[1547] – Y07.047 – Arisa II
‘How many estates does she have?’ Adam thought, eyeing up the greenery within pale homes, the domed buildings the colour of muted gold, a singular gleaming golden sun rose above all, all the while, with the late afternoon sun bearing down upon them, she awaited.
She was as dark as the night, her eyes more golden than amber, her wrinkles only lightly caressing her face. Her heavily printed attire covered her form, light chain peeking through, while a small blade at her side, curved almost like the crescent moon, cost a small fortune, but the large number of guards which remained at the ready, most along the walls, a half dozen around the table, were probably worth far more.
“I see Noor has blessed your journey with safety,” Lady Sabreen al-Yasin, the Faro of Northern Aswadasad, called, the woman standing to greet them respectfully, for though she certainly outranked them all, and though she would not show such humility to the group, it was the first time she had come to meet the President of the United Kindom, who just so happened to be the mother, and the grandmother, of the various children who were currently safe within one of her other estates, and should the unthinkable occur, at the every least the woman may show mercy from the humility she would show, the humility that was to show her such great respect, though she was the Faro. It was her title as a mother, and grandmother, that outranked her title as President, though that alone was enough.
“Yes,” Jurot replied bluntly.
“I welcome you to my humble estate,” the older woman began. “I am Lady Sabreen al-Yasin, Faro of Nothern Aswadasad, the Grand Steward of this fair Arisa.”
“I am Sonarot, President of the United Kindom,” Sonarot replied simply. “This is my brother, Gorot, who, like I, married the children of the Mad Dog, and my cousin, Fakrot, who is his nephew.”
“Good afternoon, Lady al-Yasin,” Gorot greeted.
“It is an honour that you meet these humble Iyrmen,” Fakrot joked, his lips forming a wide grin, though his eye slowly shifted to Kal Fadi, who tensed up from his playfulness. Indeed, for the same blood which ran through the Mad Dog, ran through him, for it was the Mad Dog’s father and mother which Fakrot called his grandfather and grandmother by blood, not by marriage.
“I am certain I must know your fathers and mothers by name,” the Lady replied.
“My father was more active in Aldland, and though he reached the realm of a Grandmaster, he did not surpass my uncle’s reputation,” Fakrot said, his tone light, dangerously so.
“I was born as Gotam, and though my mother’s fame is great, it is my uncle you know.”
‘Tam?’ Lady Sabreen thought, knowing that name. “Is your uncle the Black Shark?”
“In this land, he is known as such, though in Aldland, one may have once known him as the Black Storm,” Gorot replied.
‘Lord Noor, deliver us to safety,’ Lady Sabreen thought, for standing before her were seemingly three unknown Iyrmen, and yet from the overwhelming pressure she could feel from their strength, she was certain it was not just the fact they were related to such monsters which proved their danger. Indeed, just the Mad Dog alone was enough, and yet his own brother was apparently equally as monstrous, and then there was the Black Shark, who could no doubt go blow for blow against the Lion King, and then there was this woman, who was married to the Mad Dog’s own son, and yet it was her ancestor, Hadi Tanagek, who every Aswadian knew, for while there were many a great Iyrmen, in Aswadasad, for the last century, there was none greater than he.
As they settled themselves, the servant brought in large platters of food, as the woman had brought them here to speak of the business, though that did cause her to wonder as to why the likes of Gorot and Fakrot had stepped forward, for they were not of the business.
“I hope you do not mind that I have brought my brothers,” Sonarot said.
“It is a matter which brings no issues,” Lady Sabreen replied.
“At first, father wished to come, but my grandchildren would not give their permission, so he sent his son and his nephew,” Sonarot informed.
“Your father?” Lady Sabreen called, hoping she didn’t mean that man.
“The Mad Dog,” Sonarot confirmed.
