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 Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:33 am
Faisal winced as the needle cut through his arm once more. The hot metal stung but it was the herbal infused thread that made his skin crawl. Still, it was a necessity to hold his skin together from where an assassin's rugged blade had cut through earlier that night. The most uncomfortable part was his mother was the one doing the sewing, her deft fingers working magic and a salve together with the tightly woven thread allowing the skin to slowly heal together. “Thank you again.” Faisal managed once the needle finally stopped moving, the pale Matorian before him sitting back and wiping the needle free of blood and tying the final strands of thread together.
Even now that the night was over, Faisal still felt tension in every part of his being. Capturing Zyn had not been an easy feat and they were not completely finished with the assassin because of the information they were seeking about Sariza’s hidden pursuers. Who was behind all of this? What had happened all of those years ago to the other noble family? There were still so many things to discover and while Faisal had not wanted to involve his mother she was the only one nearby that could stitch up his wounds and not give away that he had been involved in last night’s fight in Sulburi.
[Faisal 1]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“You wouldn’t have to thank me if you weren’t so reckless.” Chastised Arima as she finished wiping the cloth across the needle, tucking the metal back into place within her healer’s kit before setting the cloth on fire with a snap of her fingers. The material crumbled into ashes, hiding evidence that she had even dealt with a wound today as she tucked the kit back into the shelves of her study. “You should have listened to your grandmother and stayed in Matori.” She added with a golden glare sent towards her oldest child.
[Arima 1]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“I know.” Faisal winced at the accusation as he sat up and carefully tugged his tunic back over the injured arm. Thankfully now that it was stitched up the wound would heal within a couple of days and none would be the wiser that Faisal had even gotten into any sort of fight. “But we couldn’t have hidden ourselves in Matori forever.” He added quietly as he looked towards his mother. “What was I supposed to do? Let someone hunt us down or allow whoever destroyed Sariza’s family to continue living as they pleased?” He could barely stand living in Matori for that year like they had with their sons. Faisal could not imagine having to just raise their boys outside of Sulburi, away from their family home, and jumping at every shadow which dared to linger too close to their family’s hidden manor in Matori.
[Faisal 2]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“Still.” Arima let out a sigh and twisted her hair back over her shoulder. “I just want you to be safe…” She managed with a sad smile, her expression softening now that her worry and anger had calmed down. Seeing Faisal bleeding from such a severe wound had gotten her heart racing, her stomach in knots and she could not help but to rush to his aid. Now that the wound was taken care of and her son safely at home the Matori healer was busy trying to untangle the full story and figure out her own feelings concerning everything that was going on with her son and daughter-in-law.
“We’ve already lost so much that I don’t want to lose you, as well.”
[Arima 2]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“Mother.” Faisal’s heart twisted at that familiar expression on Arima’s face. He had seen it too many times over the years since losing his father and even as things seemed to get better there were times when he would catch her glancing at familiar spots with that expression. His father’s disappearance had harmed all of them in some fashion, his brother leaving to travel the world not helping either - especially since they rarely heard from him now. “I promise you that I will be okay. I’m doing this to make certain that all of us are okay.” Faisal reached his good hand out towards his mother and rested it on her shoulder. Even if they had not been able to spend a lot of time together the last couple of years because of his role as heir and his sudden transition into fatherhood with its surprising dangers, Faisal still knew that his mother would do her best for them and constantly worried over their well-being.
[Faisal 3]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“I could have helped.” Arima protested as she reached up her hand to cover Faisal’s hand that was resting on her shoulder. “You forget that I’m not a delicate creature. Petite certainly but far from delicate.” Her expression shifted as she glanced towards her taller and more muscular child. Both of her sons had taken more after their father, but hints of her presence were there within their teal hair and those golden eyes that gleamed with a mixture of strength taken from both parents. “I was not always your mother and was in the military for a few years before raising you.” She had worked hard to become a healer and a fighter that could survive out in the desert where she had reunited with Saraf so many years ago. Even if she taught healing now and stayed mostly within Sulburi and Jatine it did not mean she was soft or delicate by any means.
[Arima 3]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
Faisal smiled. “I know. You’ve definitely shown me that while I was growing up.” He knew his mother was strong but seeing how defeated she appeared after losing their father…how could he burden her with these worries? Guilt twisted his gut and Faisal frowned. “You also have Alinta to worry over now, so I did not want to get you involved with something so risky. Who will be left to take over the family in the worst case scenario? Grandmother cannot bear this all on her own either.” His grandmother had been in such a tricky state for so many years because of her illness, finally getting cured and recovering had taken more years and now even though she was doing much better the older Oban woman knew that her life was reaching its final chapters which would leave Faisal to take over completely in the near future. If something happened to both him and his mother then who would help take care of everything? He also did not want to think of Sariza as being alone, not after everything that she had already endured.
[Faisal 4]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
“Alinta.” Arima repeated her adopted daughter’s name and let out a sigh. “I don’t want you to think that I’ve abandoned anyone because I adopted a child.” She shook her head. The timing had been impeccable, but she had just learned about Sariza’s pregnancy after applying for Alinta’s adoption. The hybrid youngling was sleeping soundly in her room right now and Arima could not bear the thought of leaving her behind either. It was her hope that the girl could grow up strong and help to protect the family, acting as a guard to the boys’ who were just over a year or so younger than she was. “The last couple of years have been a bit crazy with you getting engaged, having children and now also becoming a brother all over again.” She added as she squeezed her son’s fingers. “I’m sorry that you have to shoulder all of this, Faisal. I want to do what I can to help so you do not have to worry about me.”
