"Honor for All Eternity" Log Date: 1/4, 1/5/00 Log Cast: Numair, Faanshi Log Intro: After weeks of quiet duty healing the oppressed people of Clan Behzad, the shudra healer Faanshi has learned anew of the kind of power a Warlord can command over his people -- especially when his mind has been warped by madness and grief. She has learned as well of the desperate measures a Clan will take when they have suffered too greatly -- even at the hand of their own Warlord. Sakhr of Behzad has attempted to 'purify' the women of the Clan, by taking the sword to each of them. And his Nayaka Numair, driven by fury he could no longer suppress, has risen up with his own loyal men behind him and overthrown him, determined to save the Clan from his madness. Faanshi has lived among Clan Behzad as 'Yamineh', slipped into their Hall by the order of the Foreign Minister Ranjeet Khalida, as part of his secret efforts to aid Behzad with or without its Warlord's consent. Ordered to act in secret, she has revealed her activities in the Clanhall to no one save the Nayaka, the Ushasti priestess Devi, and another young Ushasti healer named Kerani who has smuggled herself into the Hall to aid Devi. In the chaos that followed the uprising, even though she has spent much of her remaining strength, she has managed to get out of the Hall and back to Atesh-Gah with no one else the wiser as to her whereabouts or her recent actions. And as far as the young halfbreed is concerned, her part in the crisis that gripped Clan Behzad is done. Her mind and heart have turned toward searching the city for the dog and the Mongrel bard who are the two creatures dearest to her, who have gone missing. Bur as it happens, he who has claimed Clan Behzad is not quite yet done with her... *===========================< In Character Time >===========================* Time of day: Night (Duskside) Date on Aether: Thursday, October 26, 3905. Year on Earth: 1505 A.D. Phase of the Moon: Waxing Crescent Season: Fall Weather: Clear Skies Temperature: Warm *==========================================================================* Fountain - Courtyard - Atesh-Gah - Haven Concealed within the ring of tall, carefully groomed bushes and the oddly comforting sight of droop-branched willows, is the merry and gurgling presence of a marble fountain. As meticulously cleaned as the rest of Atesh-Gah seems to be, the intricate stonework deceptively simple in appearance. Perhaps ten feet across, the fountain itself is filled with clear, cool water that bubbles forth from a raised pedestal in the centre of the great circle. Carefully tended gardens of bright flowers provide a colourful trim to the circle of trees, their combined scent filling the air with a subtle and sweet fragrance. The temptation to linger here and bask in the soothing feast of the senses is only increased by the presence of the four stone benches that are placed around the fountain. You notice, through the thick greenery of bushes and ferns, a small clearing to the north. Contents: Numair Obvious exits: Courtyard Walking around the fountain slowly, his odd golden eyes glittering in the slight light, Numair seems almost sad, an odd thing to see on the usually either jovial or neutral countenance of the one-time Dark General. His regalia has changed little. The ebon armor and blood-red cape still there. Yet there are changes. From the finely wrought silver Warlords emblem(sp?) on his shoulder to the slightly commanding air about him even in this serene moment. Finally he stops, hands on the edge of the fountain and his head held forward to look into the water, midnight black hair falling forward to slightly conceal his face. Into this tranquil environment, from the hidden grotto to the north where discreetly posted guards bar the way to any but the women of Atesh-Gah, a new element introduces itself. Or, rather, herself. Faanshi slips away from the shrine of Ushas, finished with her evening prayers, and moves on soft sandaled feet to continue on her way -- past the fountain, and ultimately, out again into the streets of Haven. She has a search to continue, for all that the notion of venturing into the streets of Haven after dark sends a spill of panic down her spine. But the tall, dark figure at the fountain, espied from several feet away, gives her a sharp and entirely unexpected jolt. A tiny gasp escapes her, and she shoots an anxious glance past him, trying to see if she can slip past unnoticed. Hearing the gasp break the tranquil silence of this place, Numair turns to the noise in a liquid movement of pure speed, his blood red cloak whipping about him and forming an odd cloud of cloth. His golden eyes twinkle with something akin to ammusement as he sees the 'attacker'. His tension drains away and he performs a quite formal bow to this young woman rising as he states in that deep, purring voice I'm sure she remembers "Namaste Imphada." again with the formalities. But what can you say to a new Warlord I suppose. Although Numair isn't the first man to show her such deference, it