Chapter Four
For the millionth time that day, Zahri wondered at the troll's restraint. His eyes certainly belied his actions…or lack of action, she thought moodily. Not to mention his constant flirtation. She wondered if that was simply his standard operating procedure with everyone and she were maybe reading too much into his suggestive teasing remarks and heated looks. They were completely alone in an island paradise. If he were going to try anything, he certainly would have already. She was confused but also her interest in him grew. It's not that she was looking for some kind of validation of her desirability, it's that he kept changing the rules for how this should work. He had her alone, and yet the troll continued to not make any sort of move on her.
That kiss. Mercy. That brief encounter had been electrifying sensory overload and unlike anything she had ever experienced. The way he tasted, his scent, the way he just completely surrounded her with his presence…it was heady and delicious. It was in the back of her mind to wonder if he were similarly affected. Perhaps, her cynical side wondered, she was simply an interesting way to pass the time for the gregarious and fun-loving troll. Trolls and elves were so opposite. To a Sin'dorei, a kiss on the mouth was a pretty big deal and not something done lightly. For all she knew, trolls kissed anyone willing, not giving such things much thought. Maybe she'd said too much in revealing some of Veya and Jark's history. He'd listened in silence and it was difficult to divine his reaction. Zahri looked away from him as she floated, doing her best to coral her racing thoughts.
Eventually, they made their way back to where their packs lay forgotten and squeezed the water from their hair. Roj dropped onto the warm sand, propped up on his elbows to let the warm sun dry him. Zahri wrapped his blanket tightly around herself and sat next to him, not looking directly at him. Her gaze was drawn to long toned legs encased in wet leather. She was too shy to let her eyes go up to his face because she wasn't sure what she would do if he were staring at her again. The way she'd caught him staring at her just now in the water made her wonder if he were about to grope her or kiss her. He did neither.
She thought rather irrelevantly how odd he was for wearing leather pants in the water. She gestured in the general direction of his sodden pants without looking at his face. "Unusual swimming apparel, that is."
His chuckle reminded her of yesterday, when he'd been teasing her about Ajia. His voice was a tad rough. "Wouldja rather the alternative, elf?"
Her eyes widened and she looked straight ahead. She wasn't going to entertain the image her mind conjured. She just wasn't. Somehow she thought he would just know if she did. She cleared her throat with difficulty. She knew without looking at his face that he was smirking again. "Um, no not really."
"Didn't tink so."
The sun felt glorious on the troll's rapidly drying skin. He finally broke his gaze from the flustered elf wrapped tightly in his blanket and closed his eyes just enjoying the sleepy sea breeze. He smiled lazily, knowing why she blushed so fiercely. It was a lovely sight.
After some time, she dug in her pack, plucking out her change of clothes. She was grateful she was always a stickler for being prepared despite having forgotten a towel. So she hurried over to the place where the dense jungle growth met the sand of the beach. She looked at him over her shoulder. He motioned with his head for her to go ahead.
"I alreadeh toldja. Dis troll won't peek."
Zahri gazed at him as he reclined on the sand, surprised to realize that she really did trust that he would keep his word. Not just about not peeking, but about other things too.
In under two minutes she rejoined him on the beach. He clambered to his feet and held out his hand for her. "C'mon…wanna show ya someting."
He found a sort of path that wound up a moderate incline, ducking under branches. He was pleased with how effortless and silent her movements were. She moved without making any noise whatsoever. After several minutes of picking their way through the undergrowth, Roj'kah halted suddenly and went very still. Zahri instinctively faded into the shadows, sensing the same presence the troll did up ahead. She peered into the brush just up ahead and just faintly caught the outline of a slinking shape moving silently and watchfully.
After a moment of observation, Roj'kah whispered, "Dere be a few tigers dat live on dis island. Dey will steer clear of us if we just show dem dat we not be a threat." Zahri reappeared beside him, her eyes darting around in fascination.
She whispered back, her face alight with teasing, "And here I thought you were the only predator I had to watch out for."
He grinned disarmingly around those fearsome tusks, lifting his eyebrows suggestively. He jerked his head toward where he was wanting to take her. After a bit, they found themselves on a sort of clearing situated on the highest point of the island. Zahri looked around in awe at a structure that looked to be a small temple. It was the only such building here, and its singular presence on this pristine island was startling.
