Rashid:Intro

Extending his hand while Tiatha ran by, they touch briefly even though she didn't break stride. Rashid had enjoyed the few times they had touched like that. While the elf had her own mindset about things it was nice to help a friend. Now she could run to the river and swim underwater for a while, escaping her pursuers and living to give Rashid a coin or two for the spell he had cast on her as she passed by. One day he'd tell her that it probably works for longer than he had said. But no sense letting her thing it lasted longer than it really would.

When the merchant's guards stumbled by and accosted him Rashid looked rather frightened. Well, he was a little scared as six aremed men to one wimp was not really his idea of a fair fight. However, he did manage to point in the general direction that Tiatha sort of went. It was a big city, really, and she went "that-a-way". Rashid never asked where, as he really didn't want to know.

His work done for the evening, Rashid picked up the begger's bowl he sometimes used and put the few sparse coins in his pouch. "Enough for half a loaf of yesterdy's bread and maybe some water from the boiled stew Grella makes." He thought to himself. Brushing back his mousey blonde mane, Rashid tried to make himself as presentable as possible while ensuring he didn't look too self-sufficient to need feeding.

* * *

"Grella, as always, that was wonderful!" Rashid sat back and relaxed. Grella had been in an extra good mood, he thoguht, and even left a couple leeks in his hot water. They were in the alley behind the "Prancing Pony", a cheap dive where Grella worked and Rashid was still normally too poor to afford. Sitting on his haunches and leaning up against the wall, Rashid pulled out his pipe and lit up a finger. Rolling it around for Grella, he made it dance back and forth between his fingers and even revolve around her hands for a moment. The girl smiled at it and looking in awe as the fire moved around at Rashid's whim.

Hearing the cook start to bellow about missing leeks, Grella quickly kissed Rashid on the cheek and dashed back in. Rashid's eyes were a bit big for a moment, but then he smiled and had a nice bounce to his step as he walked down the ally.

* * *

As usual, Rashid the Grey sat on the far outside edge of the discussion. When the masters spoke of their magical studies each Moonday mid-meal, Rashid tried to gather as much knowledge as he could. It wasn't his fault that occasionally he spoke about how their experiements could be improved. "They're just testing us, aren't they?" He used to ask himself. Then as more and more the circle closed around the masters and excluded the young mage, he came to understand that they really didn't like his opinion. No one proved him wrong, they just didn't like their pet theories to be punctured by such a novice.

So Rashid sat, listened intently, and smoked his pipe to keep his mouth from saying anything. What had started as an affectation of a young wizardling became a defense mechanism against being ostracised. Well, it never really defended against the ostracization but Rashid's feelings weren't quite as hurt. He know that deep inside him was a real mage, somewhere. He just needed the chance to prove it. Until then he'd wrap himself up in his nice if threadbare robes and smoke his pipe while listening to the masters. They seldom seemed to break new ground, but still, one could hope...