still bothers Faanshi deeply to be bowed to and thusly addressed. Moreover, the girl starts with shock at the sound of the big Varati's voice, for he is the last person she expected to see here in Atesh-Gah -- though on the heels of her astonishment comes a surge of self-directed annoyance, for if he is to lead Clan Behzad now, would it not make sense for him to be in Atesh-Gah if he must speak with the Khalid and his Queen? _Foolish shudra,_ she chides herself, even as she swiftly sketches a deep bow over her own and murmurs, "Namaste', imphadi, forgive my intrusion u-upon your solitude... I was passing through..." The halfbreed girl speaks as softly as she ever does, putting into play a vague hope that if she does not meet the new Warlord's eyes, perhaps he will not know her. A small grin plays over this dark warriors lips, a smile of mixed ammusement and playfulness as he steps forward towards the shudra girl, cloak flowing behind like water. Tilting his head to one side after reaching a few feet from her, Numair reaches a hand out slowly to touch her chin and tilt it up to look him in the eye. Upon seeing those eyes, his thoughts are confirmed and he steps back, brushes a strand of ebon hair from his eyes and raises an eyebrow. Upon taking this stance he smiles and queries deeply "What little one? Have I now joined the ranks of those you fear once again?" If her voice hadn't given her way, Faanshi's eyes would have done the job for her. Those big Sylvan-green orbs are undoubtedly the same pair of eyes last glimpsed above a veil of red, and now they widen in startlement as their owner is made to look up. How in the name of Ushas can she answer a comment like _that_? Oh, I don't fear you, imphadi -- much? Don't take it personally, imphadi, I'm just scared of -all- men who have the power to have me beaten, and among the Children of Fire that's everybody? Don't mind me, Warlords just frighten me because the first one I knew -- well, Faanshi shan't dwell on that. What finally pops out from behind her azure veil, though, is a timorous but earnest "May the Khalid's blessings rest upon you in your new duties, Imphadi." A low chuckle emits from this tall Kshatri's throat, his humor obvious as he moves to sit on the edge of the marble fountain, looking to the shudra girl, his golden eyes twinkling. Finally he relents to the words "I'm sorry, little one. That was a baited question. Although I thank you for the proclaiment of His blessings. I can only hope that I can recieve such a gift. So, are you glad to be rid of the confinement of our small Clan Hall?" Is that another baited question? Faanshi does not shift from foot to foot, nervous though she is; this man is a Warlord now, and it would simply not do to fidget in front of him. She holds herself very still, hands clasped at her waist before her, her gaze once more demurely lowered. "I am relieved that my duty has been fulfilled," she murmurs towards her feet. Another sly smile plays before he replies "And a duty well-done it was. Whether you claim it or not. In any event, you have the honor and gratitude of I and my Clan for all eternity." Ohh dear. _That_ does make Faanshi start, ever so slightly, despite eighteen years' worth of the hard-learned lesson that a halfbreed shudra does not so much as breathe without a Warlord's given leave. But _this_ Warlord is... grateful to her? For all eternity? He _and_ his Clan? Heat suffuses her face behind her veil at the thought, and all she can manage by way of reply is to mumble in a tiny, embarrassed voice, "It was my honor, Imphadi, to serve your people..." A loud, full laugh echos from this mans chest to resound among the darked trees around him. Numair looks to her shaking his head and then slips off the stones to bow gracefully "You are a truly unique woman, Imphada. But you really should learn to relax around some people. Myself included. I must be on my way though. I only stopped by to relax and look about the garden. I have thought of perhaps having one built within my own Hall." In consternation, not at all certain what she said that's so funny, Faanshi steals a peek over the top of her veil. "Um... as you say, Imphadi," she murmurs then. Another shudra's lesson: agree with whatever your betters have to say to you of you, no matter how strange their words might happen to be. And strange indeed does the healer girl find this notion of _relaxing_ around a man. A Mongrel man, perhaps. But a pure-blooded Varati? And a _Warlord_ to boot? Surely such a thing wouldn't be _proper_, but she isn't about to point this out. Shudra do not go about correcting the manners of Warlords, either. The only sign of her discomfort is the way she scuffs a sandaled foot against the cobblestones on which she stands, and even that is brief, for she quickly stops even that minor fidgeting. Numair releases a small chuckle once again before bowing deeply and saying "Fare thee well, little shudra." Immediately afterwords he begins striding out of the area with that characteristic fluidity of his. [End log.]