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Aydin

I was so done with Liorah. I was so completely done with her, she just insisted on being as difficult as possible in every given situation.

“Could you at least try to be nice?” I asked, trying to keep my voice down but rather failing. People were staring and I hated being stared at.

“It’s not just him that’s asking you that. We’re all silently begging you to try. We all are hoping to live to a ripe old age and you’re kind of getting in the way of that cherished dream,” one of the newcomers said.

I covered my mouth with my hand, trying to hide a smile. He was right but he wasn’t wise.

Liorah spun on him, her braid hitting her in the face in her vehemence.

“What makes you think that your opinion was needed?” she spat.

He seemed to consider thoroughly telling her the truth. I didn’t know whether I wanted him to do or not. On one hand he’d absolutely get on her wrong side on the other hand it would be hilarious to watch.

Instead, he sighed and said,

“You’re right. I shouldn’t have jutted in. I apologize.”

I raised my eyebrows. Someone in this place who actually knew when to shut up. Incredible.

Liorah humphed and turned away again, apparently preoccupied with making trouble elsewhere.

I couldn’t decide whether to settle back in a corner or talk to someone. I didn’t really like talking to anyone, but the alternative was being alone with my thoughts and who wanted to do that?

The man looked rather lost and more than a little irritated. I didn’t know if now was a good time to talk to him but I might as well try.

“Don’t worry about Liorah, she just has a big mouth and a sharp tongue,” I said, as something like an apology.

The man looked me up and down, but he didn’t have the cold assessment in his gaze that I so dreaded. It was more like curiosity.

I had the urge to try to look smaller, to disappear, but instead opted for squaring my shoulders and looking straight at him, no matter how wrong it felt. I couldn’t look weak. I wanted to hide my right hand but he’d probably already seen it by now so what was the use.

“I’m Aydin, what’s your name?” I asked, by lack of any other topic of conversation.

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@inkhorn