Zahri wandered around the plateau, running her fingertips over the cool stone of the side of the simple structure, admiring the carvings, wondering what stories they could tell. It looked lonely and desolate. It seemed sad that such a serene place would be forgotten and abandoned. She peered out through the trees and from their high vantage point she could see the much larger, main island of the cluster. The dense jungle vegetation that blanketed the island shrouded the evil power of the crazed lunatic and his followers that resided within. She shivered.
She looked at Roj and saw him gazing in the same direction, a look of dark intensity on his face.
"My parents along wit many other Darkspears lived here on these islands, made a home here after Thrall helped us escape da Sea Witch. I was still just a whelp."
She looked at him in surprise, but remained silent, hoping he would elaborate.
He crouched down and began idly tracing the bare dirt with his finger. "Me and mah older sistahs and da other whelps made all of dem our playground. We lived here with dozens of other families and just lived off the land and da sea. It was a good life...an easy life dat Thrall made possible fo us. I don't remember much of da Lone Isles where I was born. Thrall's help ta mah people be da main reason I proudly serve in da Horde military." his eyes clouded and he looked away. "Mah youngah brotha was born here."
Zahri moved behind his crouching form and placed a hand on his shoulder, wordlessly telling him she was listening.
"Zalazane started messin' wit some bad juju...I personally tink he got sucked in by da Burnin' Legion, but dat's just a theory. Anyway, he started all his mind control shit on a buncha his own people. He kept claimin' we Darkspears didn't need Thrall. Push came ta shove and he and his followers became more and more aggressive to da Darkspears who remained loyal ta Thrall and da Horde and eventually Mastah Vol'jin just ordered us to da mainland...let dat crazy ole bastard have all da islands." His look of disgust made Zahri think that he found the idea of just running away from a madman repugnant.
Roj stood up and ran his hand through his hair and spit on the ground in disgust. "Mah brotha was only five years old when he was killed by Zalazane's followers."
Zahri gasped and covered her mouth with her hand. "Roj'kah, I'm so sorry..." she breathed.
"Don't be sorry, elf," he grunted softly. "I just wanted ta tell ya about dis place and why it be special ta me. I hope to one day help my people get these islands back from dat monsta."
"I have no doubt in my mind that you will, Roj," she said. She thought of Jarkal and wondered if he held the same aspirations of wanting to take back the islands. Another thought occurred to her then. "You and Jark are both from this area, but you didn't seem to know each other."
Roj chuckled at her, "Dere be a lot of Darkspear loyal to da Warchief, elf. And Sen'jin ain't da only village we be livin' in. Mah family moved to a settlement in da Barrens after Vol'jin evacuated da islands."
"Oh." she breathed softly.
Roj was still looking off into the distance, his mind far away. "Mah motha nevah got over what happened."
He didn't elaborate on this. Zahri sensed this revelation was close to the heart of his painful memories, so she made no comment. If he wished to say more, she would certainly listen.
They fell into silence, both lost in their own thoughts as they made their way all the way around the island back to the little raft that waited on the sand. It took quite a while, but Zahri enjoyed the exertion and listened intently as Roj pointed out exotic vegetation and its various uses. All in all, it was a fascinating little tour of his favorite island. By the time they had found some fruit from one of the many trees and bushes that Roj knew of and also eaten some of the jerky from their packs, the sun was already making its way toward the western horizon. She squeezed his hand affectionately, knowing that although this place was his boyhood home, some memories must be unbearable for him. She was touched that he had been so willing to share them with her.
As she handed him her pack and he helped her onto the little raft, she bit her lip and eyed him shyly. "Thank you for bringing me out here, Roj, and for everything you shared with me."
He pushed off the shallow bottom with the slender pole taking an easy stance as the skiff glided through the water. As the raft glided easily through the water, he lifted the pole out of the water and propped it on the floor, leaning gracefully on it. His amber eyes never left her and burned with warmth. He murmured, "It was my pleasure...pretty elf."
Zahri flushed at his compliment. She looked away and mouthed the word 'wow' in response to the picture he made standing there, looking her over with a lazy grin curving around his tusks. She was ready to admit it to herself now: if she hadn't been before today, she was completely and utterly ruined for Sin'dorei men.
They spotted Ajia and Sefu lounging under a cluster of palm trees not far from where they had left them that morning. They both chuckled at the sight of the two reptiles. Roj'kah whistled and both of their heads bobbed upright at the sound. They lurched to their feet, clucking and chirping in greeting as they trotted over to their masters. The day was so warm that Zahri couldn't bear to put her suede pants back on so when she'd changed earlier she had produced from her bottomless backpack a short dainty sundress that probably showed more leg than she would normally be comfortable showing. She scoffed. Everything about this day was more than she was normally comfortable with. The dress wasn't exactly appropriate riding apparel but she didn't care. The way she kept catching the warrior looking at her made it worth it.
