exerpts of history
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Chapter - Assassins and Executions
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LOG Elsebeth, Eremon, Saeed,
Devonna, Sammael, Phanes
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Solbaid had traveled from the far eastern desert of Hassim and back to the West to his kingdom of Landunder, and with him he brought his hope, his bride to be, her name Elsbeth. He wanted Devonna to meet her and for her to meet his daughter. She was a beautiful lady with fair skin tanned by the sun, auburn hair which fell long and often braided for practical reasons, for he had found that Elsebeth, though full of passion and heart was also very practical. Elsbeth had brought with her one of the beautiful animals that she carved out of wood, soft stones or marble. They were beautiful. She still worked at the Inn for the time being, and would continue to do so until she and Solbaid were wed. Practical. Solbaid suggested that she might try selling her statuettes at open markets instead of working at the Inn and she said she might try that once she had enough of them made to keep up with the stock. Solbaid was certain people, aristocracy in particular, would pay good money for her lovelies. When Solbaid had met her she had been carving a beautiful desert mammoth which she later gave to him. It was on his mantle in his keep, which connected both to his kingdom here, and Saeed's kingdom there.
It was to his keep of solid obsideon, named 'The Forbidden Keep' by his enemies and it had stuck, that Eremon first brought Elsbeth (she was one of the few who knew his true name) where he showed her around the very interestingly shaped and wide based tower of black quartz. It was like walking into the anti-keep of the one SHE had grown up in. This was walking througfh black glass, the Topaz keep had been like walking through a castle of ice. Solbaid led her to the room she would be staying in on the second floor, at the end of the hallway from his, if she agreed to stay with him before or after they wed. If before, the room he showed her would be hers alone, and to keep after they wed as a studio or private parlor, whatever she decided to make of it. He showed her also his bedchambers, then his practice chamber, where he did a great deal of his magics. He showed her the place from top to bottom, from horned turrets and balconies to the glass dungeon in its darkest bowels. It was a place most ancient of deep walls, nothing fancy about it other than every surface was polished black obsidian, but it was warm, dry, and very strong. Practical; unique, darkly beautiful, Solbaid hoped Elsbeth liked it. She had grown up in a keep as well, but it was made of solid topaz, created by her own father in Anwnn. Hers had not been a happy childhood, but she was a happy adult regardless, unlike her brother who resented most everyone in the world but her, and most especially his father and mother in that order. Her twin brother Maladin had not yet met Solbaid, but that time would come.
After giving Elsbeth a proper tour of the keep and all fourteen of its chambers, most of them huge, some taking up an entire floor, with exceptionally high ceilings one could fly in if they wished, they left the Forbidden Keep and walked through the magnificent underworld city of Gothardda, where thousands of underland elves (Maelvanor and Netherelves), goblins, dragonkin, cave dragons, lombras, and other peoples, mostly immortals lived. There was one very intrepid Neffari historian, who was getting up in age who had gone there simply to write about his experiences there, his name Ryao. He was very respectful to all who dwelled in Landunder. Eremon showed her the sights in the city... the fountains and squares, and explained a little about its history, how an Enochian khorumal named Sarku had made himself an enemy by building the city without his consent, or even bothering to see if anyone else LIVED in the caverns, and how, when Solbaid told him he was king, and that he must either accept his rule or that his people must leave, he had set a plague on them for their refusual to acknowledge his soveriegnty and to abandon forthwith. "We cannot say we regretted our actions, for no respect was to the king of this domain shown. But acknowledged we have been now, as King of Landunder and Gothardda, which my people rebuilt."
It took them the other half of the day to travel by foot through, Gothardda, Solbaid occassioning to pause and talk to someone he knew, an netherelf knight mounted on the back of a horse sized black dragon, or a merchant selling hand crafted goods. The Maelvanor King Ellastar Caldrus and his beautiful daughter Princess Oezera Caldrus, were brought word that Solbaid was passing through the city and came to meet him and his intended. With them was a small escort of goblins, elves and dragonkin, two of each. They were happy to meet Elsbeth and clasped her arms as was one of their customary greetings and asked how she liked their fair city, and if she had ever been to their zoo, which they were quite proud of. The entire place was lit not only by braziers, lamps and torches, but lights which hung from the cavern ceiling and glowed like stars, indeed they looked like stars at night when all the fires were put out. There was no electricity there... again, in Morashtar magic was technology. The lights were the product of light runes carved into the cavern walls surrounding the entire city, defining the parameters of those sparkling lights, which were permanent and the doing of King Ellastar himself. Ellastar invited the High King and his beautiful lady to have dinner with he and his daughter later (his wife had been killed and he refused to ever take another). Solbaid smiled and looked to Elsbeth to answer. "We could see the zoo and dine with you afterwards if you like?" she suggested, and he left the decision up to her. If she would rather see the shore outside he had told her of, they would continue on their preamble of the cavern. Ellastar was king of his own city and region of Landunder to the south, and shared his throne with one other, the goblin king Ygraedwn Yttak, who ruled the Goblin nation with all others in the east, while Ellastar ruled the Maelvannor nation with all others in the south. They were friends and allies and both of theme answered to their high king Solbaid, everyone in Landunder did. With three rulers, none of them wanting more than they had, Landunder was very stable. Ellastar and Ygraedwn were good friends to Eremon and often acted as his advisors.
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Kassim considered his wardrobe carefully, clothes make the demon after all, finally he elected to go with some traditional earthy tones, in an equally traditional Neffari cut. His concession to his station included silk shirt and his crown, otherwise he appeared rather nondescript but that was Saeed these days. He took up a bottle of Inaaksu's finest and a rather ancient book he'd had to go digging for, but finally found an original copy, signed by the author, the tome in question being a bestiary of Morashtaran animals and creatures and diligently compared with other texts and referenced with equal diligence to create, what was, at the time, a most up to date volume upon the aforementioned subject of the bestiary. The gifts he wraps and tucks under his arm as he departed the grand quarters high in the white palace. He passed down through many levels past the many servants and guards and hangers on.
Once into the basement, which was relative in Inaaksu, it had many dungeons and sublevels, basements, such as the lay folk would call them, and that was just the areas accessible to the authorized, it didn't even include the other special areas, portals and doorways. Kassim for one hoped he never developed acute senility, it would be most awkward to attempt what he was about to do and instead find himself in the basement level toilets or into the water storage. To say nothing of falling into one of the basement cesspools. Saeed chuckled as he disappeared deeper into the basement sub levels, finally he came to a door which he opened and closed behind him and stepped to another door, he opened that and closed the door behind him..to come to a last door, which he opned and found himself in the relative area, close to the Landunder mates. Sort of like Australia but not really like Australia at all. Not in the slightest. Except it was the Landunder because it was under. Saeed peered about, just a desert King visiting another Kingdom and looking for his father, Saeed had to say, he was impressed though, it had been some time since he'd been to the Landunder, and it was certainly nice to see the denizens living and working. He made his way to the forbidden Keep first, and if he failed to find Solbaid there, he would then look for him elsewhere, it was afterall a visiting courtesy call.
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Concerning one's state of dress, the horned demon who stood as a prime example of WHY the Blackhorn had been thus named, wore his usual black robes of layered satin and silk, all crusted with black opal and black diamond gemstones and many a bead of diamthrill like stars against a willowy black sky which drug the floor in long tendrils of fine silk. The hood which usually shrouded his head lay against his back, and that impressive pair of flared horns which thrust up from his severly anorexic brow, swept back around his head in a graceful arch above the crown of solid gold which formed a sort of cross with the lower half dipping down helmlike into an arrowhead shape nose guard, where he really had no nose, while the rude at the top thrust up from between the horns in the shape of an hourglass on its side, and the circlet part of his crowen was set with dragon teeth which curved up around his horns. There was a largish ruby at the center of his crown above the noseguard. Here in Gothardda and Landunder (which included all the cavern, the city in it, and the shore outside) Solbaid could walk without drawing horrified, curious, or terrified stares. All the people here treated him as a king and friend, who yes they held a fearful respect for, but the respect was genuine. Despite the dark aura of his attire and the very creature that he was, Solbaid struck a regal visage. The way he moved was like a feather riding a breeze, and there was no question that he owned the domain he walked in here.
Saeed would be greeted by one of Solbaid's closest companions at the gate, greeted with a deep bow and a smile. Armagen was crippled and half blind Maelvanor with deep scars on his face, but he had other ways of seeing. He smelled Saeed as clearly as he had heard his strides and recognized him by that alone, and he sensed him. "What an honor to receive one of such reknown as yourself at these old gates, Lord Kassim. My King is not at home though, I fear. He hath gone into the city with his intended mate. What a beauty he has found..." This from an elf who did not see, for he counted her manners and her willingness to court Solbaid as quite intensely beautiful. "He mentioned no destination... I will inform him by thought speech to meet you at the main plaza fountain," he offered.
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Elsebeth did not compare the home Solbaid showed her to the one she grew up in but there were a couple, very few, similarities that she noticed and was glad they were not the same at all. This keep of obsidian felt far warmer in every glassy looking inch than the "home" she endured as a child until she was old enough to leave it. However painful the past was though she lived in the now and looked to the future with a slight upwards turn of her chin. The life she had been living up until now was not that of a noble woman but she worked for the wages she had, earned them through her own labors, and whatever belongings she owned she could truly call her own. That average but simple life was interrupted by the pleasant surprise of a man, well not a human but that made no difference to her, by the name Solbaid having her know of his intentions to court her for a time. And after that if fate smiled on them their courting would turn to marriage. At first she did not believe it but he was so sincere. With the unbiased want to know this man who was no mere man and why he sought her out for his bride. From inside the chambers he gave her to be her own until they were joined, if they decided to be, she felt she had taken too long gawking at the splendor before she dressed in the best gown she owned because she never asked a thing from anyone. A deep nearly black in it's hue type of purple was what wrapped around her figure. Long in the sleeves with a neckline cut in the shape of a V above a skirt and hem that fell in light see-through layers to pool around and hide her feet, Elsebeth toyed with thin pieces of silver tinsel and wire that she eventually coiled around the large long braid falling loosely down her back. An ivory locket, oval in its shape, dangled down from a thin link of chain where it rested along with the small cut out photos inside of her and her brother. Kept close to her heart. When she thought she was as dressed as she could ever be, having done so herself with no aid of a servant or anyone else, she would make her way out of her personal chambers to where she was told she could find him.
After having changed because she asked him to wait for her Elsebeth had indeed asked him if they could see a bit of this zoo first before they went to meet King Ellastar for a fine feast. It was something she thought would set an easy pace for the evening, or maybe it was day, to follow. The visit would prove more than just peaceful. It was down right inspiring to her. She could not stop smiling and knew then and there that her hands would be busy tonight with new pieces she committed to memory.
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Sammael eyed the whole of the horizon at a glance then turned but paused at the last second to wait for his companion to enter the gateway before him. Where would they go? A number of places naturally though their first stop of was somewhere very unexpected. The man-demon very soon traveled from the newly rebuilt oasis palace in his part of the desert all the way across the continent to pay a visit to Solbaid. Which may have been a very bad thing. Or maybe it was for informational purposes? Who really knows. As it stood however he would use the entrance of the horned king's city rather than just waltzing in like he did to some folks. He respected Solbaid at least that much not to walk into his kitchen and rummage through his fridge. Whoever received him would be slightly put off by the short stature thing standing close behind him covered from head to toe in desert garbs of brown and beige. No matter how many clothes were wrapped around its head region it did nothing to hide the cat fish looking whiskers twitching and curling freely along the tops of its shoulders. Or the fact that its legs were more like a tall bird's, literally. The short creatures toes clicked lightly on the ground underfoot as if testing it's solidity or maybe just feeling it under it's webbed toes. Sammael felt a furry hand settle into his palm and he closed his own hand around that paw. Neither said anything as they waited for the yae or nay of Solbaid to see them.
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A regal cant of the Lich's head as he greeted Armagen. "You must be Armagen....honored." <on the assumption he's never met Kassim and Solbaid has probably mentioned him.> The younger blackhorn studied the Maelvanor for a moment with interest, "Father has spoken well of you. Love what he's he done with the place." Kassim peered about the lair a bit. Nobody built them like demons did, that was for certain. Point of pride as well. "Ahh yes, Lady Elsbeth, quite a lovely and talented entity. A total success I hope, my aide-de-camp out did himself, I don't think it premature to say. Alas, the fountain? But of course..." Saeed spit at the Elves feet in the time honored custom. "Please, take these gifts on behalf of my father and sire and your master, a gift of drink for Lord Solbaid, and a gift of literature and art for his consort." The Desert King smiled and bowed, and went off into the city, such as it was, to await his father by the fountain. He would give his last gift to Elsbeth directly, a handmade carving knife with a jewelled hilt, the book and the liquor could wait. It occurred to Saeed that he ought to get his father's horn size this time around, woolen horn warmers were all the rage in the East Fold, or so he'd heard. Might as well be the first in Morendor to own a jewelled pair. Suiting up, chuckled the King as he settled by the fountain and watched the denizens with a sort of benevolent amusement, these people didn't run at the sight of the dread King, nor were they disrespectful either. Progress. Of sorts When Solbaid and Elsbeth would arrive, Kassim would rise and bow and embrace his father and of course would offer respectful deference to his father's consort and accept any given. Etiquette. In the meantime the King pulled his drinking flask from his belt held himself to a drink as he waited.
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Devonna jumped off the raised area of stone, flipping in front of her younger looking elf friend, not pointing the blade in her hand at him because she thought it was an unfair advantage she had over her friend that she'd grown so much more when he had not. She hadn't minded the growth spurts but occasionally Leon had used it as an excuse for her winning. Leon looked pretty peeved that she'd managed that jump and the flip landing her in front of him and ran at her, to which she met with rolling out of the way and laughing slightly at the way that he insisted on chasing after her.
That laughter was infectious though and what had started out as an angry chase became a chase between friends that Dev was intent on winning. She made her way quickly threw a few buildings, a few people with Leon in hot pursuit and laughing the whole while. She'd made sure to dress herself for the mock combat Leon had promised her as practice and wasn't bothered by a long skirt catching on things but tight fitted black leather pants and a light blue tunic like shirt. Those black eyes of hers were taking in everything around her in rapid fire and she was happy to a point that her long black hair, a perfect match for her mother's was tied back in a braid but it made the black horns that curved back with her hair much more noticeable, not that she minded that. "Not going to get me Leon!"
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After having changed because she asked him to wait for her Elsebeth had indeed asked him if they could see a bit of this zoo first before they went to meet King Ellastar for a fine feast. It was something she thought would set an easy pace for the evening, or maybe it was day, to follow. The visit would prove more than just peaceful. It was down right inspiring to her. She could not stop smiling and knew then and there that her hands would be busy tonight with new pieces she committed to memory.
