“Don’t. You couldn't have known, doubtless some would not consider it kidnap when the Order of the Forge comes to take you to learn at the heels of the king. No matter how unwilling you are to leave.” Amir felt the tension in his gut ebb slightly as Mordred assured him that he held no will will towards him because of the question. The statement did have him cocking his head to the side slightly in confusion, curious to what he could mean by it, but the boy didn’t push the subject further. There was no need to test the waters any farther then he already had, least he oversteps his boundaries once again.
Happy, he turned his attention to the meat pie that say before him. The smell was decadent, the steam rising from the filling had him drooling and he didn’t hesitate to start his decimation of the meal. As Mordred started speaking again Amir didn’t stop eating, but he did take the time to look up between bites to acknowledge he was listening. He felt himself raise an eyebrow as Mor questioned the differences in their cultures, and even Amir’s own preferences. He shoveled the last bite of the food into his mouth before he sat back, chewing in contemplation of the questions and how to answer them.
“So, this your round-a-bout way of asking if you have a chance of getting in my pants?” The boy gave a light, humorful laugh before continuing, “If you must know, I don’t have a preference, I’ll go to bed with anyone I fucking please, man or woman. That’s not the reason I’m was so adamant, it’s mostly Try… He is such a loud-mouth about being a good person or what not, but he personally saw to driving you into that self-hatred.” He sighed in frustration dipping his head for a moment and rubbing his temples in frustration.
“And your preference for men, it is unimportant. Gnaji as a region is the polar fucking opposite of Amstra. This region is large, but it is one central culture as a whole. Gnaji Town is one of two population hubs, but the permanent population is only around 2,000. The rest is the nomadic tribes and clans and Gnaji hosts hundreds, maybe even fucking thousands of unique cultures each with their own rules and customs. Many don’t condemn homosexuality, but uplift it, sometimes worship it. The same goes for tribes that honor those who believe they were born the wrong gender, and give them special titles and roles within a community. So, actually, yes, homosexuality is commonplace. Gnaji is absolutely different from Amstra socially and economically, you’d surprised. I think all the regions are though.”
Amir thought back to his time in Gnaji Town, he was a figure head as well as their strongest military force. His teachers had only focused on the skills they were supposed to be teaching, his social life and habits were never condemned or questioned. As long as he continued to go and manage The Cape properly he’d be allowed to do as he pleased. Which he had, and as customary of the Phoenix Rider when he turned ten he went into The Cape for the first time and took down a crime ring. Sure it might have been a lower level, small-time gang of thugs, but it had been the start of actually being the Phoenix Rider rather than just holding the name. It might have been a memory of battle, but image of Hassan healing him for the first time had the boy taking on a look of nostalgia, a soft smile on his lips.