Lady Sabreen’s entire body flushed a gentle coolness, that of fear, thankful the Mad Dog had not arrived, for she knew of the rumours, and even if the Mad Dog hadn’t caused such a mess in Aldland, the fact he had gone to slay Forgryn, the Azure Terror, was enough to speak of his strength, of his aptitude, of his attitude. “Shukhur, I must thank the kindness of the children.”
Adam blinked, his eyes turning towards his Aunt, who had managed to overwhelm even the likes of a Faro, considered the equivalent of a Duke or Duchess in Aldland. ‘The Faro is going to live a long life.’
Kitool remained silent, for while the other two Executives were able to show off, wasn’t her own grandaunt no less impressive than the Mad Dog? Except she remained silent, allowing the pair their fun, especially when it came to bullying the Faro, who needed to understand the predicament she was in.
“I feel like we should have brought along grandaunt, though,” Adam began, smiling innocently. “That way Kitool could show off too.”
Lady Sabreen turned to look towards the woman, who remained silent and still, as though she were a ghost.
“My grandaunt is Shaool, of the Ten Paragons,” Kitool explained.
‘Of course she is,’ Lady Sabreen thought, feeling as though she could not feel any more stress. “It is no wonder you are such a great warrior.”
Kitool remained silent, but bowed her head gently, feeling the light tingling sensation of pride prickle the corners of her lips.
“You can say that again,” Adam said, wincing slightly. “It was only a couple of years ago when I saw grandaunt almost kill the Platinum Shield with a single blow.”
“Kal Arabella, the Fariq of the Golden Spears?” Lady Sabreen asked, as though there was another Platinum Shield.
Adam raised a hand and then thrust it vaguely in front of himself. “Just like that, and she fell to her knees, that Fariq who is known as the Grand Commander of the Golden Spears.”
Kitool sat a little taller, for it was her grandaunt, Shaool, one of the Ten Paragons, who had struck the Grand Commander of the Golden Spears in the side, and forced her to take a knee with a single blow. The chances had been slim, perhaps only one in ten, and yet it just so happened that Fate had conspired to be that way. “Grandaunt did not wish to kill the Grand Commander, but it was a situation in which her hands were forced.”
Lady Sabreen almost made the blunder of asking what kind of situation it was, but there was only one situation that could have been it, for it was the situation which had caused even her to step down and meet the Iyr at their level, which had led to them sitting before her, and for her to show respect to the woman sitting opposite her, not as the President of the United Kindom, but as a mother and grandmother.
As the meal continued, a small girl adorned in blue approached, a plain white scarf loosely hung around her head. She was small, a girl of seven, perhaps, with a shy smile as she approached her grandmother. Her companion was a woman adorned in a simpler white, carrying a longblade at her side, a silent guard who remained ever vigilant, and though the figures before her could certainly slay her, she would still draw her blade if it was required.
“Asaym, Mo,” the girl said, her eyes peeking particularly curiously towards the half elf.
“Walay, Young Lady Hassa,” the half elf replied.
“Good afternoon,” the girl said in the dragon’s tongue, causing the half elf to smile.
“Good afternoon,” the half elf replied in the same tongue, causing her to smile even more brightly. ‘It seems the Faro is going to live twice as long as I thought.’
Quest Complete!
XP Gained: +500
One might have thought the handing of magical weapons was the most important event between them, and one might have thought the little Hassa, the Faro’s granddaughter, eyeing up the magical blade that was to be gifted to her father, was the most important event between them, or perhaps the fact the United Kindom accepted the request for ten Greater weapons, but the Faro knew, for the one who was called the Crazy Father, it was meeting with Hassa, allowing them to speak freely, which was the most important event at this time.
Tomorrow, however, would either have a greater event, or it would be an event in which the meeting between Adam and Hassa would allow her to claim a mercy. The Lady prayed the Executives would bring their entire families with them, for the Iyr would not step forward if their children were safe, but in case the half elf went too far, his wife, a Ray of Hope, was required.
PATREON LINK
Expect a few additional chapters later this month because I have received an influx of new patrons recently!