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There were times when Solbaid found Elsbeth so magnificent that he wondered if he deserved her. There was a very secret side of Solbaid which lacked self-esteem. He was not regal because he was proud or vain, but because he was graceful and confident in his talents. It was his soul and his virtue, his 'goodness' he doubted, and with good reason, and he was very aware that he was hideous. Here he was the beast, and she the beauty, this incredible creature Braemen had been so kind and clever to find for him. Solbaid had not expected Eoghan to comply so easily in his consent to court his daughter with the premeir hope of there being a wedding, and it could not be soon enough for Solbaid. Eoghan had not seen Elsbeth since she was still a babe, only a few weeks old much as she had matured at a normal immortal rate of one year for every month. Eoghan had not intended to leave his children... he had suffered a series of lasting trasient deaths and a capture by Maelmorda that had lasted far longer than it took for his twins to grow. Then... that memory of his which so many desired to control, destroy or dampen, had been meddled with again. By the time he recovered them and sought his children, Maladin hated him so severely that he had plotted against him.
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Solbaid's electric blue eyes came to rest on Elsbeth's hand as her fingers trifles with delicate netting and beads. Barely visable lips smiled when Elsbeth chose the zoo. "The zoo it is then exquisite darkstar." Darkstar is what she was... a Mordim, an Anduain's equivalent of a nephalim, and oh how glorious she smelled, so like her father. He'd had a sneaking suspicion that she would, for who that could carve such wonderful animals did not adore them? And so, as he walked with her, his bony arm all wrapped in layers of fine cloth hooked around hers like a proper gentlman, he sought his daughter in his mind. ~"Devonna... It is your father..."~ As he had told Elsbeth that his first name had been Eremon, he had also told Devonna. He told those he was closest to and non other. Those he trusted not to say his true name to others, which he asked of all who knew him also as Eremon. "See if you can get away to Gothardda. Come to the entrance of the zoo and there we shall meet, daughter. The King of Landunder has someone he wishes his daughter to meet."~ As they headed for the zoo, he pointed out where the palace was, it like all the other buildings carved out of the cliffs from the caverns which had already been there. They were almost TO the plaza, which was on the way, when he received two messages telepathically (immortal cell phone) back to back. The first was from his dear friend Armagen, whom he had mention now and again to Saeed and who Saeed surely must have met because he had been Solbaid for so very long, though he rarely ventured outside of Landunder. He smiled, pleased that Saeed had come to Gothardda. The second message caused him to pause in his strides a moment and incline his head slightly to the side. To the guard who contacted him, a halfblood goblin and elf, he said, "Bid Lord Sammael welcome and enter, and inform him the King of Landunder can be met in the central plaza of the city by the fountain of dragons,"~ He passed on, and so Sammael was welcomed and granted entrance. Sammael could not have gated into the city as it was. Only certain persons could enter the city by gate, but in Landunder gates could freely be used except in the cavern where lie the entrance to Solbaid's lair.
If she told him she was in Gothardda already, he would have her meet him instead in the plaza where Armagen had arranged for him to meet Saeed. It took awhile to get from land above to land below, so for that reason he had asked she join them at the zoo. The plaza was actually on the way from the eastern part of the city, with the zoo in the west corner across the city.
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Lorella_Sovek: She almost tripped when she heard her father, and paused in her run to slip behind a building, waiting for Leon to go flying past. Sure enough he did and she nudged her shoulder into him, causing him to become unbalanced and fall into the wall next to him. She didn't hurt him but it got his attention. "I've got to go meet my father at the zoo, but I'm supposed to meet someone." Leon looked a little disappointed but nodded, holding his hand up as if he understood. She hugged him really quick and started to run off to the zoo to meet her father. (d)
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Sammael would make his way to the central plaza of the city where the guard informed him that he could find the king there with the short creature by his side walking at a slow leisurely pace. For every one of his steps the imp holding his hand must take three. "They've always had the taste of kings," he thought aloud, meaning Saeed and Solbaid when he said that. Saeed would not be kept waiting very long though. The lich king would be greeted with the usual fondness he always showed him as one business man to another, and friend. Yes friend. The little stunt way back when that landed him with him and Galaxy wrapped up in one another was not Saeed's fault. "Lord Saeed I do not believe you have met before." The imp took a small step forward just enough to stand on the toes of Sammael's boots with it's own webbed grey bird feet. From underneath the cowl it wore peered a pair of orbs whose color changed constantly. Angry reds to gentler blues through all the calming greens and on and on. Some moments its eyes were speckled. Other times it had no pupils to go with the lack of the surrounding white. Placing his hands on the small shoulders of the heavily clothed looking child, cat fish whiskers aside, Sammael said, "My son." The long whiskers twitched as if it were testing the air around itself. Which it was. But more importantly it was tasting the air around Saeed and studying the Lich King at a respectful distance.
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Elsbeth talked to him about the animals that amazed her the most and asked him which may have been his favorites here or somewhere else in the world when she feels her arm tugged gently in the crook of his to pull her around a corner where the space was narrow and his inhuman frame towered over her own. For just a handful of seconds she became aware very quickly of the hand fiddling with the silver tinsel she took time to coil through her hair and around her temples. Of the air on top of her shoulder when he exhaled and the ridiculously deep blush she felt her face flush with. They need not say anything right then. It was not some disgustingly overly dramatic display of wanton abandon either. It was just a private moment of quiet affections shown, given and received from he to her with a hand in her hair and her face turned slightly inwards towards the base of his neck. Just a moment. And then they continued on their walk to meet Saeed with her arm reaching up to lace within his again and that blush not quite leaving her face.
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Kassim, sat by the fountain..it wasn't long before the cowl covered his head and the pipe appeared, packed and sparking as he willed the flame to life, the sweet gray smoke wafted forth. When the King exhaled through his nose, the effect was not unlike a dragon who was blowing flaming snot rockets, except in this case it was smoke, not snot, and not fire. Although that'd be pretty cool if he had been blowing flaming snot rockets. No? Well, we try. So it was the King sat enjoying his pipe and the odd nip from the flask he carried, aside from the crown he wore as Ruler of Hassim, he appeared a well traveled regal traveler, Neffari for sure, but certainly well appointed, even if he was dressing down in what was for Saeed, a conservative manner. Kassim watched the crowd with the continuing detached bemusement, he was delighted and surprised to see Sammael when he arrived however, and the wolf rose to bow to the Desert Wind. "Greetings My Lord... here to visit the King of Landunder as well?" Asked Saeed...offering a drink from his flask. He turned his attention upon the imp, "Has he a name M'Lord?" Kassim asked, smiling upon the boy, the whiskers were not a common thing, but what was common when you were a demon yourself?
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Solbaid, naturally when having been ducked down that alley, would have made it an enjoyable experience, he did however try to be more respectful in case the Lady had more Ladylike sensibilities, as opposed to more base intentions like sticky back alley couplings, coitus without the interruptus in the alley... either way, she certainly was delicious, a creature of exquisite beauty, and the taste and smell. "Indeed, pleasure we feel, fortune smiles upon us it does. Must remember to thank our son and his proxy we must.." What to get Braemen? What to get for the Proxy who had access to virtually anything he might want? Surely there must have been something. Solbaid considered that and put it on the grid in the back corner of his mind, or was it the outer sphere on the sunnyside? One could never tell. Once moving toward the Dragon fountain and then eventually the zoo Solbaid picked up on Elsbeth's excitement about the Animals..."Yes a wonderful zoo, such amazing creatures, visit Inaaksu too, show you that Zoo we shall too...all the beasts of the world...carve a menagerie...you should."
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[color=#1f4521] (23:27:51) Lorella_Sovek: She'd paused long enough to brush off her pants, make sure the sword at her side was fit to her waist and that her hair was pulled back nicely. Her father had said there was someone he wanted her to meet, she shouldn't be in disarray for something like that. She straightened herself and made sure her breathing was in order before she started toward the front of the zoo, seeking out her father with her mind and her eyes. Maybe she'd have the luck of sneaking up on him? She knew better than to think such a thing was possible though, and if it were, it was because he was teasing her by letting her.(d)
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Sammael took a swig of the drink offered but he produced something dark, roundish and ignited it by striking it against the side of his neck. A smoke is what he gave Saeed in return for him giving a sip of his flask. "Indeed I did. I was told I should come see how for no real valid reason too." Sammael's black gaze shifted downwards to the imp and he took his hands off of those shoulders. "Do not be rude," Sammael said, though not sternly. The imp stepped closer to Saeed to peer up at him with eyes mirroring molten lava. When it spoke it seemed to use a deep rumbling males voice as well as a raspy females for its own. "Greetings Lord Saeed," Phanes said, repeating the salutations it heard earlier and opting for a simple hello rather than something complex that would take several minutes to execute.
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Elsbeth gave him a thankful smile when he continued to show interest in her caring talent. It meant a great deal to her that he was not fending interest just to shut her up or appear like he cared. Even if he did not genuinely care she would not have minded. Not everyone enjoyed the same things she did and that was a good thing. "Do you have any favorite beasts in it M'Lord," she asked him. Turning her head to look up at him as they walked side by side.
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Yes, just a light embrace... gaze captured and locked into his heart, a moment stolen, as breaths carressed supple flesh where jaw met throat, the demon in him wished to ravish until her cries filled him with her bliss. Such thoughts had he as lips brushed against the curve of her throat oh so lightly and arms encircled all her beauty to hold her close for a moment before he let his eyes be held in arrest for a moment by hers... How pure his actions, how lusty his thoughts and desires. "To meet others go we to the circle of the plaza. Let the Blackhorn purchase a gift for darkstar she must, for what lovely jewels and trinkets, magic and appealing sell the hawkers of the circle." The plaza was a large circle paved with cobbles at the center of Gothardda. Listing her hand he pressed it against the barely lips of his mouth the taking her hand he led out of the alley and back into the main street which ran all the way through the city and around the plaza from cavern west and cavern east, where lie the entrance to Solbaid's planar lair. Three doors there were in his lair, one to Saeed's palace via the dungeon, for should anyone manage somehow to slip in them fortune would frown darkly on them; another to the cave of Landunder where a tunnel led into the courtyard of his keep; aqnd the third to Anwnn, the Kingdom he once had owned, Morgal Eshvah. When alleyway was left and question of what his favorite animal might be was posed, he turned his spectral blue eyes on her and hugged her a little then released her. "Favorite... in all the worlds such wonderous varieties crawling, slinking, gliding, creeping, loping, trotting, bounding and floating. Too many for a favorite for us to name. Appreciates predators we do for a predator we are, but also the passive creatures have such appeal as startles the soul to remember that what is passive often feeds what is aggressive. Truth in this there is even in our natures, yes?"
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As they walked the first Blackhorn spoke also to his daughter. ~"When comes the daughter of Eremon to the menagerie, inform us she must..."~ Only she told him she was there already... ~"So quick comes our precious? Hah. Meet us then instead in the city market by the fountain. From thence to the zoo shall we if our son shows equal interest in the same destination, for cometh the son of Blackthorn to visit also, a King of High Regard whom thee must show ample respect to,"~ he instructed her. He had not expected her so soon!
Solbaid and Elsbeth very soon entered the square, where he went immediately to an elf who grew and sold the most exquisite roses, all of dark rich color with the most velvety leaves and chose one of each color, black, red, white, yellow, and a lovely shade of pink. Their fragramce filled the air, and after paying from the palm of his hand with two marks of gold bearing the Blackhorn stamp, he spotted Saeed and Sammael. He smiled and raised a hand to signal to them and started across the circle to the fountain, when very soon three men would fall in at his back, and moving swiftly in on him in a pyramid fashion just beyond scope of his peripheal vision, one fellow would lunged in and upward from the center to thrust in at him with a single very sharp blade. Solbaid was distracted and relaxed so naturally he would not see the assassins coming, and they were professional and had not drawn the least suspicions upon themselves, not even with a single glance. Solbaid had seconds before that blade would sink into his spine. And here he looked so happy, eager to see his son and for Lord Sammael to meet the lady he hoped would be his future wife. The ever always paranoid Solbaid had let his guard down at the wrong time... the first time in a very very long time.
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"Delighted to make your acquaitaince...Prince." Kassim offered the boy, since he hadn't given his name, and he nodded his thanks to Sammael for the Smoke...a wolfish grin as he tasted it..."Hmmm...delicious..." Delicious in a hot damn sort of way, this would be worth trading some of Inaaksu's finest crop for, perhaps even a Dragon, or maybe a yacht. Kassim would mull it over for a bit. "Thank you M'Lord..." Kassims eyes twinkled. He did love the good stuff. He swung his attention back to the young impish child with the molten eyes and smiled.."No offense taken m'Lord..if you do not mind, might I inquire as to your sons mother?" Kassims polite way of wondering if it happened to be anybody he knew, like maybe Lady Galaxy. Not that Kassim was going to bring up that Fracas. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a bauble...which he held out to Sammaels son..."In the night, the desert will be alight." To Sammael telpathically he said simply, it will show the night as day.
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From the zoo to the city market? And she'd been just chasing Leon through it, or rather on the edge of it before he'd called her to the zoo. She laughed to herself about the whole experience and turned around to start toward the marketplace, informing her father that she was on her way to him. She tried to rehearse in her head the proper way she was going to address the King. By her father's words, he was her brother but she wasn't sure that she could address him like that without knowing him.
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Elsbeth thought when he took her hand to kiss it that he treated her as though she were as fragile as a statue of glass. None of his real desires to have her in such ungentlemanly manners was shown outwardly but she was no stranger to the look of want. The locket on her necklace glinted in the light once they returned to the street with he controlling himself and her just thankful for having that moment without it being spoiled by so many possibilities. But of course he would not have a favorite, she thought with laughter bubbling up out of her. He was too... what was the word. Compassionate perhaps? That'll do till she figured out the word she knew was on the tip of her tongue. He was too passionate about what he knew to be contained to just this or only that. Something she was beginning to admire about him really. Such a simple thing as being bought roses created a terrible ache in her heart. Why did a bundle of flowers, quite beautiful we might add, make her intensely blue eyes burn? Blinking several times Elsbeth thanked Solbaid in leaning on her tip toes to place a soft kiss to the corner of that thin lipped mouth of his. If she could reach of course. "I must get them into water before they die," she said, looking up to him. Was that a knit in her brows? Over roses? Why yes, the practical darkstar lady was concerned over the life span of the fresh roses he just purchased. That is of course until three shadowy figures came out of nowhere to assault Solbaid for no good reason, it seemed to her, other than he was in the wrong place and the wrong time? Elsbeth would not scream if or when she laid eyes on Solbaid's attackers. Rather she would find her voice through action. Whether she was a warrior or not mattered little. She would act in defending this horned demon who had taken to her so kindly and she would do so with a quickness.
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Sammael nodded that the smoke was good cause he didn't deal with weak ass shit. Besides he brought only the good stuff for Saeed cause that was what the Lich King favored. On the question of his "sons" mother he could only smile. Without hesitation Sammael says to him that the mother would be Morbius, as usual. Who honestly would be baring his children, aside from Malachai and Joshua of course. If he did by accident impregnate Galaxy he would have ripped the child from her womb, eaten it, and let her watch. Maybe. Phanes' eyes glowed quite a bit brighter at the offered bauble Saeed handed to him. Reaching up with paws the size of a five year old human child's hands he, for lack of a better term for this genderless offspring, took the bauble and using his paws inspected it like any kid worth his salt would. "I thank you, Lord Saeed," Phanes tells him, pausing to look up at him from behind a sash and under a hood. "I will repay you shortly for this." Repay? With what? Knowledge, that's what. Phanes hence backed up a couple steps to sit down in the dirt, folding his bird legs underneath himself as he did, shifting in his overcoat to let a long slim greenish black scaled tail unroll across the ground then curl around himself.
