Post by Shhasow on Mar 20, 2011 8:15:03 GMT 10
Title: Revealed
Rating: PG
Word Count: 281
Pairing: Jon/Zahir
Round/Fight:
Summary: Jon has one more bit of information before the Voice ceremony.
“Zahir.”
The Bazhir bowed to his former knight-master as the older man approached. “Sire.”
Jon hesitated, then spoke in a flood of words that he could not hold back. “You’re not the Voice yet. Nothing is certain yet. If you wanted to, you could back out.”
Zahir frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Jon didn’t meet his eyes. “Nothing, of course not. It’s just that you need to know that there are no expectations on you. If you were to decide to not undergo the ritual, I’d understand.”
Zahir shook his head. “There is no question. I’ve completed the training, you say I’m ready, so I am.”
“There’s something you must know first, something I didn’t tell you, something no one knows. You’re not my first squire.”
“Of course not,” said Zahir, slightly exasperated. This indecision was completely out of character for the forthright king.
“I mean, you’re not the first squire I’ve trained to be Voice.”
Zahir’s eyes narrowed. “Since you are still Voice, I assume the other person...” He trailed off.
The king nodded shortly. “Died. The ritual didn’t take. He was unsuitable in some way, and was struck down by lightning.”
Zahir’s jaw went slack. “Just like that?”
“Apparently, I made a poor teacher.” The feeble joke fell flat, so Jon forged on. “I would understand if you don’t want to risk it.”
Silence stretched between the two men until it became nearly tangible. Finally, Zahir spoke.
“If it is the whim of the gods, then so be it,” he said quietly but firmly. “I believe this is something I must do. If I am right, they will see me through safely. If not, then you make a poor teacher indeed.”
QC by: greenie
Rating: PG
Word Count: 281
Pairing: Jon/Zahir
Round/Fight:
Summary: Jon has one more bit of information before the Voice ceremony.
“Zahir.”
The Bazhir bowed to his former knight-master as the older man approached. “Sire.”
Jon hesitated, then spoke in a flood of words that he could not hold back. “You’re not the Voice yet. Nothing is certain yet. If you wanted to, you could back out.”
Zahir frowned. “What’s wrong?”
Jon didn’t meet his eyes. “Nothing, of course not. It’s just that you need to know that there are no expectations on you. If you were to decide to not undergo the ritual, I’d understand.”
Zahir shook his head. “There is no question. I’ve completed the training, you say I’m ready, so I am.”
“There’s something you must know first, something I didn’t tell you, something no one knows. You’re not my first squire.”
“Of course not,” said Zahir, slightly exasperated. This indecision was completely out of character for the forthright king.
“I mean, you’re not the first squire I’ve trained to be Voice.”
Zahir’s eyes narrowed. “Since you are still Voice, I assume the other person...” He trailed off.
The king nodded shortly. “Died. The ritual didn’t take. He was unsuitable in some way, and was struck down by lightning.”
Zahir’s jaw went slack. “Just like that?”
“Apparently, I made a poor teacher.” The feeble joke fell flat, so Jon forged on. “I would understand if you don’t want to risk it.”
Silence stretched between the two men until it became nearly tangible. Finally, Zahir spoke.
“If it is the whim of the gods, then so be it,” he said quietly but firmly. “I believe this is something I must do. If I am right, they will see me through safely. If not, then you make a poor teacher indeed.”
QC by: greenie
