'Hello Nasir' Caspar responded tiredly.
Nasir smiled devilishly at his friend. He leaned closer to Sarina and wrapped his arm casually around her shoulders. Sarina stiffened and looked extremely uncomfortable, but Nasir just continued smiling at Caspar, waiting to see his reaction.
Without a word, Caspar launched himself like a missile at his friend, faster than Sarina's eyes could keep up with. He knocked Nasir out of his chair without disturbing Sarina, but it seemed like Nasir was ready for him. They rolled on the ground, knocking over chairs in their tussle, trying to gain the upper hand over one another. Sarina stared at them, completely shocked. She thought that Nasir was Caspar's friend. Had he lied to her? And how on earth had Caspar moved so quickly. She vaguely remembered him fighting the sand shark in the desert, jumping and moving with a strength she had never seen before. She thought maybe her mind had been exaggerating his movements, as she was in shock.
They rolled around a little more before Caspar finally got the advantage, pinning Nasir to the ground with his forearm across his chest. Nasir sighed and laid his arms flat on the ground,
'Fine, I surrender' huffed Nasir, rolling his eyes 'but you know it's cheating when you use all of your strength.'
'I only used a quarter and you know it' Caspar retorted.
They both turned towards Sarina now, Caspar looking a little sheepish, rubbing the back of his neck and Nasir looking as confident as ever. Sarina looked between both of them with bewildered eyes, unsure of everything now.
'I apologize for our behavior' he said to her 'I didn't mean to startle you.'
'Um, its okay, he is your friend right?'
'Only because I can't get rid of him' Caspar answered in an irritated voice.
'Hey! You know you love me' Nasir said. Caspar just rolled his eyes, but he didn't deny it and so Sarina concluded that the two were probably friends, but their friendship was very confusing to her. She never got the chance to go to the schools in Bamm, instead being schooled from home, so she had no close friends, but Sarina used to have conversations with one of the girls that used to visit her parents shop in the market whenever she needed the rugs that her parents sold. It was so long ago that Sarina didn't even remember the girl's name.
'So' Nasir said, breaking Sarina out of her reverie, 'what kept you out so late Caspar? Work or pleasure?'
'Vashti asked that I join her for dinner, and so I did' he answered simply.
'Curious' Nasir said, looking back and forth between him and Sarina. 'Did she want anything in particular.'
'Not really' Caspar replied, looking bored. 'What are you doing here Nasir?'
'Just visiting my friend after his mission. It's too boring without you here' Nasir complained. 'And now I am interested in how you met this beautiful desert flower that you brought here and have been hiding away.'
Sarina turned embarrassed with his compliments, not used to flattery, while Caspar stared at her. After a moment, he looked at Nasir seriously and told him 'Bamm is now under attack.'
'What!' Nasir exclaimed. 'When did you discover this?'
Caspar looked at Sarina and nodded for her to continue the explanation.
'Well' she started, 'I am from there. Just a few days ago, everything was completely normal. Then as the sun was setting, I looked over the balcony and saw that towards the heart of the city, fires were starting and people began to scream. I told my father and he said something strange, about not thinking that this could happen. I don't know what he meant by that, but then he and my mother sent me through an underground tunnel that led to the desert, where I traveled until Caspar found me.' Sarina looked away from them as she told them everything she could remember, and when she looked back at them, both men were staring at her intently.
'Were you able to see or hear anyone who was attacking?' Caspar asked her.
'No, only fire. I don't know who could have been attacking or even more so why.'
Caspar looked at Nasir, 'this was bound to happen eventually.'
'Still, this moves up the time table substantially. I'll leave now and make a plan to talk to the council in the morning' Nasir said. 'You should be ready to come with me, we need to go as early as possible.' Caspar nodded and Nasir stood. 'It was a pleasure to meet you, beautiful, and thank you for telling me.' He then left the room, heading out of the estate.
Sarina looked to Caspar for answers. 'I know you are from Bamm' Sarina started 'but why are you so interested in the attack? I thought that you had said you wouldn't be able to help.'
'I needed to get back here first and there are still matters that need to fall into place before I can help with Bamm. I will try to escalate them though. I don't want you to worry too much, I do not plan on abandoning the kingdom' he assured her.
Caspar then stood and started to walk through the home towards the patio and Sarina followed him. 'How are you feeling now?' Caspar asked, looking at her with concern.
'Much better now that my skin has healed' she answered shyly. 'How was your evening?'
'Honestly, I wish I hadn't gone' he answered, looking directly into her golden-brown eyes.
'This is all a lot for me to take in to be honest' Sarina said, thrown off by the intense look he was giving her. 'Magic and attacks, sand sharks and hidden covens in the desert. I'm not sure where to go from here' she said, looking a little lost.
'Don't worry, I will try to help you' he said softly.
'But why? Why do you care about me? Why help me out in the desert and why help me now?'
He paused and looked at her thoughtfully,
'I cant say for certain, but you just feel familiar to me. And you seem genuine, which believe it or not, is rare these days. Everyone is always trying to get something from someone else, hiding their motives until their sure they can use someone. You don't seem that way. It's ...refreshing' he finished.