A familiar voice calling her name distracted her from her from muscling Ajia's leather harness and saddle out of the boat. She turned quickly to look toward the sound and her mouth dropped open. Roj just stood there chuckling as he continued saddling Sefu.
"Veya! What on Azeroth are you doing here?"
The diminutive Sin'dorei priestess came rushing toward them from the village, waving joyously. Her jewel colored hair framed her delicate face, swept up in an exotic headband adorned with feathers, beads and dozens of braids. The clothes she wore also were not her usual modest priestess garb. Instead she wore a lovely tawny colored kilt made from some sort of animal skin along with an alarmingly revealing mantle that showed off the creamy skin of her slender arms and waist. Zahri took in the sight of her old friend and grinned. They hugged fiercely.
"Jark and I were waiting for you, silly! We'd already had plans to come out here today to see his family. So once we got here we found out that an elf woman on a raptor and big green haired troll passed through this morning and headed for the smaller islands." the priestess laughed, "I put two and two together and we decided to wait for you." She held her dearest friend at arms length. She looked pointedly at the warrior.
"I see you took care of Zahriana today, Roj'kah." Veya's eyes twinkled knowingly.
"Aye, dis troll did indeed." Roj smirked with a sweeping bow to the priestess who let out a throaty laugh.
Zahri rolled her eyes at Veya's insistence on calling her by her full name. Her face softened into a grin at the sheer joy she felt just seeing the tiny priestess like this, the light of true love all over her. The radiance of happiness and peace was her aura. She had to say it suited her much better than the dour shroud of the lonely workaholic that had been her mantle for so many years before meeting Jarkal.
Veya was tugging on her hands, "C'mon, Tai'jin is getting something together to eat. You two are just in time."
Zahri allowed herself to be pulled along by her friend. She looked over her shoulder at the smirking warrior and the two raptors that followed in their wake. His easy gait as he followed her, his eyes glued to her with a teasing (predatory?) look on his face completely disarmed her. Was he simply entertained? Or did he like what he saw as he looked at her? She could not for the life of her tell. She stuck her tongue out at him and turned back around before she could see his reaction.
"Veya. What are you wearing?" The two women locked arms as they made their way to the sleepy little village. Zahri could feel Roj's eyes on her. He remained quiet…for the moment. She suspected he was about to do or say something inappropriate and embarrass her immensely…or make her stomach tie up in knots. Or a combination of all of them.
Veya seemed to remember suddenly her attire and shook her head, covering her face with one hand. "Mishiki wanted to 'do my hair' in one of those traditional elaborate troll up-dos that are so popular but terribly impractical. The girl is absolutely fascinated by my hair! One thing lead to another and before I knew it I had become her personal dress-up doll. I forgot to change back once we started with supper."
"Mishiki…?"
"Jark's little sister."
"Ah, that's right. He has two sisters, right?"
"Yes, Mishiki and Kali are twins, but you wouldn't know it by looking at them. They are exact opposites. In fact, Kali isn't even here. She dragged Jark off to go hunting. Mishiki stayed home so she could play with my hair."
Zahri smiled fondly at her friend and gently handled one of the braids that dangled from the elaborate hairdo. "Are these animal bones in your hair?"
Veya snickered. "Probably. Who knows what kind…by the sun, I'm not sure I want to know, frankly."
Veya's hand tightened on Zahri's arm and she whispered with a snicker, her eyes dancing. "Brace yourself, my friend. All the stereotypes you had about trolls are about to be confirmed."
"What are you on about?"
"You'll see."
They were walking through the village, passing by the main center when Veya gestured to the porch from the same hut those two old-timers had occupied this morning. The silver-haired one in the hideous fishing hat still occupied the same spot, though the other one was not there. He was still shrouded in a cloud of pipe smoke and looked for all the world like he hadn't moved from that spot all day. She imagined he must be quite baked by this point. Zahri groaned when the old coot took notice of their approach. She heard Roj'kah snort behind them.
Upon closer inspection, Roj noticed the old troll from this morning appeared to be more than he let on with his easy going demeanor, shirtless lounging and ratty fishing hat. He bore around his neck the totems and talismans of a powerful shaman that had not only fully embraced the ways of Thrall but had mastered them. Despite his humble appearance, this troll was no crotchety old witch doctor. This was a Master shaman who had discarded the primitive darkness of their voodoo heritage. The air seemed to crackle faintly around him, as if the elements themselves bowed before him even in repose. Roj'kah straightened his posture a bit.
