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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 22:51:01 GMT -5
*Nadir looked at his friend with chilling clarity settling upon him.* "What do you mean?" *he asked.*
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 22:54:39 GMT -5
Alexander stared sadly at Nadir.
"I mean it is quite possible for a woman to bear a child even after one time," he said softly.
"One of my concubines did."
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 22:56:15 GMT -5
*Nadir rubbed his eyes, frowning.* "And you're saying that such a child has traveled across a continent to mysteriously find herself in the company of her father? In a city of thousands? Of thousands of cities?"
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 22:59:34 GMT -5
Alexander frowned.
"It is unlikely....but how old would the child be now? About her age, yes? Have you ever had a child come looking for you before in claims of heritage?"
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:01:24 GMT -5
*Nadir thought, hard. Curse his heavy drinking, but despite that, vague recollections surfaced.* "A singularly disgusting streetrat, once. I gave...him a hand to the door. Brat probably only wanted money, and was no child of mine."
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 23:03:48 GMT -5
"Are you sure it was a boy?" Alexander asked, keeping a close look on Nadir's face.
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:05:49 GMT -5
*Nadir snorted again.* "There were no ladylike graces within ten feet of the thing," *he muttered, but his face was suddenly grave.*
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 23:10:23 GMT -5
"At ten years of age, there was nothing of the man I am now," Alexander pointed out sensibly.
At his companion's grave countanence, he grimaced.
"Go," he said gently. "Ask and be certain you do not commit sin against your own Prophet."
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:12:17 GMT -5
*Nadir dropped his head into his hands and bit back a moan. There was no need to ask, he'd realized.* "Curse me for a blind fool..." *he muttered.*
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 23:16:58 GMT -5
Gently, Alexander caught him by the shoulders as he had many months ago.
"Are you all right?" he asked, and kind eyes regarded him with as much tenderness as they had the day Nadir had seen the ghosts of his own hell.
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:19:30 GMT -5
*Nadir made no motion, but spoke quietly.* "I have done no gross wrong yet. There is no sin in a marriage in name only." *He stood and went to the door, speaking to a servant, giving swift orders for a room to be made ready for the girl who sat in the parlour.*
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 23:26:54 GMT -5
"No," Alexander said gently, "there is no sin."
"What will you do?" he asked.
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:28:32 GMT -5
"I will not touch her," *said Nadir simply.* "I'd no real lingering interest in her, at least. It helps to think that I did not truly desire her."
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Post by Alexander the Great on Jan 31, 2007 23:34:39 GMT -5
Alexander looked thoughtfully at him.
"How interesting that you would marry a girl based solely on her appearance," he said quietly.
His voiced hardened a bit.
"Do you think, if I found a man who looked like Hephaestion, or like you, that my pain would ease?"
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Post by Nadir on Jan 31, 2007 23:50:51 GMT -5
"I will not love her as I love you, Xandros--make no comparison between the two," *said Nadir with an edge of anger glinting like steel in his tone.*
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