[Arima 4]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:34 am
Faisal let out a soft chuckle. “Don’t worry. I’m rather glad you adopted little Ali.” He replied as he thought about the feisty youngling with her golden appearance that brought a light into the room. While she was well behaved now he wondered how well she would get along with two boys when they finally settled back in Sulburi. It definitely would be a lively few years in the manor once everything was resolved. It was nice knowing that his mother would have company now, someone to take care of instead of simply mourning those that they had lost over the years. Even if Alinta would not completely wipe away the painful memories, Faisal hoped that she could create new and happier ones for his mother’s sake.
“I know you want to help us.” Faisal began slowly as he thought over things. “The issue is I believe it’s more complicated than just some revenge filled mobs.” The hybrid admitted with a sigh. “It’s a game being played by one of the noble families that would love to keep Sariza from receiving her inheritance and now the boys are going to be targets since they’ll be her heirs.” He had hoped no one would dare to touch their family but desperation forced a hand, especially when wealth and power was at stake.
[Faisal 5]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
At least her son didn’t hold her decision to adopt a child against her. Arima was thankful that Faisal was such a considerate son despite everything. He truly had grown up into a fine young man, hadn’t he? She’d seen so many noble children grow up into arrogant choice words and the like, but Faisal seemed to be doing the best considering everything that had happened in their lives and their family’s own power in Sulburi. Now came the worry that someone was trying to displace them and their happiness, something that made Arima’s blood boil. “These games are ridiculous.” She replied with a frown. “Why can’t these families be satisfied with what they have or properly work towards new goals instead of destroying others for them?” She shook her head in frustration. She hated dealing with nobility which was why she had taken the path of healing over everything else. Her work was with charities and helping to teach new healers so that she could help those in need, not trample over them.
“I’m assuming we can’t just take some fighters and drag your noble opponents out of hiding, correct?” That would have been the best option for her or Saraf if he were still around. Arima winced at the thought. They were a bit more military minded than those who dealt with the council and the intricacies of politics. Arima was shrewd but honest and could not stand the lying and the connections that had to be made in order to establish and keep power within the city. She hated that Faisal was involved in such politics but it was for the sake of their family since her mother needed an heir and an Oban hybrid would be far better accepted than a strange Matori girl like Arima.
[Arima 5]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
“Correct.” Replied Faisal though a laugh escaped him at the thought. As frustrating as it was the idea of just dragging out some of those nobles by their hair to fight them directly was amusing. He could imagine the look on some of their faces, a few in particular that he dealt with on the council, but in the end such action would only cause more chaos and not truly resolve the hidden issues. “The best we can do now is investigate and pull together the missing pieces and evidence. Once I have enough I can present my case and try to right the wrongs of the past, regain Sariza’s family name and power.” Her stepping up as heir to that line would be plenty to send waves through Sulburi, but to truly uncover the reason her parents had died could inflict punishment on those who still threatened them today. That was what Faisal truly wanted - to put that family of wrong doers behind bars and watch their power fall since they had only grabbed so much power from destroying other lives.
[Faisal 6]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
A sigh left Arima’s lips and she slumped in her chair as she accepted the frustrating truth of the situation. “So it’s a waiting game then. I can use my healers in the city to try and piece together information, if I can.” Healers were good at gathering more information than what others realized. Even the worst of villains had to take care of themselves, especially after a midnight scuffle in the city. Arima could easily ask her students for their help and use Lord Koriyan’s contacts to try and keep the trail from going obviously back to Faisal and their own family.
“The boys will be safe here so that you can do what is necessary with Sariza.” Arima promised as she studied her son. “Nothing will touch them or this estate on my watch.” She would not be going to Jatine like usual and would stay in Sulburi to help protect the children. “Hopefully you do not come back like today, but I will also be here to stitch up any additional wounds or to put broken bones back into place.”
[Arima 6]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
“Just be careful.” Warned Faisal before finally moving away from his mother’s side, rotating his injured arm and testing its limits. It seemed he could move it as long as he did so carefully so as to not strain the wound. “I’ll trust you to take care of things whenever we’re away.” He smiled towards his mother as he brushed past her to grab some blank parchment. “And I promise to try and not come back with any wounds like this one. I won’t be as reckless moving forward.” Men had been killed last night and Faisal refused to see it happen again, not now that they finally had the assassin.
“We will be going to the Ruzicka estate next.” He added quietly. “Now that our immediate threat is taken care of we want to explore the grounds and see if any clues have been left behind from the accident that happened years ago.”
[Faisal 7]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
“Then we should go see my mother since she may have helpful information for your visit to that place.” Arima stood from her chair and brushed her hands against her silk skirts. “If I recall correctly then that place is abandoned but dangerous because it was never claimed and the crown decided to wait on the matter. Wasn’t that the estate that was rumored to be haunted?” She asked with a thoughtful frown. It suddenly made sense why her mother had been so adamant that Faisal and his brother stay far away while other teens were making dares to go and stay the night or investigate for spooky thrills.
[Arima 7]
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Posted: Fri Feb 25, 2022 9:35 am
“Yes.” Faisal confirmed with a shake of his head. “It’s strange that the property was just left to rot, but I suppose the damages that Sariza’s grandfather made during the war did nothing to make the estate easier to transfer.” The crown was also not too keen on relocating such a powerful family’s estate and often would give time for any heirs to step forward, something that was finally happening now that Sariza and Faisal were in Oba again. He doubted they would want the estate but maybe it could be repurposed for something once they had the time to properly search the estate and take in all of the damages and secrets hidden within.
“I was hoping to not worry grandmother with this, but I suppose it would be foolish to not speak with her.” He admitted as he followed his mother towards the study doors. His grandmother had been friends with the family, her support of Sariza’s parents the very reason she had opted to pull Sariza in as Faisal’s fiancee.
[Faisal 8]
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