The Sands of Saria

Sati

"You should rest, Princess," he said, still smiling a bit because of the fairies. Little children were so easy to convince that everything is real. Though, it's not that they aren't real, they are just not really near the palace as often as this girl may want them to be. She seemed to still think about that, but pouted a little as he said his last line.

“I'm not sleepy... I can't rest anyway, I just start crying again.” She started in a tone of normal conversation, ending in a whisper too close to tears for Sati to ignore.

“You miss him," he said carefully. "Don't you?"
“I want him back..." Saja hugged herself, probably without even noticing it, and stared at some spot on her sheets. "I wish he could come back.”

Wrong thing to say, little girl. He stepped away, feeling the power of her words trying to pull him closer. As if long tentacles of something dark, threaded with deep scent he couldn't possibly ignore, crawled over the floor and walls and caught him in some kind of a cocoon. He made an effort not to show the feelings in his eyes, but the princess turned pale nevertheless.

“ Oh I didn't mean it like that!" She yelled, her eyes wide opened "It wasn't a real wish- Sati don't go!”
She ran to him and she hugged him, second before he managed to become immaterial again. That left him speechless, and he lost himself for a moment as the girl cried in his shirt. I don't recall anyone hugging me before.
“Please don't leave me too- I don't want to be alone anymore! It wasn't a real wish, I-I know he can't come back.... a-a-and wishing like that would be a wicked thing to do.” she took a shuddery breath, “Papa is in heaven, and a wish like that would be a naughty thing to do... He's v-very happy in heaven.”
Her voice didn't turn to whisper slowly this time - it just broke, lost in the sobs. The stories of Heaven, that Sati couldn't understand. He knew that people died. He knew that he could wake them up for a price. What the dead did in between, he neither knew nor cared - that one wasn't his kingdom. But if this little girl wanted to believe that no one could bring her father and that he's happier in Heaven than here, he decided, he'll go with it. Aside that it was fairly arguable whether any divine creature would let him go to heaven.

He stroked her hair gently. I don't like tears. He sighed, still fighting with his natural self. It would be so easy to convince her that he can bring her Papa back.. So easy that it almost scared him. But he couldn't quite stop himself from fulfilling something.
“What do you wish for Little Saja?” He was surprised by the silent tone he spoke in. Not even a whisper, yet still he hoped that she can't hear the desire in his voice. The girl shrugged, not moving her face from his shirt. He was taller than most humans, and she was a little lady, so the tip of her head just reached his chest.

“Nothing...” she said- voice muffled against his shirt, “ I don't need anything.” she looked up, and he could see the tears in her eyes. He had to resist his need to wipe them away using his abilities. He could make her forget, he could make her not care so much. But no. That just wouldn't be fair.
"What about you?" She asked, catching him unprepared. "What do you wish for?"

He couldn't speak for a moment, just staring back at her. The last man to ask him that, many years ago, was the master who set him free - he was manipulated to do so by Sati himself, and it destroyed almost everything that made him human, but still, he asked the same question. And Sati had other wishes now. Wishes that he couldn't fulfill for himself, and wishes that would make this girl see him as an enemy. But she was too young to hear about his ideas, and she didn't stand in his way - so he lied, or better said, manipulated the truth a little.
"Right now," he said, "I wish those tears disappeared from your eyes. You will miss a lot of people in your life, and if you cry so much for each, this city will be lying in an ocean."
She smiled a little, somewhat shy smile.
"Sati? Can you make the fairies come again?"
He almost laughed, recalling the way Saja's fairies looked.
"Sure," he said, touching the door. It unlocked, the princess took is hand and they left to the garden.

