Prompt Six: Morality

Prompt Six: Morality : Word count 589

"Lost, and alone. A possible killer mere paces away. I thought I was going to die and never get to meet your beautiful niece.

"And then what happened, what'd you do?" Mike's eyes were wide, his attention rapt. Sej, on the other hand, was in full story-mode.

"I dove sideways, just as he threw a knife straight for my throat. I rolled from the dive, straight back on to my feet, and ran. Ran like the dogs of Satan were at my heels. I ran so long the breathe in my lungs was molton lead, and my legs turned to jelly before I stopped. Panting, and gasping for air, I turned to look behind me. He was gone. I was safe."

Sej let out a long sigh, as if reliving the moment had exhausted him.

"A drink on the house, I'd say."

"And a most welcome one it is too."

"There's just one point I'd question." Mike looked upon his friend shrewdly. "If he'd broken into the building, what was he doing outside throwing knives at you?"

Sej snorted out the half mouthful of whiskey he'd just sipped. "Ah er, he, er..."

"Hahaha, I knew it, you're full of usual shit."

"Hey, it really happened, I just might have embellished some of the details is all." Sej's voice had faded lower and lower into a murmur as he finished the sentence. "It's poetic licence, story tellers privilege."

"It was a grand tale. Now come drink up, it's closing time."

Mike wandered off to hurry up his other patrons and Sej finished his drink. He suddenly had an idea how to get through to David. Tomorrow he would be picking up his new tunic.

~

"I wonder if I might have a word with your assistant if he's in?"

Sej, despite a restless night and something of a hangover, had arrived early to the tailor's shop. He'd inspected his new clothes and found them to be exactly right. And as expected the rare cloth did come with a price tag. He paid with a little reluctance, but thought it worthwhile anyway.

"Of course, young sir. He's out back, feel free."

Sej found David, and after just one glance, the blank face was firmly in place. He wasn't told to leave though. Sej told the story of his eventful journey home, but with much less bravado and boastful deeds, and considerably more fear, and terror. As he came to the end of the story, something about the way his old friend had listened plucked a nerve. The hope was to pull his friend out of his despondency, and find out what was wrong, but it didn't feel the same as his embellishments with Mike. Mike knew what he was like, this however was pure deceit. Sej hadn't been in any real danger. The thief would have likely scarpered at the sight of him, for fear of being caught. The tale he had woven though.

"Thank God you're ok." The first words David had spoken since Sej had arrived.

A pang of guilt rippled through him. No, it'd be worth it if it got his friend to open up, and it seemed to be working.

"How about going for that drink? I could come back later when you finish up here? To be honest, I could use the company, I'm still a little shaken."

As he'd mentioned the drink Sej saw a first warning tremble that said David was about to close up again, but the last part broke through.

"Yeah, I get off at five." David said quietly.

Sej smiled warmly, although inside he felt very different.