the genie fetched in the shivering bridegroom, laid him in his place, and transported the bed back to the palace. The Sultan came to wish his daughter good-morning, not long after the transport; the unhappy son jumped up and hid himself while the princess would not say a word, and was very sorrowful.
The Sultan sent her mother to her, who said: 'How comes it that you will not speak to your father? What happened?' The princess sighed , and finally told her mother how, during the night, the bed had been carried into some strange house, and what had passed there. Her mother did not believe her in the least, but told her rise and consider it a dream. The following night the same happened, and next morning, on the princess's refusing to speak, the Sultan threatened to cut off her head. She then confessed all, bidding him ask the vizir's son if it were not so. The Sultan told the vizir to ask his son, who owned the truth, adding that, dearly as he loved the princess, he had rather die than go through another such fearful night, and wished to be separated from her. His wish was granted, and there was an end of celebration."
She shook out her mane, waiting to see if the stallion in front of her would speak. There was much more of the tale, and though she was loath to cut it short... she, for one, was growing thirsty, up here in this heat.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:16 pm
Hmm. How interesting. How some tales can be changed to fit the story teller. Or to be made grand to keep the interest of those who are listening and find such things as miraculous.
Giving a great sweep of his tail, he rose to his feet. "I believe that is enough story telling for now. I'm sure you're probably quite winded from telling such a long tale." Stretching out his legs, he gave a soft groan before shakeing his head lightly enough so as to not knock his turban off.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:25 pm
She inclined her head and rose to her feet. "I am, milord. I do thank you for your ear, however. It's been a long time since I have had the pleasure of telling a story to someone who expressed interest."
Her teepee-mates had such... plebian taste in stories.
She stretched herself as well, glancing at the sky. "Would you care to accompany me to the river?"
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:29 pm
As he finished stretching, he turned his head to look at her. Then his eyes traveled off towards the distance. Not saying anything for a moment as he was lost in thought. But soon he snapped out of it and looked at her again. "Stories hold knowledge. The more stories you hear the more knowledge you can gain and learn from."
As she asked him if he would like to join her at the river, he gave a slight nod. "It would be my pleasure. Ladies first." He bowed his head lightly, awaiting her to take the lead. Not exactly too sure on where there was a river around in this part of the lands.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:35 pm
Weeeellll, she wasn't too sure either. But one thing she could do was find her way home. There was a river near there, and she knew the land around her human's teepee well enough that she could avoid having Mozenrath assaulted by one of her two-legger's other companions.
So she led the way, filling his ear with light, idle chatter. Really, she didn't know half of what she said. What the storyteller was truly curious about was where his eyes had gone... what he had thought about in that brief moment.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:55 pm
Mozen followed after her quietly, nodding his head on occassion when she spoke. He half listened and half rambled on in his own mind. So much to do and learn. Hmmm. There had to be something out there in this land that could help him along.
But what was there? There had to be more to this place than meets the eye. He would find someone who knew. Unfortunatly, he wasn't sure if this mare knew anything about what he was looking for. Her tales seemed to stem from places outside this realm. Why was it that no one had any usefull information that he could weed out? Giveing a slight mental sigh he gave his tail a long flick to the side, sweeping up his cape and makeing it flutter back down against his back. Anyway.
His attention turned back to Scherazade for the moment as the moved along. Hopeing that they'd get to their destination soon. His throat being quite parched after not haveing drank anything for a while.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 3:58 pm
They finally came to the water, and she dipped her muzzle into the cool liquid, drinking gratefully, pleased that her veil hid her guzzling. Odd. She didn't know what to say anymore, and it was rare that the mare was without words. So instead she maintained the silence, wondering if it was growing as awkward to the stallion as it was to herself.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:05 pm
As she moved towards the water, he himself did so as well. Though keeping a slight bit of distance from her. Only a few feet, but enough so that they had thier own personal space.
Lowering his pale muzzle to the water, he drank quietly. Though the silence was deafening. He hated silence unless it was absolutely necessary. After takeing a few drinks, he lifted his head and shook a bit to get any excess water that decided to cling to the fur around his mouth.
Now what was there to talk about really? The day? How wonderous it was? Oh please. That was boreing and nothing more than idle chatter. Ah. That was it. Ask and you shall receive. Turning his head towards her, he raised an eyebrow slightly. "Do you know of any stories of this land?" Hopefully she did. If not, oh well. His efforts would be meaningless and he'd hope it might spark up some kind of conversation anyway. End the silence and gain some information. Kill two birds with one stone.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:17 pm
She thought for a moment. "Not really. I know some of the history, but legends, that is what you mean, correct?" her eyes wrinkled as she thought. "There is the story of Wind Horse. I heard that one secondhand though, and only from one person. There are legends of the trickster coyote, and the demon-posessed Kalona. And stories of the skinwalkers. Stories of the tribes... I haven't been around long enough to hear a great many tales, though I keep an ear out for traders and travelers."
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:25 pm
His mind sorted through the things she spoke of. Hmmm. Kalona. He had heard of those, but they didn't quite interest him. Skinwalkers? No, he didn't think that was any use either, though it did kind of interest him. He had heard of them before, a brief passing statement really.
Giveing a mental sigh, he flicked his tail thoughtfully. "Legends yes. But not really on the particular types of Soquili that run rampant in these lands. More of the legends that the people here tell of...Gods or in terms of items, perhaps...." How to word it right without raising much suspicion. "Kind of like the lamp in the story of Aladdin...."
That just might work. If she didn't know of anything then she didn't know and he would find out from someone else. There had to be some sort of legend like that in this ravenous place. Texts or items or something. Every culture had some sort of tale that delt with mystical objects and writeings......atleast, he hoped this one did. Not knowing much about it, they might be completly backwards from what he knows.
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:42 pm
She shook her head. "No items. Not that I have heard talk of. Gods... well, these people have many gods." she shrugged one shoulder. "If you wish legends, seek out the two-legger, Princess Soquili. I hear she is wise, and kind, and well-versed. If you would like, I can seek out little bits of information I can find."
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:47 pm
"Princess Soquili huh....." A Princess of the Soquili? How odd. And a two-legger non the less. A two-legger ruler of the Soquili? As obserd as it sounded, he gave a slight shrug of his shoulders. "Perhaps I will seek her out...in time. Though I find it odd that a two legger could hold so much control over the Soquili of this land...." Raising an eyebrow, he looked at Scherazade for a moment with curiosity. "I would be greatful if you did. But I don't understand why you would want to..."
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:54 pm
She smiled. "Stories hold knowledge. The more stories you hear the more knowledge you can gain and learn from." His own words, very true. "I love stories. It is my own desire for knowledge that will assist you, my own selfish desires. If they can assist another..." she shrugged delicately. "Then my desires will be a -little- less selfish when I pass away and have to go for judgement before the gods."
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Posted: Sun Dec 03, 2006 4:58 pm
He chuckled lightly as she used his own words against him. "Very true." Though her comment about seeking knowledge for her own selfish desires made him raise an eyebrow. "I don't think the want to seek knowledge for one's own self is selfish. Some do it to have a better understanding of the world, some do it for power, others do it because they love to learn. I would guess it depends on how you use that knowledge that you seek and gain that might determin if indeed it is a selfish act to obtain it."
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