Sati watched her as she played with his flying inventions, his thoughts fleeing back to her question.
I wish my brothers and sisters to be free. I wish my kind to get justice and to get to chose who to serve. I wish to make your kind understand that having someone to control isn't what real power should be. And when I find the way, I will bring your world on its knees.
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Posting a profile for Amir and Kassim's Mother because shes leaving an empty spot :3

Name: Queen Sarah

Age: 44

Gender: Female

Role: Queen and head wife, mother of Amir and Kassim

Description: Coming from the North, Sarah has a pale complexion that shes very proud of. Emeer used to compliment her on that and her beautiful black curls. But shes getting wrinkled and uses too much makeup to compensate and her hair is graying. She looks grat for her age, but she doesn't believe it. Mostly because of Emeer. She still tends to care very much about her appearance and likes to where northern fashion even in the dessert heat.

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Personality: Sarah is incredibly vain and spiteful. She gets jealous easily and has a particular dislike of people she considers beneath her. Which is most people. Shes very resentful.

Skills: Kassim inherited his magic from her, although she isn't trained like her son was.

History: Sarah was just a girl when it was announced that she was going to cement the ties between her families empire and the significant trading city of Saria. Shes was always bitter about that, but her acrimony was tempered when she found out what she could gain. She and Emeer found kindred spirits in each other, which was not a good thing. They liked to mess with one another too much. Sarah spent her life trying to be a proper wife to him and keep him out of the arms of other women. A battle she found herself losing more drastically every year, despite giving him three sons.

Other: Kassim is her particular favourite, since he takes after her rather than his father and wasn't the most loved of Emeer. She's siding with him is the coming fight for the throne

Up for love: Yes. Recently widowed

Jamie

I thought about it for a second, calculating the odds. On one hand, if I helped him the Prince of Thieves would owe me one. And that interested me. He could be my ticket to freedom. But on the other hand, was it fair to sell out Kassim? He trusted me to keep my secrets. And it would be... Wrong. So did the end justify the means? I chewed on my bottom lip, thinking about it. Would I feel guilty for it for a long time?

Slowly I nodded at him. "I'll do it."


Adina

I watched quietly as Mistress prepared the body for burial. She cared for him with such tenderness, I found my attitude towards her softening. How could I hate someone who loved so fully? It was already hard to dislike her, though the fact that she was a master helped, until now.

Watching the compassionate display for a man who had treated her so badly, I felt my heart changing. Maybe only a little bit, but... Irrevocably. It was impossible to be so cold to this woman.

Zia/Basil Rose- With the Assasin, planning on not getting killed

Zia realizes with a sudden force the mistakes of her stupidity; her itch has been to strong, to overwhelming for her to think clearly- she has dug herself into a hole, one that is increasingly unheathy to be in.

Thing is, she trusts Mori- which is stupid, because he was an assasin. Trusting assasins will get you killed. Zia didn't trust him fully- didn't trust him enough with the double-life she was leading- but trusted him nearly as much as she could, more then the 'brother' behind her.

"You could have killed him. I don't know you very well, least not well enough to recongnize your mark." He narrows his eyes, more in 'by Gods, are you really' than in hostlity. "That man is my brother, and I don't suppose he liked you asking me if I'd like clothes." She wasn't lying, but he wasn't getting the full truth- he would need a barter for that, a reason to give herself away to this man. "We are not 'normal folk', and my brother will pay a hefty price-" something she knew Mori would go for-" for any information you could give him- he was very close to the late King. So a, I suppose."

He looks at me, knowing what she said wasn't a lie, but not the truth either. "There's more, isn't there? More you aren't telling me."

He's very close now, his dark eyes peeking into mine in the hunt for truth. It would be easy to kill me, but she has faith that he won't- he is curious now, she believes, and he would have been sad in the first place. "That's all you need to know for this deal, for you not to kill me."

He is so close, he could kiss her- but he doesn't, off course. "Your name, Basil Rose. If you are noble, you are not named 'Basil Rose.'"

The Princess rolls her tongue around in her mouth, contenplating it for a moment before remembering that, out here, she is Basil Rose- not Princess Zia. "I'll tell you my name when you tell me yours- no man is named 'Mori'."