Sammael started to ask Saeed about whether or not he had much uprising in his humble abode but before his sentence was finished he caught movement out of the corner of his eye where Solbaid was approaching them with Elsbeth on his arm like a lamb to the slaughter. Funny the picture in his head of that. Who dared attack the king in the presence of his own family? The audacity was sheer but there were few who would take up such a mission against a horned demon king, much less Solbaid. Were they fucking high? Feeling more the need to prevent or curve any further attack, namely in their direction, theirs being the Lich King and his son, Sammael begun to create a seizure/capture type gate. Unless brute force was necessary then he would use whips on the fuckers. And no not the good kind of kinky whips either.
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She was part running to the fountain, obviously excited to see her father. She had to beam at being called his precious. She was very proud of being his daughter, there was definitely no worry that she regretted the parts of her that were from him. Unlike the others she wasn't there to witness the starting of the attack but was coming up on it. Could she have done anything if she had been there? It was far too much for Devonna to handle for certain, better that the "big kids" handle this one.
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"Ahh, yes..of course.." Kassim chuckled...the more he considered it, the more it made sense, he was pretty sure the fireworks between the Morning Star and Sammael would have been epic if they'd been fighting over the life of any potential offspring. Those likely would have been kept, Galaxy on the other hand, not so much. Kassim smiled. Besides, Sammael's kids were always a delight to look upon since they tended to reflect their fathers robust and diverse taste. 'Scales...talons..claws and fangs....scales..talons claws and fangs..' sang the desert King to himself. "You are welcome my Prince.." Kassim stood tall and smiled when he saw his father, approaching with Elsbeth, he'd been waiting for Sammael to reply, and was about to ask if his son had ever met a Blackhorn before, as Eremon/Solbaid was traveling in his native form, as he was wont to do do, Saeed figured he might find Solbaid fascinating. Kassim was scanning the crowd when he saw the assassins, He reached beneath the folds of his cloak and grabbed the knife there and made to leap through the crowd..."Father...assassins...." He told his creator telepathically...even as he began to move through the people in the crowd, and in the confines of his soul he began cooking a bug for the would be ne'er do wells, just in case. He noted Sammael's movement and reaction too.
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It was the warning in Saeed's eyes as his own spectral mirrors laid on him with a rare excitement which Solbaid saw, but by the time he saw it; it was too late. Then came Elsbeth... whom, walking at his side WAS able to see the three swinging in from behind but the two on the outside winged Solbaid to block anyone who might try to interfere with the actual bladesman at the center. It was less than a shortsword but more than a longdagger the assassin used, more like a Scottish dirk but of goblin make, so not quite as heavy. To kill Solbaid in his own city was suicide... These assassins had not planned to get out alive, only to succeed at their goal. Solbaid now stood directly between Saeed and the hitman, but a trained eye could see what those outside men were doing. Elsbeth, or anyone else coming in from either side would be, in a manner, 'shrugged' off of Solbaid by the man on her side, IF she bore no weapons or magic, but if either was engaged a flash of power would radiate around both of those wing men as shields were raised around them, for shields is exactly what they were. If someone came from behind, one of them would step in at guard to block at the hitman's back. That gate of Sammael's, was it as swift as a few strides and a single lunge by an expert assassins is what time had to ask. Even in the time it took Saeed to SAY those two words, that blade would be shoved into Solbaid's back. This was an attack no normal means would prevent, for in a stride they swung in behind him, as he passed, and in another stride, the assassin lunged in as the wing men kept up.
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Kassim swore, the soldier in him, for indeed he had been that once too, long ago when his own father had been King, is blood father that is, swore too, twice. He could measure the time and the angles and knew beyond doubt that simply running wouldn't be enough, instead, even at that moment when the assassins swung in behind Solbaid, and he had spoken the word 'father', Kassim reached out after summoning his reserves of strength and projected an invisible force at the prime attacker's feet... the idea being the use of the "Trip", naturally to trip him up, Kassim followed this movement with a projection of fear into the attackers hearts and minds, it was low and dirty, but then Kassim had to work on the fly and who knew? Perhaps he could invoke the use of Saavek the Grooms Special Defense in the assassins. Those actions had barely been committed when Kassim released what he'd been brewing inside, a simple, fast and quick striking illness that did no more then put people to sleep, it was temporary, non lethal and would leave the attackers available for questioning, and perhaps most important, all of these could buy Solbaid the time he needed to react, and Kassim didn't think shooting fireballs and snot rockets of doom in a crowded market would go over too well with the locals..about this time the Desert King also saw the flash of horns in the crowd from what was, for the Blackhorn, family, and Kassim's fledgling sister, well it was a wonderful way to meet, there was no denying that, even if it wasn't how Solbaid had intended.
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#### END LOG ####
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Kassim swore, the soldier in him, for indeed he had been that once too, long ago when his own father had been King, his blood father that is, swore too, twice. He could measure the time and the angles and knew beyond doubt that simply running wouldn't be enough, instead, even at that moment when the assassins swung in behind Solbaid, and he had spoken the word 'father', Kassim reached out after summoning his reserves of strength and projected an invisible force at the prime attacker's feet... the idea being the use of the "Trip", naturally to trip him up, Kassim followed this movement with a projection of fear into the attackers hearts and minds, it was low and dirty, but then Kassim had to work on the fly and who knew? Perhaps he could invoke the use of Saavek the Grooms Special Defense in the assassins. Those actions had barely been committed when Kassim released what he'd been brewing inside, a simple, fast and quick striking illness that did no more then put people to sleep, it was temporary, non lethal and would leave the attackers available for questioning, and perhaps most important, all of these could buy Solbaid the time he needed to react, and Kassim didn't think shooting fireballs and snot rockets of doom in a crowded market would go over too well with the locals..about this time the Desert King also saw the flash of horns in the crowd from what was, for the Blackhorn, family, and Kassim's fledgling sister, well it was a wonderful way to meet, there was no denying that, even if it wasn't how Solbaid had intended.
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Because Saeed had tripped the cur who was lunging in to stab him in the back; Solbaid had time to whirl around, and in doing so that long cloak he wore over his equally long robes billowed out as did the sleeve of the arm which came sweeping in an arc across the faces of all three assassins. What might have looked like a physical blow to the crowd all around them never actually contacted the assassins, not with his arm and not with that belled sleeves either but the genomantic power he pulled over them like a curtain wherein lie the will of Solbaid. In an instant all three of them were staggering and dropping down on their knees with cries of agony shattering their voices as weapons dropped from their hands and fingers, toes and legs fused together into stumped appendages that were useless to them. And even as this happened such pain quaked in their bones, burned in their eyes, stung at their skin, in their mouth and nostrils, and twisted in their muscles that in no time they lie spasming on their sides against the ground as that disease of torturous horror infected every part of them in a matter of seconds, meanwhile Solbaid, that demon they had intended to murder, stood towering over them like some terrible black cloud of doom with eyes aglow with hellish blue that the dread which Saeed had imbedded in them made even more horrible. One of the assassins smiled as his gaze came to rest on Solbaid's leg which when he had turned has been slashed open from beneath his groin to just above the knee by the blade. Eremon saw the smile and his own eyes lowered to see the blood on his robes, barely visable against the black, and he stepped back a pace to gaze down where a reddish-black pool of blood SHOULD have been, but not a drop had met with the stone as he had stood there; yet he could FEEL the blood seeping from him in heavy pulses. The Blackhorn then scowled and his gaze fell hard on the satisfied assassin.
"What enchantment imbued inflicts me?" he demanded the assassin to tell wrapping the man in his vocal presence. "It is life drinker..." the assassin sneered. Solbaid's arm swiped downward to snatch up the weapon then he kicked the man hard to drive a breath out him with a grunt. "Who hired you?" the man would not tell, none of them would, for the trio was protected from that information being forced from them. "WHO!!? Solbaid roared and all three gasped in an attempt to tell, but only choked on the breaths which would form no words. Solbaid tried to tear it from their minds and still... nothing but a vacuum which caused his own head to pound with a migraine until he relented and released them of his probe. He knelt down then, and their clothing and all worn items dissolved but those of power which he then removed; jewelry, and weapons, they wore no armour and neither did their cloaks dissolve for powerful were they too. They, those three cloaks, he whipped away and tossed towards Saeed's feet. Hence he questioned them again but still they were unable to respond. The guards were IN them. Solbaid then fell back as all three of them were sucked into a gate by Sammael, and he cursed and slammed him palms down against the cobblestones as locamotive breaths puffed over what remained of his lips. "Fools... FOOLS!" he said. "To inconvenience the horned king with such a departure as THIS!" He swayed a bit, feeling dizzy with blood loss. He appreciated Elsbeth's touch then as she reached out to him, and for a moment he pressed his cheek against her hand as she cupped his face lightly. "Not long shall our journey be if the King of Landunder should slip. Consent to no anguish for well again we shall be... This the maiden who possesses our heart may believe."
The chill which came over him was nothing... it could not touch him. He held the blade up towards Saeed. "Destroy this before we perish and we shall not BE inconvenienced," he said. Had the blade struck him as it was meant to, it would have drank all his blood at once and not longer after, HE himself, at what time all that was Solbaid would have been kept a prisoner within. This he was not aware of yet. Whoever was responsible; the item was of Acheron, a menagerie relic much like the one Azturel kept HIS pet in, but the Life Drinker was powered by a very different set of rules. How the assassins or whoever hired them had come by it was anyone's guess, but it was an excellent weapon to use against a demon lich and they MUST have known it.
One among them knew ALL the answers though. Solbaid's gaze came to rest upon that individual, that creature so strange and innocent who Solbaid recognized no surprise in... no fear or worry, most of all, no curiosity. "Son of Starlight and Desert... a seer is he..." He breathed as the child Solbaid found so beautiful watched all unfold without the slightest surprise on his face, and for that reason Solbaid saw it... Because his disinterest was not that of a cold and hardened thing... but of one who knew the outcome... Solbaid knew because of whose son he was, because of how he sat there, because he had known seers, because of the way Phanes occasioned to look here or there at this person or that, expressions and eyes ever-changing.
If the thing was not obliterated within half an hour, Solbaid would bleed out completely and then dessicate the Horned Demon into a dried out corpse as that blade sucked out every last drop of fluid in him to mummify his body; the result of the blade NOT delving a lethal or critical blow. The drawback to the Life Drinker was that it could only be used ONCE, successfully. This was NOT a success.
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Kassim watched his father, and held his slight distance, not out of fear, but rather to give Solbaid a free range to employ whatever he desired. Blackhorns had vulnerabilities, yet they also had strengths and in Kassim's opinion, were rather well adapted to defense and for that matter resurrection. That would be another day, however, for it seemed defense would win the day, and Kassim stood ready...his senses searched the crowd for any other threats, but if there were any present, they were well hidden and or well enchanted. Kassim noticed his fathers wound, and the lack of Blood. Telepathically he inquired to his father about it and probed the wound, offering his healing such as it might help alleviate the pain and suffering. Saeed would examine the wound in more detail later, first however, to deal with the dregs and get some answers. He turned his attention back to the thuggery, sure they would have answered his fathers questions, the agony and fear they felt was of the highest order, Kassim and Solbaid would know, having caused it. Kassim studied the cloaks, those he would gather and study, he would be able to tell who and where and perhaps if there were any enchantments within them, and perhaps from those enchantments, if any, who had cast them. As it was, an examination of the material and the weave and cut, could tell them where the assassins had originated from. "Life Drinker." Kassim repeated what he'd heard.."Likely necromancy, Father..." Said the King. Which also meant a certain range of suspects. "Necromancy, spectremancy..sorcery. Someone with the knowledge." A weapon that could have been crafted by Solbaid or Saeed for that matter.
The King of the Neffari raised his hand as the blade was held up by his sire, he guided across and halted it mid air..levitating it, if the locals gave any notice to the telekinetics, the Blackhorn gave no notice. Kassim studied the object for a moment..committing it's design to memory, almost like taking a picture, this he would use if he had to track down the weapons origin, which clearly was Arcane, and of "Acheron." He observed it to his father as he thought it. "Most likely." He added, continuing with the matter of the weapon, Saeed raised an Arcane sphere, within that sphere the Blackhorn Heir focused his attacks upon the object, using his will and power to shatter the blade, and then hence to melt and then disintegrate the fragments left over until there was not even ash left of the weapon. When that was done he released the sphere and took a deep breath..relaxing. "Are you alright M'Lady?" He asked of Elsbeth, and when Sammael and his son the seer would speak, Saeed would listen. In the meantime he picked up the cloaks carefully, but could detect no real enchantment of the objects save that they may have once carried an enchantment so as to let the wearers blend into a crowd, but that was nothing exceptional for any assassin to be carrying, except that if they did not have the skill themselves, then they hired someone to do it or whomever hired them had done it.
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Devonna came to the scene and instantly her eyes widened with a sudden fear. Like any child, she wanted immediately to run to her father as if just holding him could make everything better, but she stayed still knowing that if she got too close and didn’t know what to do, she’d be another victim. It all happened quickly from there. One of the attackers tripped and her father’s arm came up in an arc over them and again she was startled by the sight. She cautiously stepped forward now, worried that she would distract from what was obviously an interrogation. You didn’t have to be a genius to know by the name “life drinker” what it did and upon hearing that, she looked over to Saeed in an almost pleading way when Solbaid asked for the blade to be destroyed.
She really didn’t need to plead with Saeed to do so but it was still the desperate look of a child and really what more could she do to help than encourage her father’s wishes. If she was upset by the things that were happening to the would-be assassins, it didn’t show. She didn’t have eyes for them at all, only concerned with her father. Saeed and Solbaid were definitely more equipped to deal with interrogation than her but she moved forward anyway to get a look at them, not getting in the way but in a sick sort of way, wanting to see their suffering for what they’d tried to do.
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Solbaid could feel it the moment his son destroyed the instrument of his debacle, and a breathe rushed from his lungs to express his relief. As he was helped to his feet by Saeed, he dipped his head deeply to him in thanks and looked to Elsbeth as she took his other arm. They those two knew better than even Solbaid how feeble from blood loss he was. He barely recognized the tremble in his own legs and the wizened palor of his blackened slate-grey flesh. Though mostly ebon in color, he was grey in places; his face, shoulders, which blackened gradually down to his hands which were jet. His belly was grey and darkened into black stripes on his lower legs and deepened until his feet too were inky black. His horns meantime were black with grey tips. In his own way he was beautiful, despite his excellent bone structure being so very well defined, for all which stood between his skin and bones was the thinnest layer of muscle, barely a quarter inch deep. For all that, anyone who could read the structure of a skeleton could tell he had once been an exceptionally handsome man, whose nose had been broad and strong with the high cheekbones, squared jaw, full lips and big blue eyes to carry it. Now without so much as a single hair on his head, he had once had a wavy mane of dense brunette hair which many men with receeding hair had envied. His very visage said that here was a monster without a doubt, and for that reason he OWNED it. It was his way of seeing into the hearts and minds of others. The blind turned away, the wise observed him with wary attention, the stupid fled screaming, the good treated him like anyone else.
