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 Posted: Wed Dec 18, 2013 8:26 pm
 To be a member of a herd--any herd--was to have a purpose to fulfill in the workings of the herd. For Haidar, the youngest (so far) child of Shah Ryar and Scheherezade, he had been tasked as a member of the royal guard since he was a yearling, and he had taken to the job with only minimal reluctance. While it was true that he would much rather be an adviser to the king like his brothers Adel and Saafir, he would rather have the duty of protecting the royal family than the odious task of commanding the army, like Shahzad. Haidar was not violent by nature--he knew how to fight, and he had a knowledge of military strategy earned from books, but he did not like fighting. Fighting got people hurt and distracted them from more important things, like laws and proper functions and engineering projects and suchlike. Thankfully, while being a royal guard did mean that he had to keep his fighting skills in shape through constant practice, it did mean that he spent most of his day with the royal women.
This was a blessing because it meant he was in near-constant contact with his mother. She was wise and knowledgeable, something he'd known since he was a foal, but better appreciated now that he'd spent more time with her as an adult. Yes. This was a fine job, when there was someone to talk to (even though he was supposed to be concentrating on his surroundings). Scheherezade, however, was not always around--sometimes, she went to other places and took other guards to guard her. Today, Haidar was tasked with watching over his niece, Sooraya.
He didn't know Sooraya very well. She spent a lot of her time with the queen or with Adel. She seemed...alright. She was also older than Haidar, but he didn't see how that mattered. She was a mare. That's what she was. And he was a royal guard. He stood watching her from the side, ears perked as he listened for any sound of danger, his body stiff and formal in this unknown kinswoman's presence.
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Posted: Sat Jan 11, 2014 11:35 pm
Sooraya lay on lavish blankets covering the sand on assignment from her grandmother to read more of the history of the herd which they lived before and the kingdoms around it. Those places outside of the boarders of Persia as it was called were what Sooraya truly found interesting there were some places that valued mares far more, places where mares didn't have to be covered head to toe in cloth. Taking it off was an insulting sign to the god Allah. Often she wished for an escape
Being one the three mares in a rather large family of male supremacists was not easy to make matters even worse she was the oldest, older most of her uncles. There was at least one uncle she enjoyed spending time with. As often as she could without drawing the suspicion of her charming uncle Shahzad she would be with uncle Adel.
But today unfortunately she was under watch of her youngest uncle Haidar. It was always him or latif, but today latif was with grandmother and Haidar with her. She was still unsure of her uncle. Sooraya knew he enjoyed books and did not delight in being guard as much as he would have liked another job. But everyone in the family knew that. Still from time to time as she read her ears flicked back and her gaze flowed to her uncle who stood silent before quickly returning to the page.
Though her attention set on a Familiar approaching form,
The golden stallion approached he had only just finished inspecting the boarder guard by order of his father, having some Free time before his next required task he had come to see his daughter. She must be bored, like always. She was troublesome without a doubt, most swore his son and daughter had switched bodies in the womb. Neither were what Kamal's father wanted. they didn't fit perfectly into their roles, but Kamal couldn't help but be amused. As often this lead his daughter to fight with his own father. Not that it reflected well on him, he did his best to smooth everything over. That was his job as heir after all.
The two were his children and he was proud of them for trying hard to live up to the expectations they had been given despite the trials they faced often trying to hide their opposite personalities.
"Daughter, Brother" He greeted announcing his approach as they came into view. Sooraya was looking through a book. His mother always had something for his daughter to do she'd never be idle for long that way.
((Adding Kamal for a bit He'll leave shortly he just came to check up on his daughter make sure she wasn't causing trouble.
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Ice_Dragon_Demon
Ice_Dragon_Demon
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2014 4:01 pm
Haidar found himself peeking over his niece's shoulder before too long. He had been rather determinedly not listening to his mother's instructions to Sooraya--to have listened would have been eavesdropping. But now that Mother had left, Haidar was curious as to what Sooraya was doing. Especially since she appeared to be reading. Haidar had read most of the family's tomes dozens of times since he was a foal, and liked to believe he could identify a book by its shape and size. From the looks of it, Sooraya was reading one of their history texts. Of course--history was a very important study, even for a mare. Well, it was, wasn't it? A mare should know at least enough about politics to understand the importance of her duty to the family. If she took an interest in learning actively, so much the better.
What all did Sooraya know? She was older than he was--by the time he was born, most of her lessons had been long since over. Or at least, the lessons that both stallion and mare in a noble family got. For all he knew, there was woman stuff she'd learned after he was born, but he didn't want to know. There were some things stallions were not meant to know, and anything that had to be taught to a woman behind a screen was at the top of the list. But if Sooraya was reading a book, then she must have something more to learn...
Before Haidar could dare to ask, his eldest brother walked in. He nodded gravely to his brother. "Good day, brother. How fares the herd?" Kamal was usually off at their father's side, doing the things all good crown princes should do. What was Kamal here to do? Check to see if they'd set the pillows on fire? He wouldn't do that, and there was no way Sooraya would, either.
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Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:35 am
Sooraya could feel her uncle hovering over her. He seemed interested in what she was reading, unsurprisingly he spend almost as much time in the archive as Grandmother had once. Sooraya always had something grandmother wanted her to learn. Sooraya didn't pay as much attention as she should so lessons were constantly repeated. Sooraya would quite gladly give Haidar the book if they could only switch places for a while. But alas such thoughts had to be kept to herself. But haidar was rather adorable for being her young uncle. A little awkward too it seemed she wanted to tease him. With father here that was probably not a good idea.