"Anotha elf girl….my my my, dey be everywhere!" he chortled as he heaved himself up from his chair and began shuffling over to meet the trio, his scraggly kilt dragging the ground after him.
"Oh great, not this guy," Zahri mumbled. She was taken off-guard when Veya released her arm and ran up to greet the wiry elder.
"Master Kahlan, this is my dearest friend from childhood, Zahriana." She glanced slyly at Roj'kah, who had up till now kept his peace and seemed to be studying the elder. "And this is her…friend. Roj'kah.
The elder troll had caught Veya around the waist in an easy embrace that Zahri thought too familiar and entirely inappropriate. Veya seemed unfazed by the gesture and offered no protest to the contact, and in fact she responded by wrapping both of her hands around one of the elder's sinewy, tattooed arms, leaning into him affectionately. Zahri was momentarily reminded of the staid standoffish nature of her own people. Affection was not something to be put on display for any reason especially with someone who was not one's significant other. She was reminded again of one of the reasons she was so taken with troll culture. Veya seemed to take it all in stride to be essentially man-handled by a crusty old troll. Well, HER people would call it 'man-handling'…trolls would likely just call it simply greeting a beloved family member.
It was another reminder that Roj's behavior with her was utterly confusing.
Zahri favored the troll with a suspicious gaze and held out her hand. He looked oddly familiar. "A pleasure, sir. Call me Zahri, please. Everyone but Veya does."
And because apparently not enough awkward things had happened to her today, the grinning old troll gathered her proffered hand in his two huge ones and gave it a suave kiss on the palm. "Vereh pleased to meet ya, Zaaahriiii." he drawled in a low rumble. "I be Kahlan, Jark's old man."
Zahri's eyes widened as she wriggled her hand free, the tips of her ears burning up. Mercy, did these guys ever dial back the charm? "You're Jarkal's father?"
"Da one and only." He grinned at the raptor that was nudging Zahri's shoulder with a chuffing snout. "I know who ya be now. You be da she-elf dat couldn't seem ta get enough of cleanin' out da stables ova yonder once upon a time. I see ya hard work succeeded in convincin' ol' Zjolnir in partin' with dis pretteh girl." He scratched Ajia on the flank and crooned at her.
Zahri pursed her lips in annoyance at his flippant description of the back breaking labor she'd done for his people. Cleaning out stables indeed! There had been a lot more to it than that! Though she couldn't help being a tiny bit charmed by the gregarious old troll. His resemblance to Jarkal was uncanny.
"I thought I'd seen ya befo' tho all ya elves look da same so I couldn't be sure." he teased mischievously.
Zahri huffed but his joviality was contagious, she couldn't fight back her grin. Veya swatted him in rebuke for his insult but was giggling. "Hey! We could say the same thing about you trolls!"
He cackled at his 'daughter'-in-law and her friend's feeble outrage and reached over the priest's head to hold out a hand to Roj, which the younger took and dipped his head in respect as they shook hands. The elder spoke in their native language. "Whelp, you are the spitting image of someone I knew from my younger days in the old jungle before Thrall."
Veya disentangled herself from the old troll's embrace and pulled Zahri away when the men started speaking Zandali. "C'mon, let's go inside. Kahlan will probably talk his ear off. I'll introduce you to Jark's mother Tai'jin and Mishiki."
Roj peered at the elder in surprise, his eyes cutting to the retreating women. He grunted in amusement. "That was before my time, Master."
Kahlan waved off the honorific. "The name Zazos ring a bell?"
Roj'kah's eyes widened. "Zazos is my father. You know him?"
"I did. When we were young like you. Thought I was seeing him when you came through this morning."
Roj peered at the elder, trying to place him in his memory. He was positive he'd never met him before, or if he had, he'd been too young to remember.
"Your father didn't want anything to do with those of us loyal to Thrall. He was like a brother to me…until I embraced the ways of the Shaman…Thrall's ways. You don't know me because he wanted it that way." Kahlan answered the younger troll's wordless question.
"You are right when you say he wants nothing to do with Darkspear loyal to the Horde." Roj'kah set his jaw and looked away. He schooled his features to reflect indifference but Kahlan was canny and observant. This was a touchy topic for the young troll. He slapped the boy on the shoulder with a grin.
"You have the bearing and the build of a warrior. You fight for Thrall?"