Elsbeth was the later, she was golden, and she was wise. Elsbeth was everything he every wanted in a mate. His hand covered hers and those once full lips that were now so indistinct curled with the warmth she made his cold spirit feel. That creature of the dark then swiveled to lay his nebulous blue eyes on Devonna. He stood gazing at her from that eight foot tall form of his which towered over her like a tree for an interval then stooped down to bring himself to her level and open his arms to her. When she rushed into them, after a moment, he embraced her tight and after rocking her in his arms a moment he placed a kiss to her right cheek, and then to her left, hence he held her away a bit and offered a smile.
"See there, such talent has the Horned King around him that foiled art his enemies and all is well again," he assured her. He then stood, with some small effort and leaned his spectral eyes on Sammael.
"Prince Sammael, who honors us greatly with his visit, we give thee our intended Elsbeth, and our daughter Devonna to be met, we do. Devonna, our wish it is that thee meet the esteemed Saeed Kassim, King of the Fareastern Desert, our most honorable son. Saeed, give thee our daughter Devonna, your father doth."
When they greeted one another Solbaid gently brought Elsbeth into his arms and with one arm coiled 'round her, he motioned to her with his other. "Devonna, meet Elsbeth, talented artist, voice of a goddess, conquerer of our heart. Our wife we wish to make her, if she is wont to have us. Elsbeth, the Blackhorn's daughter Devonna, daughter also of Desiree." He introduced each person in their hierarchal order.
It was as though he had forgotten all about the attempt on his life, when in fact he had simply shoved it in his pocket. Sammael had captured the assassins, and if he wished them interrogated by Saeed or Solbaid, he would make his will known. Solbaid had no claim on them, so they were Sammael's prisoners now. He appreciated the arch devil's help in the matter, and his son's. Now once the formalities were out of the way, Solbaid took a moment to greet the two kings in his own way. "King of Landunder prays thee well, Prince of Acheron and King of desert of flames." Solbaid remembered Sammael as king of the desert of fire. It had never occured to him that Marsol was king there now and had been for a very long time. He might have met him a time or two at Saeed's, had even spoken to him...kissed him once... love bug and all, but it had never been mentioned that he too was a king. Solbaid simply never ventured to the desert but to visit his son Saeed. His memory was very old and he knew nothing of Marsol other than... he was a dragon man demon. Speaking of luv bugs.
"Lord Sammael..." he began in an apologetic tone. "Oft occasion we to dabble with chaos... with theorums, speculations and the sort, even when we attempt favors for others. Brought to my attention it was that in so doing Blackhorn inadvertently wronged the Desert Wind and perhaps others thereby connected to thee. Oft the intention of benefaction to benefit skews too far left or right to tip scales few fathom the end of or beginnings towards. No harm did we intend... no tribulation. If such was the result of our experiment, then a tribute we owe thee and again for the Prince of Acheron's most generous aid in his Kingdom beneath today. Our services are thine for one count for each offense and service by thy lordship rendered. Correct me if I miss a count... One for thyself, one for Mordanta, one for thy comrade Lord Gabrian, one for Lord Marsol..." he paused briefly as he took notice of the look Sammael gave him at mere mention of the hellraptor's name. "One for the embarassment we caused our son... one for apprehending the assassins, and one for good measure. That is seven tasks we owe thee. Have only to call upon the King of Landunder Lord Sammael doth for any service we can perform. Prethee this old demon doth our tribute shall satisfy thee Lord Sammael." Now all the time he talked, his had one arm around Elsbeth, and his fingers toying with his daughter's hair, while he simultaniously kept a look out on the environment around them in case the assassins had friends. Once Sammael and Solbaid had sorted that one subject out, whether to anyone's satisfaction or not, Solbaid would invite them all to see Landunder Zoo.
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It all happened so fast, they say. Elsbeth had never really gotten a chance to exercise her strength whether it was physical, magical, or both. The assassins descended on Eremon like a pack of wild dogs aiming to murder him in cold blood right there in the middle of the plaza for all to see. She was ashamed in that moment that she could not do more for him as his son Saeed and the other Sammael did for him with such ease that it made her wonder if this sort of thing happened daily to them. How terrible that must be to constantly look over your shoulder. Elsbeth could not imagine having to live that kind of life nor would she have wished it upon anyone. Solbaid reassuring her that he would be fine was comforting and the gesture was appreciated but it did nothing to lessen the fear that these cloaked men must have been especially trained to come after him so boldly in his own home too. They would have taken measures to protect themselves in a fight and of course they had when she tried to take down one she was swatted away like a fly. For Saeed asking her if she was alright she would nod and tell him she was fine, and thank him for his concern with a smile. Though it was not a forced smile it was not as bright as it could have been given the circumstances. Noticing the way he interacted with his family Elsbeth stood off to the side with arms folded under her chest to watch for as long as she could before being introduced to them all. His love of his children was obvious. The way he coddled Devonna. The respect and esteem he spoke to and regarded Saeed with. It was very evident that this horned demon had no qualms letting those he cared for know it. Seeing the genuine emotions between son, daughter and father touched her as well as struck a cord in her. 'How different life would have been for us, Maladin.' She thought of her brother then with fondness and sadness that pricked fresh tears in her eyes she had to force away with several blinks. There was no jealousy in her for the reliving sight of a father with his children, albeit grown as they were, just simple aw. Elsbeth greeted Saeed, Devonna and Sammael along with the odd imp at his side with a bow and some of her hem gathered to the right. Sammael laid a kiss on the back of her knuckles and it made her laugh light heartedly. So formal were the introductions that she almost felt she should have worn some grand gown with mountains of frills and done some ridiculous things with her unruly long auburn curls. A deep blush crept into her cheeks after an arm slid around her to bring her snuggly against the side of Solbaid so that he could tell Devonna of just what he thought of the bird in his arms. It was the part about him wanting her for his wife that brought on the blush. “It is so very good to meet you Lady Devonna,” she tells his daughter, reaching out first one hand and then the other to embrace the girl as she would anyone. Hand shakes? Never. Elsbeth was a hugger and would be until the day she breathed her last. Over Devonna’s shoulder she caught the look Sammael gave Saeed when Solbaid said Devonna was Desiree’s daughter and wondered if that was a bad thing.
Of course Elsbeth’s brows rose from where she stood with her arm coming up to rest her hand on the middle of Eremon’s chest and her other hand finding his back through his robes when Sammael did not answer the horned kings offering of peace and penance for some deed he did that insulted the other man. It would seem there was no real satisfaction to be had on Sammael’s part for now so the best that Solbaid could do was make that offer, of which Sammael accepted for a number of reasons that were his own, and dismiss the issue for now. There was no reason to spoil an otherwise decent time for all of them just because what Solbaid did or how Sammael was never really going to forgive him for it. Marsol’s name popping up just grated on his nerves. Was that done on purpose? Sammael hoped for Solbaid’s sake it was purely an accident cause if it was a joke then it was a poor one which would end badly for Solbaid. Not wanting nor liking the taste of having anything to be repaid for in Marsol’s name, Sammael corrected Solbaid and did so with that venomous tongue only he could possess. “Six, Lord Solbaid. You owe me and mine six of these counts of services. Do not speak the name of your son’s enemy in my presence again, if you would.”
Sammael paused to look downwards to the imp creature that was his offspring. Phanes was still fiddling with the bauble Saeed gave though his cat fish whiskers twitched and curled lazily down the front of his short statured body, turning his hood covered head Phanes asked something to which Sammael could not help but chuckle and nod. “Indeed a Black Horned and they are the only ones I would have you befriend if that is your choice,” Sammael said, not bothering to whisper like his son did. For whatever sight the child creature had he was painfully shy in social situations and even more conscious of his form being unacceptable by too many who were quick to judge. It was why he covered himself with many sashes underneath the cloak he wore and kept a scarf around his long slender deer like neck. The child creature visibly shrank back behind Sammael’s left leg as if it were trying to make itself invisible. Maybe it possessed such an ability but it did not feel the need to actually use it. Phanes peered out with his pair of wheat brown doe looking eyes up at Saeed and then to Solbaid with the angel on one arm and his daughter on the other. The corners of Sammael’s mouth turned upwards, and he said, “He has something he wishes to tell you but his, shyness, prevents him. The one who sent these vermin after you is also the one who sends his dogs on all of us who are not born as humans.” It was in a nut shell how Phanes was repaying Saeed for the bauble and it held true when Sammael told him that he would be repaying him very soon, and this was how. Information of Solbaids attackers and just who sent them was none other than King Halen Dreward. If they wanted more or tried to press for it Sammael would wave it away dismissively. When his son wanted to tell them what he knew, he would do so when he was ready. Now about that zoo…
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Saeed Kassim bowed his head toward his father and to Lord Sammael, whom he also thanked for capturing the miscreants, Kassim also offered his knowledge in any interrogations. He may have hit upon a new way of doing things, but Saeed did love himself a good interrogation. And cookouts. Cookouts and interrogations, oldschool Kassim. Indeed. When the introductions were made all around, Saeed bowed again officially, toward Elsbeth, whom he had already met in Szaaraebu, and had spoken to here, but whom he was genuinely pleased to see again. Saeed's gaze then fell on his 'sister' and spoke thus; "Greetings, Devonna." The Blackhorned King of the Hassim studied his father's other progeny. He could see shades of both his own father and the younglings mother. Of one thing Saeed was certain. That thing was the fact he believed he'd been right in getting his father to give up Desiree, regardless of whatever the progeny fron that union, however brief, would grow to be. Or perhaps not. It would remain to be seen wether or not she would prove worthy of the title, there was always the possibility that Saeed or Solbaid might decide she'd serve the family better on a serving platter, or perhaps down in the breeding pens of the Wards, good fresh genetics were hard to come by most of the time. Kassim however, did not let such thoughts show through upon his face. Instead he bowed his head yet again and smiled and said, "Welcome to the family." After all, his father hadn't sired anyone of note in a long time, well...bsince yourself considered Saeed, to himself. He'd mull that one over, and in the meantime he'd keep an eye on the blackhorn progeny, if it proved to be too ambitious, he'd put her down. Kindess? "Do not hesitate to call upon Inaaksu as a home if you should find yourself in the neighborhood." Of course. Sibling Rivalry? Jerked Angel Blackhorn seasoned with garlic and pepper and wild herbs of the Oasis. You bet. Kassim kissed the back of his sisters hand and smelled her, commiting the scent to memory. Silently to his father he said, 'So young and fragile, father, are you sure her heart is in it?' He studied the girl a moment longer, he hoped she'd be a worthy addition to the family, and what a time to be a Blackhorn? Solbaid had returned, Inaaksu was on the rise, it was all in all as good a time as any to be a Blackhorn, despite the apologies Solbaid was now making to Sammael, at least what passed for an apology from his father, it was all in all, a good time to be a Blackhorn.
To Sammael, Saeed nodded at the knowledge that Devonna was the product of Solbaid and Desiree. Kassim gave a very subtle shrug, just enough for Sammael to notice, a shrug that earned however, a high place in the pantheon of shrugs. Forefront in the Menaaaagerieeee really. But yes, Desiree was the child's mother, against all odds, Saeed simply said silently to the Desert Wind, 'long story, M'Lord.' Saeed listened to the further banter and exchange, if his father didn't bring up the attackers again, Saeed would ask Sammael about interrogating them later. Saeed was polite enough to not laugh or smile, besides of which, he didn't like hearing the name of Marsol in his own kingdom, anymore than Sammael appreciated hearing it anywhere, no matter how much of a leaf that desert wolf might have turned, he was never fond of hearing the name of the dragon demon that had burned his beloved jewel of a city. Even allowing for diplomacy, it would always be a slight the Blackhorn would never forget. "Ahh, do not be shy young Phane, we are all of us what we are..." Said Kassim gently to Sammael's statement about his offspring's shyness. The Blackhorns understood afterall, Eremon embraced it! Saeed nodded a smile to the boy and a bow of the head to Sammael. "Halen...." He glanced to his father. "This could be the prelude to a war, father," and if that was what Halen wanted, then Halen would dance Inaaksu jig at the end of a rope or get the Inaaksu haircut at the edge of the executioners blade, opinioned Saeed. "Thank you Lord Sammael, and thank you Phane..." Silently to Sammael Saeed inquired about interrogating the aforementioned assassins at a later time, if Sammael didn't already have plans or hadn't excecuted them.
"Ahh...let us..see the Zoo."
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"Halen..." Solbaid hissed. If Solbaid hated anyone it was that immortal hating Namas. Solbaid knew many Namas who were perfectly reasonable, and Halen and those Namas who followed him were NOT among them. Neither were the Escion whom Halen had courted into his apartheid regime. His eyes locked on Saeed when he said it could come to war and he nodded his head. "All the insurrectionist hath done is to war a prelude... Why does he persist? Close to him Yorek and his devil born lover came... how came they not to succeed with him where these dogs here failed today with the Eldest Blackhorn? Is this Namas so hard to kill?" He was unaware of the reports Yorek had brought of the high level of protection Halen wore on his person. And had he known, he would have pointed to the many baubles he had collected from the arms, heads, fingers, ankles and even the insides of enemies.
Hence the glowing blue orbs that were his eyes settled on Phanes and he smiled warmly to the boy-devil whose guise HE found magnificent. Speaking again so only their little troop could hear him he addressed the child's rare augury insights. "A boon your sight to the Blackhorn and all immortal kind. Wise you are young one, to be so unforthcoming with your gift, for such a wonder as your mind guards should only be shared with those the child of Sammael and Morbius trust most." Evidentally Phanes knew he could trust these particular people to keep sacred his trust or he would not have given away that he was an oracle. There WAS one among them neither Phanes nor Elsbeth could trust though, for even as Solbaid brushed his bony fingers across the top of Phanes scarf hooded head, Phanes would see clear as day that Devonna would stop at nothing to kill Elsbeth AND the child SHE would soon carry out of jealousy, but he also saw several outcomes, which meant things could be changed, but only towards those forseeable outcomes. One, Solbaid would be forced to kill his own child which would not bode well for him... It would cause him to doubt himself as a father towards the child he and Elsbeth would also conceive, and as a husband, and lead him to dark and destructive places that were not necessary, where on the other hand, Saeed could be told privately and HE would kill the child, whereas Solbaid would be upset but get over it, because of Saeed's reasons and because of his love FOR Saeed. Phanes saw both outcomes clearly, and he saw that Devonna would invite her own execution, and that was inevitable. What was yet unclear to him, because it involved himself, which was always more clouded until that fog lifted, was that Devonna would also attempt to kill HIM, playing first at being his friend to get close, then with some magic item guarding her presence, she would behead him from behind, which made it even harder for him to see. He did 'feel' a sense of discomfort around her though, which he could not explain to himself. Her reason for wanting to kill him would be so that he would not see her attempts to kill Elsbeth and her child coming. But, he was already aware of that, as he was already aware of most things. In time, most would become all, only his own future would always be hardest for him to latch onto. But not impossible.