Father had come to visit, no doubt make sure she wasn't causing trouble. The last thing she wanted was to deal with her grandfather. Again. She had been rather outspoken before her uncles had been born. Sooraya smiled up at her father.
"Hello father," the Mare stood as her father arrived the bowed low as was traditional. She did not say anything else as Haidar began talking to her father. She wasn't supposed to say anything else after all. No one ever was supposed to hear what a mare had to say. They were there only to be mysterious beauties.
Kamal smiled at his daughter as she bowed. She was behaving thus far and hadn't tried to give Haidar the slip as she'd done to guards before. It took Kamal to find her again amongst the common folk. Why did did that multiple times Kamal probably would never fully understand. Kamal proud of his daughter trying to put that all behind since the birth of his brothers and sister. she had been shaping up rather well. Every so often though she would still headbut the king of kings.
To Haidar Kamal gave his brother a nod. With a smile he gave his brother a nudge "Don't be so grave brother, I am not here on business." Poor Haidar was always so nervous when he was away from his books. To answer Haidar's rather stiff question however. "The herd fares well Haidar, it's quiet," Kamal told Haidar only some minor disputes with a trading caravan had to be settled."
Seeing as things were rather uneventful and seemingly going well. "I only came to see how my brother and lovely daughter were getting along." Kamal glanced at the sun after a while checking for the time. "I must leave again... Herd work is never finished it seems"
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Ice_Dragon_Demon
Ice_Dragon_Demon
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Posted: Wed Jul 30, 2014 5:12 pm
Haidar quickly stepped away from his niece's shoulder as she stood up to bow to her father. It wasn't just to get out of her way--he didn't want anyone to think he was nosy. Hovering over someone as they read, well. That was definitely something he didn't want to be caught doing. Especially since it was a thing he most emphatically hated other people doing. It struck him as rude, annoying, intrusive, and, well, something that Shouldn't Be Done. And yet, I find myself doing so unto Sooraya. An apology is certainly in order.
Had Kamal really needed to check in on them? Well, if he insisted, then surely he must have felt the need for it somehow. He didn't question his eldest brother and future leader. There wasn't any need for it, even if it made a silent part of him roll its eyes in annoyance. They were doing perfectly fine without supervision--ahem. "We seem to be getting along without friction, brother," he murmured. "Should anything arise I cannot handle, I assure you, you will be the first to hear of it." Not that he was sure how he would do that. Haidar was not a stallion who thought well on his feet, being more inclined towards planning and thinking long and hard before taking an action. It was just something in his nature, he supposed. A result of reading too many books, perhaps. It might not, he reflected, make him the best of guards, but to be a guard was his task in life. There was no questioning it.
Kamal stayed a while longer than Haidar was quite comfortable with. But when his brother finally left, he murmured to Sooraya, "I apologize for looking over your shoulder, Princess Sooraya. To do so was indecent, and for that I am ashamed."
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Posted: Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:01 am
Yes they were doing juuust fine. Holding in a giggle, Sooraya wondered if Haidar could actually handle her if she was ever to be allowed to show herself. Most of her family probably couldn't she decided quickly. Why would she have to hide otherwise?
Sooraya smiled softly with her eyes as the corners of her mouth beneath her veil rose just slightly "It was not you that needed checking on." she spoke softly once her father was out of earshot. he must have thought she'd get into trouble again. She certainly loved her father, and he didn't want anything bad to happen to her as he knew her personality the best despite her attempts to hide it. he knew how she disliked playing mare, she'd rather play soldier. Sooraya's attention switched from her father to her uncle as he spoke up. worried about looking over her shoulder. Such a thing was trivial, there was always someone looking over her shoulder or their own to keep an eye on her.
"My Uncle, I do not mind I am used to many looking over my shoulder for more than simply a book." she returned her gaze to the book "You are forgiven Uncle do not feel ashamed." her eye flitted back to Haidar.
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Ice_Dragon_Demon
Ice_Dragon_Demon
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Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2019 9:46 pm
At least Sooraya was not offended. That was very good--he'd been worried that he had upset his niece, which was something he did not want to do. He didn't want to do that to anyone, let alone a member of his own family. He wasn't sure he liked her comment about looking over her shoulder for more than simply a book--had someone been harassing her? Did this need to be reported? She didn't seem disturbed by it, and if anyone had been discourteous to her, surely they would have found out, her uncles were here to protect her all day, every day...
But the more interesting idea in Sooraya's reply was her comment about being checked on. She found that amusing--why? Was Kamal checking on her? Was it because he didn't trust Haidar to keep her safe?
Or was it about Sooraya? Was he checking on her specifically? He'd heard a few veiled (pun not intended) references in the past to Sooraya acting in a way that did not befit a princess, but no one had been willing to discuss it in any detail. Apparently it had been a shameful episode that everyone wanted to put behind them as soon as physically possible. Why that should be so...
Suddenly Haidar was much more interested in Sooraya than he had been before. There was something lurking behind that veil, and he wondered what it was--and what it meant. Surely she wouldn't mean her family any harm, so what could it be if it wasn't the worst? What was the best-case scenario? What was going on behind that veil?
Perhaps there was a way to find out without being nosy...no, there wasn't. But he knew enough about women to know that they wouldn't give him a straight answer on something that was deemed improper. He couldn't get to know her outright, she would never talk to him if he did.
But that didn't mean he couldn't ask questions. "A History of Persia and the Surrounding Kingdoms. That is a fine book. I'm not sure I completely agree with the author's view of the Mongolian Invasion, but I suppose everyone has their own views." He shifted on his feet. "Do you like studying history, my niece?"Ice_Dragon_Demon [ Facepalm] Haidar, you do not know women. Let us make that abundantly clear. You do not understand women.
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