Tales of the Jewel

"It should make for an excellent show certainly, what with House sponsorship. I'd be surprised if anyone other than a House sponsored archer wins though. It'd be a large stain to host and not even win." At least that's how she saw it.

"Could certainly use the winning pot if nothing else." Nasim chimed in, happy to move the topic to other matters. "Or, at least, I assume there is a winning pot, I haven't yet heard what the actual winnings will be."

"I'd like to think the victory can't ultimately be bought." He rubbed his chin, then smiled broadly. "I'll cheer some skilful underdog."

Nasim smirked slightly "Well I do intend to compete, and I may just be the biggest underdog of the competition so I will appreciate the cheers."

Ali grinned. "Well, I hope that at least one of us is being falsely modest. Otherwise, well, we can all cheer each other on as fellow underdogs."

Nasim shrugged at that. "We'll have to wait until tomorrow to see, I suppose. Still, very mysterious isn't it, a Khadi offering a boon for something as simple as an archery contest?"

"I am not participating, so perhaps I'll need to put a long shot bet on one of you. Perhaps there is more than is said from one of you." She gave a slight smirk.

"I expect there is more to both of us than either of us will admit, sayyeda, but that is a common trait among those of Medinaat al-Salaam." Nasim said with a self-effacing shrug.

"Mmm. Sounds like smart money's on Nasim." Ali smirked. "You heard it here first, everyone."

He flashed the other man a grin, no rough feeling behind the teasing.

Tarset let a bit of a canine grin out as well. "Insider information Ali, I feel as if I have already won at the betting pools."