When Elsbeth hugged Devonna there was a brief moment of tension but then she hugged her back tight. "I am happy to have two mothers!" she lied quite naturally. "I hope you will give me a brother or sister soon. That would be wonderful. I could show them all around the city and caverns." Had to hand it to Devonna, she played the doting daughter inlaw part well.
Solbaid curled his arm around Elsbeth, seeing by her expression that she felt a little put off by her own ineffectiveness as a guardian. "Given a less omnipotent crowd, and a little more time, we are most confident that our most rapturous lady would have all attempts at my life halted. Suppose the Horned King does not that it would content his desired betrothed to know that she will likely have another chance?" he jested, the lightness of his tones letting her know the later part of his statement was just that, a joke.
"That is NOT funny, father!" Devonna did not see the humor in it to be sure. Devonna WAS devoted to Solbaid, she adored him, practically worshipped the ground he walked on. She loved him TOO much perhaps, and selfishly so, for she could not stand the thought of him replacing her and her mother with others.
Solbaid shushed Devonna with a quiet shoosh and then leaned his gaze once more on Sammael when he reprimanded him for speaking Marsol's name and acknowledged how many favors he owed him. Solbaid bowed deeply to Sammael at that moment upon bent knee for his unintentional SEVENTH transgrassion. He began to wonder if with so many counts against Sammael if he had not already doomed himself. It hit him hard in truth, that he had done so much to offend the desert wind when he had never ONCE INTENDED to. "Forgive me..." his voice had suddenly gone weak. Even in Anwnn so many offenses was not tolerated. "I seem always to offend never meaning to. More care shall we take from this moment onward, to BE of GOOD service and of NO insult to Sammael. I owe you six favors no more, but my life as Sammael sees fit..." He recognized the fatalness of all his errors comnbined.
Solbaid had managed never to entangle himself with Acheron despite his son Saeed's attachments therein, but out of his keen sense of Blackhorn honor he saw no way to remain unentangled now, not when he had affronted Sammael as thoroughly as he had. Indeed it was WITH Sammael's patience and amnesty TOWARDS him DESPITE all, that Solbaid felt it was imperitive he offer himself to Sammael. Whatever Sammael did with him he would accept. When Solbaid gave himself, he GAVE himself. He prayed Elsbeth would understand and could forgive him for this for in giving himself to Acheron he brought HER that much closer if she continued to stay with him, which she would. Her brother Maladin had already given himself to Acheron, with Lucifer as his overlord. Perhaps a part of her desired to be Acheron's as well? Whereas the other part of her might struggle with it because of how hard her father Eoghan had fought to remain free of the dark kingdom below. Whatever she felt, Solbaid could not put her before his honor... He put no one before his honor, least of all himself. Would she respect him for this? Or resent him for it? Solbaid's heart was pounding in his chest with the hope that she would forgive him.
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Sammael would answer Saeed's inquiry to the "bare treatment" of his Father's attackers and oblige the Lich King with an open invitation to his palace out in the desert oasis he rebuilt after leveling it from a halestorm of rage and anguish. Of course he would welcome Saeed's particular touch on such a matter. They were all professionals here. From one to another Sammael had always appreciated Saeed's tactics for getting what he needed, and wanted, from those he felt deserved a good torture session. He related to Saeed that after they were done here with Solbaid's zoo invite and whatever other business Saeed needed to finish that they could begin with interrogating the assassins Halen sent to take his Father's life. Given the glint in his glass like black eyes, the assassins would beg for some kind of Death long before they were half way through with them. But they would not be given such luxury. Sammael would not allow these failures to take the easy way out. He would however parade them in Acheron for all to see them as the horse's asses they were for not completing their missions and let any of Hell's, and we mean any, do unspeakable things to the men that did in no way, shape or form induce death or the loss of their minds, hearts or souls. Basically Sammael would make the mother fuckers pin cushions in Hell. Unless Saeed said otherwise.
Phanes meanwhile still toyed with the bauble Saeed gave him as a gift and was rather delighted by such a thing when his soft pelted deer neck craned for him to peer up and over to Devonna as Elsbeth hugged her. How... distasteful. It bothered him the level of discomfort he felt towards Devonna. Though he tried hard to sift through what he knew, what he perceived through the facets of the enormous gem he looked out of for all the visions he held, he could not see just what exactly it was that caused his discomfort towards Saeed's sister. Hence, he realized it was something to do with himself because that was the only thing that hazed over his sight enough to make it this tedious to understand. Now while he tried figuring out just where the ill boding feelings were coming from a smile nonetheless upturned his wolf head's snout behind the sash covering his face below his color changing eyes. He saw the way Elsbeth looked at Solbaid when he offered himself along with his kingdom to Sammael. He felt the way his father's hand on his shoulder squeezed lightly and that it was one of being pleased. He also saw that crease in Devonna's brow for the split second it was there but knew everyone else missed it. Elsbeth knew very little of Sammael only that he was a lord in Acheron. Phanes watched now with growing interest regardless of his own thoughts and knowledge how Elsbeth did not shy away from Solbaid nor push him away when he gave himself, his kingdom too, to Sammael and Sammael accepted with a smile.
She is good for him, Phanes thought with a flicker of warmth running the blue out of his eyes and replacing it with a vibrant hue of vermillion with beige flecks. He will need that. Solbaid will need that in her, need that strength she has for her to stand by him in the times to come. Phanes hence turned his eyes upwards to his Father but said nothing. He would not ask Sammael to be kind to Solbaid because he knew it was against the rules, that this was penance for old wrongs, and because it would please Sammael to own Solbaid's ass in the end. Least it would mean Saeed would never be parted with his Father, this much Phanes knew since Sammael thought too highly of Saeed to out right kill his Father. Even so, there were far worse things than death. Elsbeth placed her hands over the sides of Solbaid's face when he put his arm around her and looked up at him with uncertainty. Though Eoghan was virtually a stranger to her she respected and understood what he stood for when he never let Acheron get it's claws into him by fighting it as best he could. There was no judging in her eyes for Solbaid choosing the Lower Kingdom now but there was grave concern, if not fear. Yes she could fear for him without thinking less of him. Surely it was not all roses and sunshine down there. Surely he must know what he was asking for by giving himself to a lord of it whom he committed some kind of crime against not once, not twice, but six times! Elsbeth's blue eyes glittered almost as if they were wanting to fill with tears but they didn't. She laid her forehead to his chin, since that was all she could reach of his tall black self, and wished she could tell him in her touch the way she could not by voice how terrified she was for him and his entire kingdom, and all the unusual and beautiful people in it.
Yes Phanes was right to smile inwardly at the angel by Solbaid's side. She did not have to like his choices but she respected them for being the ones he made. There was a growing trust there. One that would serve them both well in the dark path Solbaid must now walk since he belonged to Sammael. Sammael would wait until after the zoo visit, the dinner, and other things were concluded before he marked Solbaid, branded his very soul, as his. He would give the Horned Demon that much at least to spend this time with his bird without the topsy turvey mind burning agonies and bliss of his brand. While Sammael spoke to Saeed about a few methods they could try out on the fuckers back in his dungeons; Phanes moved out from behind his Father's legs to get within a couple feet of Solbaid and Elsbeth to peer up at them with all the curiosity of a child. Then of course he scuttled back when Devonna came closer to stand by her Father's side. He scuttled all the way back behind Sammael's left leg to hide as if she had struck him. Saying nothing but peering from around Sammael's knees he eyed Devonna carefully. To Sammael however he said via mindspeak what he knew of Devonna concerning certain individuals. Sammael's smile faded and he bent a questioning gaze on Devonna while she was talking to Solbaid about this zoo visit with excited tones. "Treacherous indeed," he remarked, leaving it at that.
Later after the zoo visit and the dinner when it was time to go their seperate ways Phanes would give a small tug to the side of Saeed's pant leg to pull him aside. He would tell the lich king, once he was down on one knee because Phanes tried to be vocal as much as possible since he knew how very little he spoke at all, and told Saeed of the ill intent Devonna bore towards his Father's soon-to-be-wife. He told him why he was telling him this instead of Solbaid because it would ruin Solbaid's heart to have to kill one of his own when he would be having a child with Elsbeth in due time. Phanes also told Saeed that he need not worry too much about the way Sammael would treat Solbaid and he would more or less watch over Solbaid during the heavier handed punishments right beside Elsbeth. Yes, he even went so far as to share a little piece of how Elsbeth would not leave Solbaid once the punishment was dealt out but stay by his side whenever she was permitted to in order to sooth the Horned King when needed. This he assured Saeed that Sammael would allow it because Sammael did not intend to utterly destroy Solbaid. Cause then he would be useless... and Sammael had no need for useless things.
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Kassim canted his head toward his father. "Protection father, Halen hates us, as you know, he wishes to destroy all demon, nae even all immortal kind would the chance present itself, why not the Blackhorn Dynast? Doubtless I might have been a worthy target as well, and likely they did not count on the presence of your son or Lord King Sammael. At any rate father, Halen, is sadly, not as foolish with his protection as he is with his other actions and policies, as my Son and Son-in-law discovered. BUT he carries protections, an extraordinarily high level at that for a mere Namas. These items, these accoutrements of power, gained through whatever means he could employ to achieve his gain; treachery, magick, luck and probably much scavenging for the very items and methods by which he would protect himself, that is the reason he is no simple kill, else he would have been wiped out long ago, wether from methods divine or arcane...or even perhaps in the contest of single combat. His policies, actions and attitudes after all are nothing that would have endeared him to anyone, not amongst the demons, vampires, arch devils and angels. What has changed here now is his willingness to escalate. Many would have him removed, and not as a means to control his spheres of influence either, merely to achieve a modicum of peace and stability. Others, perhaps more personal. He, however, hates all, like Halen Dreward before, he would do anything to maintain and increase his power, and as stated, to exterminate the lot of us. "
Kassim listened to the exchange betwixt his father and Lord Sammael, it was, for Kassim, the best outcome, and he knew his father well enough to respect his honor, and his own friendship and relationship with Lord Sammael also left Saeed no doubt about how seriously Sammael took the debt incurred by Solbaid, and the penances and deeds Solbaid would have to endure to equal the score, it was the business of balancing the account. What the sun took the night would give back, what the sand buried it would again reveal. That was the way of things and Kassim would not question it or try to bargain in what was already a done deal. "Lady Elsbeth, if whilst father is away, or should you find yourself unable to endure there.." There really was no question about where exactly the ubiquitous 'There' was, "You will be welcomed in Inaaksu."
In the back of his mind however, he was studying not Elsbeth, he had already taken her measure long before, he also had the measure of her father, Eoghan. Which reminded Kassim that when he returned he'd have to pass along the be on the lookout for Halen, specifically his minions since Halen himself was not likely to show up on his own hook. No, Saeed's strict analysis was focused upon his sister. Perhaps it was the way Devonna had so readily greeted Elsbeth, no child, not one of separated parents ever welcomed the new parent, and certainly not newer siblings who might be considered to be of dubious origin. No, Saeed understood that, he'd hated his father's..his human father's other wives, and hated being told to call them mother. Of course when Saeed came of age, he'd tossed them into the desert and labeled them whore, but that was centuries ago. He was over it now. It did mean however, he had a keen understanding, both as a child, as an adult, as a human and as a blackhorn lich, what it was that was likely going through his sisters mind. No, she was just biding her time. If she had been shy or perhaps offered a mere handshake or had just nodded her head as any petulant teen might, Kassim would have thought nothing of it. No, the child was not to be trusted, and therefore Kassim resovled to keep an eye upon her.
Silently whilst the tour of the zoo would commence, or before or even after, with Sammael Kassim would agree.."Hell is the best place for them really, clearly their lives weren't about to take them any farther." That was classic Saeed from any age, he could be the coldest hearted son of a bith in the world, perhaps even nine hades, at any rate, it'll be sufficient to say, Saeed Kassim, even with a new found respect and love for life and kingdom and family, still had absolutely zero scruples when it came to protecting friends and family and Kingdom. "I think, we'll begin with some intermediate pain, whilst keeping them separated, that way we can use the stories of one, to help break the others and I think they should serve our interests below." Which was vague enough and might mean anything from being a food server to being the platter itself and anything beyond or in between. "Not before we've exhausted their mental and intellectual usefulness. In fact I think we'll have them remembering crimes their great great grandparents committed whilst still in the womb." Yep, one cold fish.
Saeed also, in the course of the day and evening, although he didn't mention it, had watched Sammaels reaction to Devonna as well, between that, and late in the day when Phanes spoke directly to Kassim, the lich held the child oracles gaze and nodded, silently to him he said.."I think..no..I Know..you are correct about her...It saddens me...but I shall have to take measures. I thank you for speaking about my father, he is often misunderstood but he is amongst the wisest and indeed most well considered creatures I have ever encountered, even if others do not see it, it is good to know he will endure... It will not be an easy road, but I think things will be the better for it and I believe it's not too far a stretch to say that Lady Elsbeth will have been the best thing to have happened to him in some time. And as you can already forsee, I will spare my father the sad deed and guilt of having to eliminate one of his own." The child oracle was wise, Saeed was sure Phanes would understand, he was sure Phanes would see it before it happened too. A burden to carry to be sure. Kassim smiled and offered Phanes the small pouch from his belt that had held the bauble he had given him earlier. Indeed this child would need nurturing and protection and for all this now, Saeed would treat him better then family, he would have treated him like family, but to say so kind of brings up the notion that Saeed had not, over the years treated his family as well as he might have otherwise, nowhere near the respect he treated them with now, so, better then family. For the rest of their time together there that day, Saeed kept a close watch upon Devonna, even going so far as to seem to befriend her. No, this he wouldn't take much pleasure in, but the path seemed to be a clear one. Likewise Saeed also considered the times. Unrest everywhere, upheaval, new relationships, his other projects beginning to bare the ripe fruit he'd cultivated for centuries and in his new outlook had the means to begin utilizing it to potentials he had never considered before. The things his father would have to endure and Solbaids new love for Elsbeth....no, there was too much at stake and not enough time to devote to his sister to teach things that likely wouldn't sink in anyhow. The Dye was cast...Kassim would do the deed, but his mind and body betrayed no sign of what would be. to her he said only, "Devonna, have you ever ridden in the desert?"
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Saeed bid a fond if only temporary farewell to his Father and Elsbeth, to his friend and Overlord Sammael and the Child Seer Phanes, allowing that he would return later that evening, in time to eat, to share drink and smoke after taking his sister to ride upon the night sands through the desert of fire. Saeed left it with Sammael and Phanes, if they chose to tell Solbaid of what was afoot, or if Solbaid himself sensed what was about to occur, none uttered a word to Saeed and Devonna prior to their departure. No other would say a word against the act, Father would mourn the loss of his newest daughter, but he would also understand, and forgive in time. No, Saeed had been through this all day when the first hints of what might need to be done emerged. This was the Blackhorn clan cleaning house, weeding the garden, culling the herd, preserving sensible bloodlines and the like. Blackhorn family business is what it was and that was how most would see it. Indeed that is what Kassim would call it and Devonna was not the first to be taken for "the ride" or to suffer "the sanction", Saeeds polite terms for the task at hand.
