Akkadian
"Awk-ay-dee-Uhn"
Her words splashed over him, heard but ignored as his gaze locked with Magnus's cold stare. Jord inched closer to him, trying to calm him, then pressed her body to his side for aide.
He stepped aside instantly before he realized he'd moved. He wasn't afraid she would falter, she was strong, but he knew she wouldn't understand. He kept his eyes on the stallion, afraid to see the hurt and confusion in her eyes. Not only could Magnus not touch her, but he, too, was unworthy. Though stolen from her true home, she was still a princess. And he just a bastard found at the river's lip. Not the brother-prince she thought he was.
But he could never tell her.
Magnus warned him then not to speak to him thus. The shame and sadness he felt at behaving this way remained lodged beneath his skin, a fierce mask in place as he was trained to do.
It seemed their selfish pride would always be a wedge between any kind of friendship. Neither was one to back down. True warriors.
Lone warriors.
Akkadian could not apologize, would not. Most especially for coming to his sister's protection. It did not matter that he recognized Magnus after his challenging command, nor that he knew the stallion wouldn't harm her. He had laid the law and would stand behind his word. Always.
He held the stare-down a few moments more before breaking it to examine Jord's wounds. Concern creased his brows at her cuts and bruises before the mask slipped back in place. She was clearly in pain and he wished he could be that rock that steadied her, but knew he could not. She would have to be strong without him.
The black stallion once again looked to his fellow soldier, easing the malice from his eyes as best he could.
What happened to you? You were gone when I came. He knew the stallion would remember their last conversation and understand. They'd agreed to meet in the Gates, his home, to see if it was suitable for Akkadian. And also if Akkadian was suitable for the peaceful land he'd heard it was.
When he'd shown up, the place was in disarray, much like the rest of the world was at this moment. Magnus had fled, they said. Among many others. He didn't care what reasons anyone gave him, he'd rather learn from the stallion himself why he'd abandoned his post. He did not hide the confusion in his voice.
He stepped aside instantly before he realized he'd moved. He wasn't afraid she would falter, she was strong, but he knew she wouldn't understand. He kept his eyes on the stallion, afraid to see the hurt and confusion in her eyes. Not only could Magnus not touch her, but he, too, was unworthy. Though stolen from her true home, she was still a princess. And he just a bastard found at the river's lip. Not the brother-prince she thought he was.
But he could never tell her.
Magnus warned him then not to speak to him thus. The shame and sadness he felt at behaving this way remained lodged beneath his skin, a fierce mask in place as he was trained to do.
It seemed their selfish pride would always be a wedge between any kind of friendship. Neither was one to back down. True warriors.
Lone warriors.
Akkadian could not apologize, would not. Most especially for coming to his sister's protection. It did not matter that he recognized Magnus after his challenging command, nor that he knew the stallion wouldn't harm her. He had laid the law and would stand behind his word. Always.
He held the stare-down a few moments more before breaking it to examine Jord's wounds. Concern creased his brows at her cuts and bruises before the mask slipped back in place. She was clearly in pain and he wished he could be that rock that steadied her, but knew he could not. She would have to be strong without him.
The black stallion once again looked to his fellow soldier, easing the malice from his eyes as best he could.
What happened to you? You were gone when I came. He knew the stallion would remember their last conversation and understand. They'd agreed to meet in the Gates, his home, to see if it was suitable for Akkadian. And also if Akkadian was suitable for the peaceful land he'd heard it was.
When he'd shown up, the place was in disarray, much like the rest of the world was at this moment. Magnus had fled, they said. Among many others. He didn't care what reasons anyone gave him, he'd rather learn from the stallion himself why he'd abandoned his post. He did not hide the confusion in his voice.