Roj'kah regarded the shaman with surprise. "Yes. I serve alongside Sergeant Nazgrim out of Conquest Hold."
Kahlan whistled through his jagged teeth. Sergeant Nazgrim was well known for his achievements and exploits. Kahlan had met him once and he was not an orc to be taken lightly. He noticed the boy said he served alongside Nazgrim…"So you are a sergeant in Northrend?"
"I am…and I serve the Warchief proudly. He'll make it possible for us to reclaim what was taken from us." His countenance reflected pain and determination. "Even for those who are too full of foolish pride to appreciate a gift given."
Kahlan began packing the bowl of his pipe, nodding in agreement. "One day very soon, whelp…just be patient. Master Vol'jin will muster our people and we will deal with Zalazane. Maybe then your old man will see his error and see that we, the Darkspear, are strong…even standing with the Horde. Until then, just know that the majority of our people are grateful for soldiers like you." Khalan's seriousness turned to full-on teasing like flipping a swtich. "And soldiers like that pretty elf. C'mon, boy. Dinner won't eat itself."
Roj appreciated the old shaman's words. Such words would never come from his father, but they was meaningful all the same. His expression lightened considerably at the mention of the lovely Zahri. Kahlan led them to the large hut where the two women had disappeared.
They entered the dwelling to be greeted by chatter and laughter. A beautiful red-haired youngling with dainty tusks on the cusp of womanhood and a stunningly gorgeous statuesque matron who could only be her mother laughed with the the two elf women as they all busied themselves carrying platters of delicious smelling food out to a covered porch that faced the ocean. Roj'kah inhaled the familiar fragrance of home cooking and his heart clenched with longing for a moment as he was reminded of his boyhood home, long ago, run by his gentle mother…
He shook himself from melancholy thoughts and grinned when Zahri's eyes immediately gravitated to him as he and Kahlan walked in. Her shy blush was a beautiful sight, because he was sure it was especially for him. The way she so easily fit in to this environment made his heart swell.
"So dis be da rascal dat be jus' like mah Jark, findin' stray elf girlies." The matron set down a pitcher and turned to face them, cocking her hip as she regarded Roj'kah with frank amusement.
Roj dipped his head respectfully to the lady of the house. His ears heated up under the troll woman's inspection. "I 'tink I be da stray and she be findin' me." he quipped, though when his gaze found Zahri he winked at her.
Zahri's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open, "You are so full of it, Mr. Raptor Whisperer! Don't believe him for a second, Tai'jin."
The queenly female favored him with a look of keen direct scrutiny that only troll women were capable of. "Ya found 'er, ya gonna keep'er, mon?"
Zahri choked on her mango juice and Veya snorted. Mishiki scowled.
Roj'kah chuckled and waxed poetic, feigning drama, presumably to squirm out of answering Tai'jin's blunt and embarassing question. "One cannot cage so lovely a bird."
Zahri's face was enduring a painful blush as she leaned into the giggling Veya. There it was again! He was playing that game that seemed to have no rules. Was he sporting with her or was he truly interested in her? A this point in time, it was completely difficult to tell!
Tai'jin cackled loudly. "I be feelin' sorreh fo' all da sistahs out dere if all our boys start gettin' a taste fo'…strays." Her daughter huffed, clearly not amused. Mishiki loved Veya and was terribly grateful that she had saved her brother's life. But she regarded Zahri with detached coolness. One elf in this village was enough, and she didn't like the idea of fine looking men like Roj'kah getting tangled up with one. The young trolless dismissed the black haired rogue and turned her attention back to the warrior. She sighed dreamily. He was so handsome. She went back to making goo-goo eyes at him.
Tai'jin's attention slid to Kahlan sharply, her good humor gone at the sight of her mate inside her house with that loathsome hat on. "Oi! Mon, ya wanna eat? Den lose dat 'ting!"
Kahlan sighed in defeat. He took off his old fishing hat and caressed it lovingly, grumbling under his breath, "I ain't gettin' no shirt, woman…ya make me take off mah hat, dat's enough…"
Mishiki snatched the hat from her father and smashed it on her own head. "I'll hold it fa ya, Papa, make sure Mama don' burn it!" She danced away from him, shooting Roj not so subtle glances. Kahlan heaved a long suffering sigh of a man harassed on all sided by the women in his life. His eyes sparkled however, and he dropped gracelessly onto some huge cushions on the floor.