Devonna had not ridden much, at least nowhere near the amount of time Kassim had spent in the saddle, yet the mounts provided in Landunder proved up to the task. The Desert King led off, opening a gate into what most would have deemed the wastes, it was night now and the vast starry moonlit expanse of the Morashtaran heavens opened high above. From time to time Saeed would stop and dismount, he talked with his new sibling, however, he noticed a dangerous bent, her attention was always upon her mother and her father and her soon to be step mother, or what would pass as a step mother in an immortal relationship. Far too eager to appear to be friendly toward her fathers new mate. Kassim slowly chipped away at that façade, seldom directly. He passed the ride and the stops by teaching lessons on astronomy and riding, and geography, answering the odd question here and there, not always in a fully disclosed manor. The Lich could not afford to, he needed pure answers and would not supply any answers through his own questions and prodding. Often, he just let her talk. Eventually, he didn't have to be indirect, which was where he wanted things.
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"Is Inaaksu large?" Was one of her first questions, "Do I have any other siblings?" she also asked.."Do you have any children brother?" "Are you all Blackhorn? Or are you part Nephilim too?" The questions would fly here and there.
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"Yes, amongst the largest cities in An Morendor," he replied. "Or for that matter, on Morashtar as a whole. As for our brothers and sisters, Not many currently." He said, leaving out any that might not be among the living. There were those who hadn't survived, those who had abandoned their father. And the ones that had been weeded out. Of course, not to forget those that would be weeded out of the garden. The wheat to be sorted from the chaff, the sick and diseased from among the pure. "I've had many children." He answered, which was at once truthful, yet cryptic. "Nephilim?" He laughed. "Nnnnoo," He drew out the word, "I am sired blackhorn. My birth parents were humans if that is what you mean." He cast a gaze toward Devonna, They've been dead for centuries."
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They would ride farther still and dismount and Devonna posed the question, "Does father remarry often? It seems he sets aside his women with casual ease."
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Kassim hid the complete look of utter disdain, which reflected how he really felt. Killing this ingorant half breed would prove to be a pleasure. In fact, she would even have it easy, he would simply kill her. He would not torture or rape her, which a century ago and as little as a few years back was the way the Desert Lich would have carried the sanction out. In fact he would have tortured her and raped her repeatedly, using her to breed minions for his Armies. Now, he was a bit more mature and could also be more picky about what he'd allow bred into his royal guards and...other forces. No, simply killing would be pleasure enough. At any rate Kassim could be a consumate gardener when the special deeds were called for. "On the contrary, when my Lord Father chooses a mate he tends to embark upon the endeavor for long term. Even if the relationship changes, or should they go their separate ways, he still harbors Love. Sometimes, life is highly chaotic, it brings about the unexpected, sometimes this is a grand thing, at others, mistakes are also made, and those have to be rectified as well. He's not setting you aside, he is not to be with your mother but he had no intention of putting you aside. Why should you even think he was?" He asked, mounted again and riding farther, watching the horizon and a spectacular meteor shower. Such beauty in what so many deemed to be a wasteland.
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"Because he did set my mother aside, and now, now he's going to Acheron with Sammael? Who IS Sammael anyway? And is that what I am? A mistake?"
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Yes, one of fate's hideous, hideous mistakes like the Vengoath and Marriage and innacurate contraception, which explains you. He thought to himself. "No one said that. However your mother was a mistake for him, it is no reflection upon you, nor does it mean a lack of love on his part toward you young sister." Does mean I'd as soon kill you as look at you, but neither here nor there, for now. "As for Acheron, there is a motion and a feel toward life on this world, wether it is here in reality as you have known it, or in Acheron. To that end there are powers and positions. They demand and will receive their just do, your father is a Blackhorn, he is for all practical purposes, the reigning Blackhorn dynast, even he owes dues and allegiences to those whose power and position he respects and whom can command it from him, even as there are those that owe it to our father. Even as I owe it to Father and to Sammael and there are those of these realms whom owe their allegiences to me. As for Sammael, 'who' is a loaded question. You could spend ten thousand years with him and still not know him. And I call the man a friend and even mentor of sorts.." Not to forget the aforementioned Lord, but why confuse the girl who really didn't have any use for this knowledge, clearly she wasn't gleening a damn thing from her brother and it wasn't going to be anyones concern for much longer. "What, is ther pertinent question and he is Sammael Desert Wind, King of Thrones. Satan, ruler of Hell?" He saw some bit of recognition now, he continued "And if you can't figure out that or if being born of an angel and a demon hasn't already helped you figure these things out, then you must be fixed to become quite the piece of work as the outlanders say." He offered her water before riding again...he would continue to answer questions, supplying knowledge as he could, but the demon King found only disappointment when his first inkling was proving to be correct. There was nothing to be done for some.
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"I understand he believes he owes a debt to these people, and he views it as honor M'Lord, but how it is it honorable to set aside my mother?"
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"Is it honorable to stay with a love or person who cannot reciprocate the feelings? Is it honorable to stay with one whom you know you have....enticed...to be with you? Who has been claimed?" Saeed Kassim preaching morality to the choir? The truth was as strange perhaps, as the fiction. "You would then begrudge him a love he has sought fairly?" She didn't give him much of an answer as they mounted and rode again for awhile.
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"I just don't see why my father has to leave us behind to go to Acheron. I don't see why he has to set my mother aside. I am being asked to accept things of which I have absolutely no control over."
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Saeed sighed. "Is it always about you child?" He looked at her as they rode, finally after awhile they reached the top of a Dune and Saeed dismounted, Devonna followed suit. "Yes, is honor or debt such an alien concept? You do realize there is more then one way to interpret, see and even experience events and even to understand and surmount an obstacle do you not?" He didn't give her the chance to answer. "Life is chaotic child, many is the time when we must stand tall and take the insult wether real or imagined. There is no insult here, your father loves you. He loves Elsbeth, you worry you will be asked to call her mother, yet father has asked of you no such thing. You worry that he will abandon you as the mortals do their children in hand baskets. You would not fit in a handbasket, child." Saeed teased. Unless I first dismember you, considered Saeed, it was a delightful notion after all. The more he considered it, the more he was going to enjoy it. Still, protocol called for a couple more attempts, not that he was sanguine for the younglings success, clearly she didn't develop a survival instinct to go with the brain stem. "You do not see what is to be seen, you do not see what it is you cannot see, you do not hear the sounds to be heard, nor can you interpret and consider things you are not hearing at present."
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"What do you mean by that? Understand what I can't see, nor can't interpret the things I can't hear. Do you always speak in riddles brother? How come no one hears me? Why do those who speak your name say it as though to do so is a curse?"
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"It means there are things you can't consider because you are unwilling. It means you are unwilling to anchor on a stormy sea amidst the chaos around you. We do hear you, we hear how you feel. I am attempting to help you analyze that and move past it. As for me, I am a King and a Blackhorn, being a King alone among the Neffari of Hassimland and one of House Kassim makes my name feared and revered throughout Morashtar depending on who's circles you are moving in. Being a Blackhorn, to those in the know raises the same response. It could in time, raise the same about you. I do not intend to riddle your mind, but what is a riddle but a question? If this is vexing then perhaps you're not paying attention as you claim to. NOW, allow me to qoute our father." Kassim cleared his throat and invoked the memory,
"Is the water wet or do we feel ourselves making the water dry? Drops of rain upon upon water, ripples and waves..two worlds two heavens two hells, two identities from one from one two from two four from four eight from eight ten and six from ten and six thirty and two from thirty and two sixty and four from sixty and four one hundred and twenty and eight from one hundred and twenty and eight two hundreds and fifty and six from two hundreds and fifty and six five hundreds and twelve from five hundreds and twelve ten one hundeds and twenty and four from ten one hundreds and twenty and four twenty one hundreds and fourty and eight and the inifinite journey. From twenty one hundreds and fourty and eight inifinitum...these facets hold the key cut like angles infinitely upon a finite polydedronic reflected in Icosidodecahedron... each facet a reflection and view of a separate and distinct individual existance, yet intrinsically linked to all. From one below and one above infinity. From the one the creation of the many infinites without end. The orientation is logarithmic yet nor is it inherently mathematic yet it is solved in algorithms of the whole. Vast is the creation and recreate itself it can. Division and Multiplication, Dissolution and Combination, the Resolution is not the cycle in and of itself nor is the resolution meant to be a cycle, yet it is cyclic in it's behavior. Only the few can see the vastness of the equation, but it is not played upon a slate with chalk according to the teachers whims, yet the teacher's whim created the question and the answer. The answer is in everyone but is not meant to be discerned by nature and existance alone but determined and understood by the journey."
"We feel like some dinner...and perhaps a spot of tea...Join us?"
"Do you even understand all of that?" He saw a shake of the head and general lack of concern and understanding. Kassim was quite naturally unimpressed with the response. "How about this:
"We are the truth We are the lie We are the question to the answer that answers the questions you haven't known to ask yet. We are the absence of mass in the wall before your eyes and the shadow where there is light. We are the essence of nothing and the antithesis of order. We are the entropy in the system. We are underlying order in the disorder you seek. We are what we are and we have always been. Time is irrelevant, we could just as easily have viewed it's creation or any one of multiple creations and destructions.
We see the essence of that which is. The reality within the eye, the reality within the truth. All is as one perceives. All perception is colored by the nature of the description of the definition. It is fire, it burns..it is ice it freezes...it is water it is wet. If it is air it dries. If it drops it falls. If it is sky it's blue. If it is blood it is crimson. If it is sand it is course. These simplifications are the results of understanding based upon training and conditioning and learning the description and the definition. All falses are false and all truths are truths. But all truths can be false and all falshoods believed. That is not a question. There is no question. You have the question. We see all as it is all. We see the thing in the nothing. We are the question. Words, crude words to define antithesis and semantics apart from dogmatic instruction and dulled perception. We are, we dare, we know. We are the question. We are the float in the gravity, we are the fly to the legged, the wingless flight to the winged. We are the freeze in the fire and the absence of comfort. We are he who sees the light in the dark night. We are the stone that floats and the log that sinks, we are the error and the random in your structure, we are the death to your life and we give life to the dead. We are the closed door you move through and the trap you walk into, the claw that caresses and the cut that binds. We are he who is not he who is the one but we are the other. The Question. The Answer." Saeed paused...he took a swallow of water and spoke"Or his name, have you considered his name?"
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"What does that even mean Lord Brother?" Devonna asked, for her unfortunately, it was a rhetorical response rather then an actual intellectual curiousity. She knew her father to be peculiar, but this was...something else, something altogether different. "I..I'm not sure I follow...and what about his name?"
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Saeed sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that evening, "Solbaid. S-o-l-b-a-i-d." A blank look of confusion. Surely someone had this conversation with her? If they had, it hadn't gone remembered. He stopped and dismounted yet again, they were close to an ancient Oasis now, and the creatures of the night could be heard. Saeed would have had better results talking to the Dramedai or Wolves that would come to the watering hole at night. He'd had more dialectic and intellectually two sided conversations with the sharks in the bay. Devonna dismounted too, as they chatted, Saeed pointed to the Oasis.
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"Solbaid..so what, what are you getting at brother?" She gazed in the direction her brother had indicated.
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"Solbaid. Diablos. The chaos in the order and the disorder of chaos? Did any of those lessons I just quoted to you touch any nerve? Trigger any thought?" Poor child.
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She sighed. "Alot of words to keep up with but nothing makes much sense, it seemed like alot of gibberish. What are we looking at and....and what does order and chaos got to with anything? I want to love my father and my mother and I want them together. I am willing brother, to do anything to achieve that. ANYTHING. And if you won't help even your own sister to do that then I don't see what else there is to talk about. If you won't help or listen, then perhaps it's time for you to step aside and let someone else step up for my father. All of that other stuff means NOTHING! Nothing to me!" Her voice was rising...she was turning when she felt the sharp pain in the lower right of her back which quickly became a burning, she gasped as the pain intensified, and she felt her body go slack..she tried to turn but her body below the legs wouldn't obey. She realized she'd been stabbed..but the blow was sharp and quick, surgical even, if she had been able to understand those terms.
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"It means..." Breathed Saeed quietly, his voice didn't raise nor did his heart beat, such as he MIGHT have one, rise or change, "that you are unable to see the bigger tapestry, the bigger connectedness and the oneness. It means that it is never been all about you and there is no time to teach you or train you and I will not have you schemeing against my Father's Intended or my Father. What you are looking at, is a beautiful death." He held her in his arcane field, her soul he captured, her death before that he slowed so she might hear him before she faded. "It means, that you were given ample opportunity to rise to the occassion, to rise above yourself and have failed to do so, Devonna," he whispered into her ear.
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The girl felt herself spin as she fell her skin felt on fire and suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her neck and the feeling below her neck disappeared, as light faded she saw the darkened shadow face of a lich, Saeed Kassim in his demon form.
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It wasn't hard..a thrust..a side slice, gravity and his inner abilities did the rest. Saeed slit the throat for good measure as what had been his sister lay in a crumpled heap upon the ground. He turned her over..cut away her clothing and with a deft skill he sliced into her chest and cut out her heart...still hot. Steaming in the cool night air he held it up, bit into it, chewing it raw. Into a flask he filled with blood until it stopped flowing, which did not take long. That was alright, it was the importance of the ceremony that mattered. The soul he captured at the moment of death and held it in an arcane vessel. A glow began in the sand and what remained caught fire...Saeed made sure it all burned, except for the skull, which charred and smoking he bagged and stood..scanned the stars. He gathered the horses and began the journey to a suitable location from which to jump back to Landunder and see Sammael, Solbaid, Phanes and Elsbeth.
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When Saeed arrived back in Landunder, he presented himself to his father and Sammael, and did so on his knees, he would rise when Solbaid bid him to do so and would only give an explanation when one was asked for, but the blood on his fine clothes and the blood on his face and between his blackhorn face would tell something of the tale, before him he placed his sisters skull, and the sack that contained her heart.
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Sammael would answer Saeed's inquiry to the "bare treatment" of his Father's attackers and oblige the Lich King with an open invitation to his palace out in the desert oasis he rebuilt after leveling it from a halestorm of rage and anguish. Of course he would welcome Saeed's particular touch on such a matter. They were all professionals here. From one to another Sammael had always appreciated Saeed's tactics for getting what he needed, and wanted, from those he felt deserved a good torture session. He related to Saeed that after they were done here with Solbaid's zoo invite and whatever other business Saeed needed to finish that they could begin with interrogating the assassins Halen sent to take his Father's life. Given the glint in his glass like black eyes, the assassins would beg for some kind of Death long before they were half way through with them. But they would not be given such luxury. Sammael would not allow these failures to take the easy way out. He would however parade them in Acheron for all to see them as the horse's asses they were for not completing their missions and let any of Hell's, and we mean any, do unspeakable things to the men that did in no way, shape or form induce death or the loss of their minds, hearts or souls. Basically Sammael would make the mother fuckers pin cushions in Hell. Unless Saeed said otherwise.
