Editing Dreams of a Fallen Crown:Characters:Almun FaShazzad (section)

== The Beginning ==
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''"It all began one day when my father kidnapped my mother. I suppose I cannot fault him for that. He was a hot-blooded warrior, and she a beautiful woman without peer..."''
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Red Wind stormed into the tent. The tall young man threw aside his cloak, which was now barely more than a mass of red tatters. "I cannot deal with this woman!"

From his makeshift bed of crates and cushions, Tobar half-opened an eye to examine the warrior. Seeing the exasperrated look on Red Wind's face, Tobar could tell his friend had been dealing with there most recent "victory," the kidnapped Jewel of the Delzahn. While such a trophy was a great win for the Varang, the young Delzahn woman had turned out to be far more trouble than anyone had originally expected. Still, Tobar couldn't help but chuckle at young Wind's frustration and confusion over the matter.

"What's the problem? How can one little girl be such a concern, my friend?"

Red Wind sank into a seat. "She's impossible! She refuses any food or drink, she can't be left ungagged for all the noise she makes, and she has managed, even while bound, to collapse her tent three times now! If I could get this sort of fire out of our front line, we would own Chiaroscuro by now!"

"My goodness, well, that ''does'' call for a drink, now doesn't it?" Tobar chuckled as he leaned up to fill two cups for he and his friend. "What have you tried to do to stop it?"

Wind flailed his arms in exaperation. "Everything! I have threatened her, I have had her dunked, and she's starving herself in defiance..."

"Tell me, Wind, have you tried being kind to her?"

Red Wind shot Tobar and incredulous look. "Kind to her?! After all the trouble she's caused! I ought to have her whipped! Of all the ridiculous..."

Tobar handed his friend a cup to stifle his tirade,"Hear me out... In all your training as an officer, have you been prepared for any situation of capture and torture?"

Wind raised a defiant chin. "Of course! These madmen would have no chance at compromising my resolve."

Tobar grinned,"Did they train you for the case if they were to treat you as a friend?"

The Red Wind blinked in surprise, "I, um... well, no, I don't suppose. Why would they? The situation would never arise."

"Exactly! How would she ever know how to react if you actually treated her with the care of one of our own? It's foolproof!" A smug grin crossed the actor's chubby face. 

Red Wind stroked his chin thoughtfully. "Tobar, you are a wiley fox. I will give your plan a try. That should at least see us through until some sort of ransom can be claimed."

A chuckle and a nod was all to come from Tobar as he settled back into his napping place. "Well, let me know how it all turns out then."

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''"Time passed, as it always does, and the relationship grew between the Red Wind and The Jewel. Civil dealings lead to civil conversations, conversations lead to attraction, and we all know attraction leads to... many other stories..."''

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Red wind turned the armillary sphere ever so slightly clockwise and nodded with satisfaction. The tightness of his jaw as he smiled gave away his underlying nervous excitement. After some brief scribbling, he looked up toward his wife,"You'll be glad to know that, though we are in the midst of a tri-planetary cusp, the waxing of Jupiter bodes well. Perhaps he will be a warrior as well!"

From the bed, Ameah gave Red Wind an exasperated smirk. "He will be whatever he chooses to be, whether Jupiter cares for it or not!"

Red Wind chuckled, shaking his head,"There is just no bringing you to good sense, is there?" He took her hand in his as he smiled lovingly,"How did I ever marry such a stubborn woman?"

Ameah winced with the contraction and gave Wind's hand a sharp squeeze. "Why don't you take a little peek through your spyglass there and find out for yourself?" 

The two of them shared a laugh together, though it was cut short by a short gasp from Ameah. Just as the two were about to restart their banter, a young djala woman, arms laden with miscellaneous medical items, passed through the curtain door leading into the room. She gave a bright smile to the couple.