Rosewater Oasis The plagues

Andalib nodded, anxiety seeming to fade from his face. He had never had another explain it to him so succintly, it had been big scary words and lingering stares and threats of disgraces. To have being a mere traveler away from the norm align with the kiss of the divine. It was .. unfathomable. He had always been a skeptic, giggling and dancing away from the threats of sins and glories, but he found himself pausing, taking at least some of it to his heart.

His eyes lit with a sense of awe as Samirseti continued, his gaze lifting to meet the other's in interest, and then surprise. He crowded a tiny bit closer, as though he could absorb the lofty aura that drifted around Samirseti like the breeze.

Vahanet.. a Tah-Elçi? Andalib repeated, clearly trying to get a feel for the words. His gaze swept to the Oasis and its hidden beauty, to the desert surroundings, to the warm sun on his coat. He was growing closer to a picture of excitement, taken by the prospect. It was flexible, it was purpose. Wild..

He paused then, a little slip of skepticism back on his face. But... why me?

Too many times had his eccentricates been dismissed as childish ideals, and a stubborn refusal to 'grow up'. It was hard for him to align that with the royalty before him; that little dose of cynicism slinking through.