Phanes meanwhile still toyed with the bauble Saeed gave him as a gift and was rather delighted by such a thing when his soft pelted deer neck craned for him to peer up and over to Devonna as Elsbeth hugged her. How... distasteful. It bothered him the level of discomfort he felt towards Devonna. Though he tried hard to sift through what he knew, what he perceived through the facets of the enormous gem he looked out of for all the visions he held, he could not see just what exactly it was that caused his discomfort towards Saeed's sister. Hence, he realized it was something to do with himself because that was the only thing that hazed over his sight enough to make it this tedious to understand. Now while he tried figuring out just where the ill boding feelings were coming from a smile nonetheless upturned his wolf head's snout behind the sash covering his face below his color changing eyes. He saw the way Elsbeth looked at Solbaid when he offered himself along with his kingdom to Sammael. He felt the way his father's hand on his shoulder squeezed lightly and that it was one of being pleased. He also saw that crease in Devonna's brow for the split second it was there but knew everyone else missed it. Elsbeth knew very little of Sammael only that he was a lord in Acheron. Phanes watched now with growing interest regardless of his own thoughts and knowledge how Elsbeth did not shy away from Solbaid nor push him away when he gave himself, his kingdom too, to Sammael and Sammael accepted with a smile.
She is good for him, Phanes thought with a flicker of warmth running the blue out of his eyes and replacing it with a vibrant hue of vermillion with beige flecks. He will need that. Solbaid will need that in her, need that strength she has for her to stand by him in the times to come. Phanes hence turned his eyes upwards to his Father but said nothing. He would not ask Sammael to be kind to Solbaid because he knew it was against the rules, that this was penance for old wrongs, and because it would please Sammael to own Solbaid's ass in the end. Least it would mean Saeed would never be parted with his Father, this much Phanes knew since Sammael thought too highly of Saeed to out right kill his Father. Even so, there were far worse things than death. Elsbeth placed her hands over the sides of Solbaid's face when he put his arm around her and looked up at him with uncertainty. Though Eoghan was virtually a stranger to her she respected and understood what he stood for when he never let Acheron get it's claws into him by fighting it as best he could. There was no judging in her eyes for Solbaid choosing the Lower Kingdom now but there was grave concern, if not fear. Yes she could fear for him without thinking less of him. Surely it was not all roses and sunshine down there. Surely he must know what he was asking for by giving himself to a lord of it whom he committed some kind of crime against not once, not twice, but six times! Elsbeth's blue eyes glittered almost as if they were wanting to fill with tears but they didn't. She laid her forehead to his chin, since that was all she could reach of his tall black self, and wished she could tell him in her touch the way she could not by voice how terrified she was for him and his entire kingdom, and all the unusual and beautiful people in it.
Yes Phanes was right to smile inwardly at the angel by Solbaid's side. She did not have to like his choices but she respected them for being the ones he made. There was a growing trust there. One that would serve them both well in the dark path Solbaid must now walk since he belonged to Sammael. Sammael would wait until after the zoo visit, the dinner, and other things were concluded before he marked Solbaid, branded his very soul, as his. He would give the Horned Demon that much at least to spend this time with his bird without the topsy turvey mind burning agonies and bliss of his brand. While Sammael spoke to Saeed about a few methods they could try out on the fuckers back in his dungeons; Phanes moved out from behind his Father's legs to get within a couple feet of Solbaid and Elsbeth to peer up at them with all the curiosity of a child. Then of course he scuttled back when Devonna came closer to stand by her Father's side. He scuttled all the way back behind Sammael's left leg to hide as if she had struck him. Saying nothing but peering from around Sammael's knees he eyed Devonna carefully. To Sammael however he said via mindspeak what he knew of Devonna concerning certain individuals. Sammael's smile faded and he bent a questioning gaze on Devonna while she was talking to Solbaid about this zoo visit with excited tones. "Treacherous indeed," he remarked, leaving it at that.
Later after the zoo visit and the dinner when it was time to go their seperate ways Phanes would give a small tug to the side of Saeed's pant leg to pull him aside. He would tell the lich king, once he was down on one knee because Phanes tried to be vocal as much as possible since he knew how very little he spoke at all, and told Saeed of the ill intent Devonna bore towards his Father's soon-to-be-wife. He told him why he was telling him this instead of Solbaid because it would ruin Solbaid's heart to have to kill one of his own when he would be having a child with Elsbeth in due time. Phanes also told Saeed that he need not worry too much about the way Sammael would treat Solbaid and he would more or less watch over Solbaid during the heavier handed punishments right beside Elsbeth. Yes, he even went so far as to share a little piece of how Elsbeth would not leave Solbaid once the punishment was dealt out but stay by his side whenever she was permitted to in order to sooth the Horned King when needed. This he assured Saeed that Sammael would allow it because Sammael did not intend to utterly destroy Solbaid. Cause then he would be useless... and Sammael had no need for useless things.
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Kassim canted his head toward his father. "Protection father, Halen hates us, as you know, he wishes to destroy all demon, nae even all immortal kind would the chance present itself, why not the Blackhorn Dynast? Doubtless I might have been a worthy target as well, and likely they did not count on the presence of your son or Lord King Sammael. At any rate father, Halen, is sadly, not as foolish with his protection as he is with his other actions and policies, as my Son and Son-in-law discovered. BUT he carries protections, an extraordinarily high level at that for a mere Namas. These items, these accoutrements of power, gained through whatever means he could employ to achieve his gain; treachery, magick, luck and probably much scavenging for the very items and methods by which he would protect himself, that is the reason he is no simple kill, else he would have been wiped out long ago, wether from methods divine or arcane...or even perhaps in the contest of single combat. His policies, actions and attitudes after all are nothing that would have endeared him to anyone, not amongst the demons, vampires, arch devils and angels. What has changed here now is his willingness to escalate. Many would have him removed, and not as a means to control his spheres of influence either, merely to achieve a modicum of peace and stability. Others, perhaps more personal. He, however, hates all, like Halen Dreward before, he would do anything to maintain and increase his power, and as stated, to exterminate the lot of us. "
Kassim listened to the exchange betwixt his father and Lord Sammael, it was, for Kassim, the best outcome, and he knew his father well enough to respect his honor, and his own friendship and relationship with Lord Sammael also left Saeed no doubt about how seriously Sammael took the debt incurred by Solbaid, and the penances and deeds Solbaid would have to endure to equal the score, it was the business of balancing the account. What the sun took the night would give back, what the sand buried it would again reveal. That was the way of things and Kassim would not question it or try to bargain in what was already a done deal. "Lady Elsbeth, if whilst father is away, or should you find yourself unable to endure there.." There really was no question about where exactly the ubiquitous 'There' was, "You will be welcomed in Inaaksu."
In the back of his mind however, he was studying not Elsbeth, he had already taken her measure long before, he also had the measure of her father, Eoghan. Which reminded Kassim that when he returned he'd have to pass along the be on the lookout for Halen, specifically his minions since Halen himself was not likely to show up on his own hook. No, Saeed's strict analysis was focused upon his sister. Perhaps it was the way Devonna had so readily greeted Elsbeth, no child, not one of separated parents ever welcomed the new parent, and certainly not newer siblings who might be considered to be of dubious origin. No, Saeed understood that, he'd hated his father's..his human father's other wives, and hated being told to call them mother. Of course when Saeed came of age, he'd tossed them into the desert and labeled them whore, but that was centuries ago. He was over it now. It did mean however, he had a keen understanding, both as a child, as an adult, as a human and as a blackhorn lich, what it was that was likely going through his sisters mind. No, she was just biding her time. If she had been shy or perhaps offered a mere handshake or had just nodded her head as any petulant teen might, Kassim would have thought nothing of it. No, the child was not to be trusted, and therefore Kassim resovled to keep an eye upon her.
Silently whilst the tour of the zoo would commence, or before or even after, with Sammael Kassim would agree.."Hell is the best place for them really, clearly their lives weren't about to take them any farther." That was classic Saeed from any age, he could be the coldest hearted son of a bith in the world, perhaps even nine hades, at any rate, it'll be sufficient to say, Saeed Kassim, even with a new found respect and love for life and kingdom and family, still had absolutely zero scruples when it came to protecting friends and family and Kingdom. "I think, we'll begin with some intermediate pain, whilst keeping them separated, that way we can use the stories of one, to help break the others and I think they should serve our interests below." Which was vague enough and might mean anything from being a food server to being the platter itself and anything beyond or in between. "Not before we've exhausted their mental and intellectual usefulness. In fact I think we'll have them remembering crimes their great great grandparents committed whilst still in the womb." Yep, one cold fish.
Saeed also, in the course of the day and evening, although he didn't mention it, had watched Sammaels reaction to Devonna as well, between that, and late in the day when Phanes spoke directly to Kassim, the lich held the child oracles gaze and nodded, silently to him he said.."I think..no..I Know..you are correct about her...It saddens me...but I shall have to take measures. I thank you for speaking about my father, he is often misunderstood but he is amongst the wisest and indeed most well considered creatures I have ever encountered, even if others do not see it, it is good to know he will endure... It will not be an easy road, but I think things will be the better for it and I believe it's not too far a stretch to say that Lady Elsbeth will have been the best thing to have happened to him in some time. And as you can already forsee, I will spare my father the sad deed and guilt of having to eliminate one of his own." The child oracle was wise, Saeed was sure Phanes would understand, he was sure Phanes would see it before it happened too. A burden to carry to be sure. Kassim smiled and offered Phanes the small pouch from his belt that had held the bauble he had given him earlier. Indeed this child would need nurturing and protection and for all this now, Saeed would treat him better then family, he would have treated him like family, but to say so kind of brings up the notion that Saeed had not, over the years treated his family as well as he might have otherwise, nowhere near the respect he treated them with now, so, better then family. For the rest of their time together there that day, Saeed kept a close watch upon Devonna, even going so far as to seem to befriend her. No, this he wouldn't take much pleasure in, but the path seemed to be a clear one. Likewise Saeed also considered the times. Unrest everywhere, upheaval, new relationships, his other projects beginning to bare the ripe fruit he'd cultivated for centuries and in his new outlook had the means to begin utilizing it to potentials he had never considered before. The things his father would have to endure and Solbaids new love for Elsbeth....no, there was too much at stake and not enough time to devote to his sister to teach things that likely wouldn't sink in anyhow. The Dye was cast...Kassim would do the deed, but his mind and body betrayed no sign of what would be. to her he said only, "Devonna, have you ever ridden in the desert?"
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Saeed bid a fond if only temporary farewell to his Father and Elsbeth, to his friend and Overlord Sammael and the Child Seer Phanes, allowing that he would return later that evening, in time to eat, to share drink and smoke after taking his sister to ride upon the night sands through the desert of fire. Saeed left it with Sammael and Phanes, if they chose to tell Solbaid of what was afoot, or if Solbaid himself sensed what was about to occur, none uttered a word to Saeed and Devonna prior to their departure. No other would say a word against the act, Father would mourn the loss of his newest daughter, but he would also understand, and forgive in time. No, Saeed had been through this all day when the first hints of what might need to be done emerged. This was the Blackhorn clan cleaning house, weeding the garden, culling the herd, preserving sensible bloodlines and the like. Blackhorn family business is what it was and that was how most would see it. Indeed that is what Kassim would call it and Devonna was not the first to be taken for "the ride" or to suffer "the sanction", Saeeds polite terms for the task at hand.
Devonna had not ridden much, at least nowhere near the amount of time Kassim had spent in the saddle, yet the mounts provided in Landunder proved up to the task. The Desert King led off, opening a gate into what most would have deemed the wastes, it was night now and the vast starry moonlit expanse of the Morashtaran heavens opened high above. From time to time Saeed would stop and dismount, he talked with his new sibling, however, he noticed a dangerous bent, her attention was always upon her mother and her father and her soon to be step mother, or what would pass as a step mother in an immortal relationship. Far too eager to appear to be friendly toward her fathers new mate. Kassim slowly chipped away at that facade, seldom directly. He passed the ride and the stops by teaching lessons on astronomy and riding, and geography, answering the odd question here and there, not always in a fully disclosed manor. The Lich could not afford to, he needed pure answers and would not supply any answers through his own questions and prodding. Often, he just let her talk. Eventually, he didn't have to be indirect, which was where he wanted things.
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"Is Inaaksu large?" Was one of her first questions, "Do I have any other siblings?" she also asked.."Do you have any children brother?" "Are you all Blackhorn? Or are you part Nephilim too?" The questions would fly here and there.
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"Yes, amongst the largest cities in An Morendor," he replied. "Or for that matter, on Morashtar as a whole. As for our brothers and sisters, Not many currently." He said, leaving out any that might not be among the living. There were those who hadn't survived, those who had abandoned their father. And the ones that had been weeded out. Of course, not to forget those that would be weeded out of the garden. The wheat to be sorted from the chaff, the sick and diseased from among the pure. "I've had many children." He answered, which was at once truthful, yet cryptic. "Nephilim?" He laughed. "Nnnnoo," He drew out the word, "I am sired blackhorn. My birth parents were humans if that is what you mean." He cast a gaze toward Devonna, They've been dead for centuries."
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They would ride farther still and dismount and Devonna posed the question, "Does father remarry often? It seems he sets aside his women with casual ease."
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Kassim hid the complete look of utter disdain, which reflected how he really felt. Killing this ingorant half breed would prove to be a pleasure. In fact, she would even have it easy, he would simply kill her. He would not torture or rape her, which a century ago and as little as a few years back was the way the Desert Lich would have carried the sanction out. In fact he would have tortured her and raped her repeatedly, using her to breed minions for his Armies. Now, he was a bit more mature and could also be more picky about what he'd allow bred into his royal guards and...other forces. No, simply killing would be pleasure enough. At any rate Kassim could be a consumate gardener when the special deeds were called for. "On the contrary, when my Lord Father chooses a mate he tends to embark upon the endeavor for long term. Even if the relationship changes, or should they go their separate ways, he still harbors Love. Sometimes, life is highly chaotic, it brings about the unexpected, sometimes this is a grand thing, at others, mistakes are also made, and those have to be rectified as well. He's not setting you aside, he is not to be with your mother but he had no intention of putting you aside. Why should you even think he was?" He asked, mounted again and riding farther, watching the horizon and a spectacular meteor shower. Such beauty in what so many deemed to be a wasteland.
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"Because he did set my mother aside, and now, now he's going to Acheron with Sammael? Who IS Sammael anyway? And is that what I am? A mistake?"