Tai'jin patted her daughter indulgently on the cheek. "S'long as he ain't wearin' it…"
"Ey! Why so much hate fa' mah hat? Dis be mah house. Mah castle. I be da king of mah domain. Don't I get a say?" The elder troll was feigning outrage as he made a grab for his wife. She cackled a laugh and didn't try very hard to deflect his grope and was pulled on top of him.
"Nope!" Veya and Tai'jin both crowed in unison, laughing like crazy.
Roj and Zahri exchanged amused glances, both thoroughly enjoying the entertainment this happy family provided.
They all had a wonderful time of fellowship, made even more enjoyable due to Tai'jin's exceptional cooking. Jarkal and his little sister Kali returned just in time for supper. They'd been out hunting, his wiry younger sister desperate to spend time with her older brother before he left her again. The big solemn hunter did not seem overly happy to see Roj, but neither did he seem surprised. He scooped up his little wife in his arms and the two seemed to forget the world around them for a few minutes as he embraced the tiny elf with an ardor filled kiss. His family acted like it was entirely normal and mundane and took no notice of the pair. Roj thoroughly enjoyed Zahri's embarrassment at the display and wished he had the nerve to follow Jark's example. His mind kept going to last night's kiss, and he really wanted to repeat it…but something held him back.
Roj marveled at the way Veya had become a bonafide member of this tight-knit family, and by extension so had Zahri. In their culture it was a Very Big Deal letting outsiders in like this. He suspected it was Veya's unshaking devotion to Jark and the fact that she had saved his life that was a big contributing factor to their acceptance of the elves into their midst. It stirred long buried emotions in him about his own family, His eyes kept straying to Zahri as they all talked and laughed and ate. Her eyes were shining and she looked positively radiant.
As the night wore on, and they all lounged sleepily on the porch enjoying the starry night and the sea breeze, Zahri let out a surprised squeak as she quite suddenly found herself pulled into the big warrior's lap. She wasn't complaining as she nestled against him, yawning hugely. Even if this was just a game to him, it sure felt nice. No one seemed to pay them any mind or act scandalized or shocked that he would do such a thing. Her sudden proximity to the troll reminded Zahri of the low pitched hum that seemed to constantly rumble in the his chest, each time he let out a breath, almost a purr. She grinned and boldly lay her head right over his heart. Maybe he only did it when he was content.
For his part, Roj was giddy with delight that this little one responded so favorably to his embrace. He rubbed the bottom of his tusks gently on the top of her silky head and looked at the others. Kahlan held his own wife close as he smoked lazily on his long pipe. The picture the two made pierced him, reminding him sharply of his own parents. The image Veya and Jark made was even more striking. The fact that they adored each other was clearly evident. Each pair were lost in their own private conversations.
Zahri idly toyed with a few of his dreadlocks, staring off into space. She could certainly get used to this easy affection. She murmured, "What a perfect, lovely day this has been…"
His hold on her tightened briefly and he rumbled in answer, "Aye…it has been."
She giggled when she noticed the faint outline of Ajia and Sefu curled up together in the shadows of some palm trees down by the beach. "There must be something in the air." she whispered conspiratorially as she pointed at their mounts.
She froze when she sensed him leaning in to inhale her hair. She thought she'd felt his tusks glancing over the top of her head but surely that had been an accident? She sucked in a breath at the feel of his fingers lightly brushing her hip in idle circles and the movement of his tusks rubbing her head seemed almost rhythmic. Again, was this part of the game he played and just doing what trolls do? Or was it specifically her? She shivered. He snickered in response to her question. "I knew ol' Sefu be havin' good taste in da ladies."
Zahri's heart skipped a beat. She thought she caught the hidden meaning behind the teasing words. His eyes found hers and she was startled at the sincerity she saw there. Her elven nature threatened to overtake her as a shrill voice of damnable reason tried to interject in her thoughts that this was not proper, that she had no future with this troll, that she would far outlive him, that she was Sin'dorei and should not seek out the embrace and favor of one like Roj'kah…so many thoughts that she did not have the desire to face right now. If ever.
She was sublimely content, sitting here wrapped in his closeness. The embrace was not one of intimacy, rather it spoke of easy affection. For someone like Roj, such closeness was possibly commonplace and meaningless, though the intense earnestness in his gaze gave her reason to believe and hope. This could be something more. She was falling for him hard. She would take each day as it came and not worry about the rest.
A/N — These first few chapters have been sort of 'first date flutters' for Roj and Zahri. Review and let me know what you think! Next chapters, the pace picks up considerably :)