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Yes, one of fate's hideous, hideous mistakes like the Vengoath and Marriage and innacurate contraception, which explains you. He thought to himself. "No one said that. However your mother was a mistake for him, it is no reflection upon you, nor does it mean a lack of love on his part toward you young sister." Does mean I'd as soon kill you as look at you, but neither here nor there, for now. "As for Acheron, there is a motion and a feel toward life on this world, wether it is here in reality as you have known it, or in Acheron. To that end there are powers and positions. They demand and will receive their just do, your father is a Blackhorn, he is for all practical purposes, the reigning Blackhorn dynast, even he owes dues and allegiences to those whose power and position he respects and whom can command it from him, even as there are those that owe it to our father. Even as I owe it to Father and to Sammael and there are those of these realms whom owe their allegiences to me. As for Sammael, 'who' is a loaded question. You could spend ten thousand years with him and still not know him. And I call the man a friend and even mentor of sorts.." Not to forget the aforementioned Lord, but why confuse the girl who really didn't have any use for this knowledge, clearly she wasn't gleening a damn thing from her brother and it wasn't going to be anyones concern for much longer. "What, is ther pertinent question and he is Sammael Desert Wind, King of Thrones. Satan, ruler of Hell?" He saw some bit of recognition now, he continued "And if you can't figure out that or if being born of an angel and a demon hasn't already helped you figure these things out, then you must be fixed to become quite the piece of work as the outlanders say." He offered her water before riding again...he would continue to answer questions, supplying knowledge as he could, but the demon King found only disappointment when his first inkling was proving to be correct. There was nothing to be done for some.
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"I understand he believes he owes a debt to these people, and he views it as honor M'Lord, but how it is it honorable to set aside my mother?"
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"Is it honorable to stay with a love or person who cannot reciprocate the feelings? Is it honorable to stay with one whom you know you have....enticed...to be with you? Who has been claimed?" Saeed Kassim preaching morality to the choir? The truth was as strange perhaps, as the fiction. "You would then begrudge him a love he has sought fairly?" She didn't give him much of an answer as they mounted and rode again for awhile.
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"I just don't see why my father has to leave us behind to go to Acheron. I don't see why he has to set my mother aside. I am being asked to accept things of which I have absolutely no control over."
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Saeed sighed. "Is it always about you child?" He looked at her as they rode, finally after awhile they reached the top of a Dune and Saeed dismounted, Devonna followed suit. "Yes, is honor or debt such an alien concept? You do realize there is more then one way to interpret, see and even experience events and even to understand and surmount an obstacle do you not?" He didn't give her the chance to answer. "Life is chaotic child, many is the time when we must stand tall and take the insult wether real or imagined. There is no insult here, your father loves you. He loves Elsbeth, you worry you will be asked to call her mother, yet father has asked of you no such thing. You worry that he will abandon you as the mortals do their children in hand baskets. You would not fit in a handbasket, child." Saeed teased. Unless I first dismember you, considered Saeed, it was a delightful notion after all. The more he considered it, the more he was going to enjoy it. Still, protocol called for a couple more attempts, not that he was sanguine for the younglings success, clearly she didn't develop a survival instinct to go with the brain stem. "You do not see what is to be seen, you do not see what it is you cannot see, you do not hear the sounds to be heard, nor can you interpret and consider things you are not hearing at present."
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"What do you mean by that? Understand what I can't see, nor can't interpret the things I can't hear. Do you always speak in riddles brother? How come no one hears me? Why do those who speak your name say it as though to do so is a curse?"
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"It means there are things you can't consider because you are unwilling. It means you are unwilling to anchor on a stormy sea amidst the chaos around you. We do hear you, we hear how you feel. I am attempting to help you analyze that and move past it. As for me, I am a King and a Blackhorn, being a King alone among the Neffari of Hassimland and one of House Kassim makes my name feared and revered throughout Morashtar depending on who's circles you are moving in. Being a Blackhorn, to those in the know raises the same response. It could in time, raise the same about you. I do not intend to riddle your mind, but what is a riddle but a question? If this is vexing then perhaps you're not paying attention as you claim to. NOW, allow me to qoute our father." Kassim cleared his throat and invoked the memory,
"Is the water wet or do we feel ourselves making the water dry? Drops of rain upon upon water, ripples and waves..two worlds two heavens two hells, two identities from one from one two from two four from four eight from eight ten and six from ten and six thirty and two from thirty and two sixty and four from sixty and four one hundred and twenty and eight from one hundred and twenty and eight two hundreds and fifty and six from two hundreds and fifty and six five hundreds and twelve from five hundreds and twelve ten one hundeds and twenty and four from ten one hundreds and twenty and four twenty one hundreds and fourty and eight and the inifinite journey. From twenty one hundreds and fourty and eight inifinitum...these facets hold the key cut like angles infinitely upon a finite polydedronic reflected in Icosidodecahedron... each facet a reflection and view of a separate and distinct individual existance, yet intrinsically linked to all. From one below and one above infinity. From the one the creation of the many infinites without end. The orientation is logarithmic yet nor is it inherently mathematic yet it is solved in algorithms of the whole. Vast is the creation and recreate itself it can. Division and Multiplication, Dissolution and Combination, the Resolution is not the cycle in and of itself nor is the resolution meant to be a cycle, yet it is cyclic in it's behavior. Only the few can see the vastness of the equation, but it is not played upon a slate with chalk according to the teachers whims, yet the teacher's whim created the question and the answer. The answer is in everyone but is not meant to be discerned by nature and existance alone but determined and understood by the journey."
"We feel like some dinner...and perhaps a spot of tea...Join us?"
"Do you even understand all of that?" He saw a shake of the head and general lack of concern and understanding. Kassim was quite naturally unimpressed with the response. "How about this:
"We are the truth We are the lie We are the question to the answer that answers the questions you haven't known to ask yet. We are the absence of mass in the wall before your eyes and the shadow where there is light. We are the essence of nothing and the antithesis of order. We are the entropy in the system. We are underlying order in the disorder you seek. We are what we are and we have always been. Time is irrelevant, we could just as easily have viewed it's creation or any one of multiple creations and destructions.
We see the essence of that which is. The reality within the eye, the reality within the truth. All is as one perceives. All perception is colored by the nature of the description of the definition. It is fire, it burns..it is ice it freezes...it is water it is wet. If it is air it dries. If it drops it falls. If it is sky it's blue. If it is blood it is crimson. If it is sand it is course. These simplifications are the results of understanding based upon training and conditioning and learning the description and the definition. All falses are false and all truths are truths. But all truths can be false and all falshoods believed. That is not a question. There is no question. You have the question. We see all as it is all. We see the thing in the nothing. We are the question. Words, crude words to define antithesis and semantics apart from dogmatic instruction and dulled perception. We are, we dare, we know. We are the question. We are the float in the gravity, we are the fly to the legged, the wingless flight to the winged. We are the freeze in the fire and the absence of comfort. We are he who sees the light in the dark night. We are the stone that floats and the log that sinks, we are the error and the random in your structure, we are the death to your life and we give life to the dead. We are the closed door you move through and the trap you walk into, the claw that caresses and the cut that binds. We are he who is not he who is the one but we are the other. The Question. The Answer." Saeed paused...he took a swallow of water and spoke"Or his name, have you considered his name?"
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"What does that even mean Lord Brother?" Devonna asked, for her unfortunately, it was a rhetorical response rather then an actual intellectual curiousity. She knew her father to be peculiar, but this was...something else, something altogether different. "I..I'm not sure I follow...and what about his name?"
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Saeed sighed for what felt like the thousandth time that evening, "Solbaid. S-o-l-b-a-i-d." A blank look of confusion. Surely someone had this conversation with her? If they had, it hadn't gone remembered. He stopped and dismounted yet again, they were close to an ancient Oasis now, and the creatures of the night could be heard. Saeed would have had better results talking to the Dramedai or Wolves that would come to the watering hole at night. He'd had more dialectic and intellectually two sided conversations with the sharks in the bay. Devonna dismounted too, as they chatted, Saeed pointed to the Oasis.
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"Solbaid..so what, what are you getting at brother?" She gazed in the direction her brother had indicated.
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"Solbaid. Diablos. The chaos in the order and the disorder of chaos? Did any of those lessons I just quoted to you touch any nerve? Trigger any thought?" Poor child.
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She sighed. "Alot of words to keep up with but nothing makes much sense, it seemed like alot of gibberish. What are we looking at and....and what does order and chaos got to with anything? I want to love my father and my mother and I want them together. I am willing brother, to do anything to achieve that. ANYTHING. And if you won't help even your own sister to do that then I don't see what else there is to talk about. If you won't help or listen, then perhaps it's time for you to step aside and let someone else step up for my father. All of that other stuff means NOTHING! Nothing to me!" Her voice was rising...she was turning when she felt the sharp pain in the lower right of her back which quickly became a burning, she gasped as the pain intensified, and she felt her body go slack..she tried to turn but her body below the legs wouldn't obey. She realized she'd been stabbed..but the blow was sharp and quick, surgical even, if she had been able to understand those terms.
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"It means..." Breathed Saeed quietly, his voice didn't raise nor did his heart beat, such as he MIGHT have one, rise or change, "that you are unable to see the bigger tapestry, the bigger connectedness and the oneness. It means that it is never been all about you and there is no time to teach you or train you and I will not have you schemeing against my Father's Intended or my Father. What you are looking at, is a beautiful death." He held her in his arcane field, her soul he captured, her death before that he slowed so she might hear him before she faded. "It means, that you were given ample opportunity to rise to the occassion, to rise above yourself and have failed to do so, Devonna," he whispered into her ear.
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The girl felt herself spin as she fell her skin felt on fire and suddenly she felt a sharp pain in her neck and the feeling below her neck disappeared, as light faded she saw the darkened shadow face of a lich, Saeed Kassim in his demon form.
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It wasn't hard..a thrust..a side slice, gravity and his inner abilities did the rest. Saeed slit the throat for good measure as what had been his sister lay in a crumpled heap upon the ground. He turned her over..cut away her clothing and with a deft skill he sliced into her chest and cut out her heart...still hot. Steaming in the cool night air he held it up, bit into it, chewing it raw. Into a flask he filled with blood until it stopped flowing, which did not take long. That was alright, it was the importance of the ceremony that mattered. The soul he captured at the moment of death and held it in an arcane vessel. A glow began in the sand and what remained caught fire...Saeed made sure it all burned, except for the skull, which charred and smoking he bagged and stood..scanned the stars. He gathered the horses and began the journey to a suitable location from which to jump back to Landunder and see Sammael, Solbaid, Phanes and Elsbeth.
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When Saeed arrived back in Landunder, he presented himself to his father and Sammael, and did so on his knees, he would rise when Solbaid bid him to do so and would only give an explanation when one was asked for, but the blood on his fine clothes and the blood on his face and between his blackhorn face would tell something of the tale, before him he placed his sisters skull, and the sack that contained her heart.
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Solbaid spoke. "What is this? Our son returns but without his sister? Where hast thou traveled my King, Son Lord Kassim? What are these things you lay before us?" The ancient blackhorn rose from the place where he was seated, Elsebeth by his side, Sammael and Phanes seated across. "Where hast thou traveled, my son? Where is our Daughter?" The ancient Blackhorn noted his son the King of the Hassim and the items he produced from within his cloak. He recognized the vessel, the vial...the bejewelled bag, Solbaid knew what those were for. He knew the reasons his son would carry such items. The Lich was, surprised however...so preoccupied had he been, he had not seen his son's enmity. Yet, as he recollected, he could detect none. This intensified the mystery. "Vexed, we are....Our Daughter.." Yet those items Saeed had placed before him, before he bowed to the ground, prostrated before his creator. His son didn't bow to very many, Neffari generally didn't unless they meant deliberately to show respect or subservience. It was rare to see Saeed Kassim prostrate on the ground however, most people found themselves bowing to Saeed. The events spoke to Solbaid, disconcerted though he was with the turn of events. "Saw this...ashamed to say..we did not...What hast thou done...son?" He asked again...knowing the answer, but having to ask just the same. "The end at the beginning before the story unfolds."
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"I have, father...relieved you of a burden. She had no desire to follow your instruction that your current path was the necessary and honourable one. She questioned it openly yet unconstuctively. She questioned your power and wisdom as well M'Lord Sah'mai'el. Father I did what I had to do..." Ouch. Saeed found himself pinned in one of his father's arcane fields. Father was upset. Not an unfounded condition, he had after all just lost his daughter, at the hands of his prized son. Saeed coughed...and breathed...he let his father close in the field an the pain intensified....a gaze to Sammael and a slight shake of the head to say; 'Let him work off the rage, once he sees reason he will understand, even forgive.' "Father," The King of Hassimg Grunted.."I searched her heart, I gave her the lessons that are the foundation of our logic and clan rule. She could not see past why it was necessary for you to set her mother aside and why you made the sacrifice you did. Nor could she see past your love for Elsbeth. Even more telling, she could not and would not understand the debts of honour you have agreed to so you might mend fences with his Lordship Sammael, she wished to stop it. She was willing." Saeed grunted again from his place pinned to the wall and floor. "In time she would have. Search my memory of those events father, you know it to be true. So could Lord Sammael....Phanes..you know I speak the truth.....Father...I only wanted to save you from further sorrow and relieve you of the disappoin-t-ment she would have wrought upon you. She claimed to understand, but did not. Could not favor the logic over her pride." Saeed breathed and relaxed as his father released his hold. He felt memories being invoked in his mind...greeting his sister for the first time...the repeated times he questioned and probed...the ride...the conversations and the arguments, finally the execution. "I brought these back for you father...in accordance with our customs."
Saeed reiterated the skull and the heart and blood, and the vessel that contained the trapped soul. There would be no descent to Acheron nor a rise to anywhere else, and no coming back.
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Solbaid laid his hand upon his projeny's head....the keening wail he let out was not of this world and shook the walls of the place he called domicile. Once the ground settled the ancient Blackhorn looked upon his son...his hand still rested upon Kassim's head. He searched him...he found many things...guile...enjoyment. This was to be expected..he was a Neffari and a Blackhorn after all. Those tribesmen wrote poetry to their weapons! YET, Solbaid could not detect the lie in any thing Saeed had spoken to him. The Dynast could see the lines that Kassim had followed to reach his conclusion. "We are broken... our son. Yet we are filled by the kindness you have given us by sparing our own hand this act. Lost to the lesser charges of the animal heart and mind she would be, given us the raw clay to sculpt anew you have. Waste it not, the love best reserved for others." The Skeletal like grimace of his darkened blackhorn flesh crept into a grin that was rather leering, although this was an effect of the form, rather then the ancient's intent. A wet patch fell from the old demon's eye in the form of a tear. Kassim scooped it up into a little vial. The emotions contained therein could make powerful elixirs when properly distilled. "We have misjudged the beginning... and concluded a false end, our son. Sad we are, and thankful. Angry we are... yet Proud." Sire struck progeny with a vicious backhand that could be heard... and then embraced his son... kissing first his brow and then the point of impact.
"Walked the path well has our son, managed his families honor and satisfied his nature. The truth you have lain bare for us to see. We give thee thanks." And with that, he went back to finishing his meal and admiring the 'artifacts' Kassim had retrieved from the deed. When the meal was done.. and Solbaid and Elsbeth were ready to depart with The Desert Wind, Kassim bid them farewell and returned to Inaaksu where there was other pressing business at hand.
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END CHAPTER
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