She whips around, not wanting to take the chance, being a bit to scared for that chance. She waltzes back into the room, Mori following with the promise of 'hefty price' dangling over his head. He is unhappy, but smug, as Amir sets the stage of the death, and asks Mori what he would like for any information.

Amir doesn't give Zia a second glance; she is not killed, and that is enough for him. He is grilling the assassin, suspicious as his his Father, but Mori is the clear-cut winner as he drags out the price for informaton he has yet to give.

I wonder what it would like to have men like that in court, She thinks, and what a damn good thing that there aren't.

Prince

He honestly expected her to put up more of a fight. Even if she clearly disliked her master, she didn't strike him as the type likely to willingly betray anyone. Then again, he knew full well that everyone had their price. And desperation made people willing to do a lot.

She nodded at his questioning look.

"I don't think you're trying to set me up for anything, so I think I'll be okay."

"Very practical."

"I just want to get back at him a little."

"I approve."

This time she bristled. "I don;t."

Akeem was confused. He wasn't exactly sure what to make of this girl. She seemed willing to help him, but she didn't like what she was being asked to do. Such a contradiction.

"Its wrong and unkind," She continued. "But...I don't like being demeaned."

"Does anyone?" he mused. Kassim in particular had a way of finding weak spots and picking at the wound. "Hes very good at it."

"And you aren't even a woman."

Prince smiled. "I have my own problems."

Aeaela, Dancer's quarters

I uncurled from my uncomfortable position several hours later when the voices ceased. I stood and splashed my face with water from a basin in the small room. There were several more dancers in the room, but none I knew too well. Most of them were horrid to me, because I made the mistake of telling one of them about my issues.
“Been talking to the voices, Aeaela?” one of the tall heavy girls sneered.
“Yes,” I quipped, “and we had a wonderful conversation about what a camel you are.”
The girls’ face reddened and she began to stutter, “How dare you! Why you’re nothing but a beast!” She turned away and I snorted to myself.
I did not want to stay and continue this pleasant conversation, so I quickly left the room. I continued to obsess over “the Prince of Thieves”, wondering what he was doing in the palace. Deciding that it didn’t concern me, I left the inner chambers of the palace, and went for a walk through the city. I would not have to return to the palace, not until the evening meal, which was still many hours hence.
All sorts of treasures were on display in the market. Rare gems, weaponry, fine linens, strange foods, exotic creatures. Unfortunately, I had a purchase in mind, one that cannot be found in the ordinary market.
The old warehouse serves as a black market for this fair city. I cautiously step inside, holding tight to my purse. Quite a few people are stuffed inside, looking through the wares, reluctantly passing coins, and muttering secrets. I went directly to my good friend, Taga’s stall.
“More Dilfen, I presume?” he smiled and said as I approached.
“Yes, please.” Dilfen is a rare spice not available for purchase anywhere else in the city. Taga sells it for an outrageous amount to strangers, but gives a decent to his friends. “Taga,” I questioned, “do you ever get the feeling that more is going on than you know about?”
“Of course I do!” he exclaims. “Much happens in this city that no one knows about, like the murder of the king for example.”
“Yes, but I mean something that concerns you, but you have no idea about.”
“Might I ask what it is you are referring to?” Taga asked, looking perplexed. He began filling a small clay jar with Dilfen, and placed it on a scale, along with the small handful of coins I handed him.
“I’d prefer not to say.”
“Then I’m afraid I can’t help you. I’m sorry.” He looked genuinely concerned for me.
“Well, thanks anyway Taga.” I pasted on a bright smile. He handed me the spices, and I thanked him. “Enjoy your day, Taga!” I called over my shoulder as I started to walk out.
“You too Aeaela!” he grinned. I left the black market with a skip in my step. I still had several small coins that I could spend. I would receive my next payment in a week, and the palace provided a room and meals, so the money I spent was for leisure. I browsed through jewellery I would never be able to afford, cloths of great quality, scrolls with text on them, and a host of other things. I finally decided on a wooden comb with a flower carved into it and a handful of delicious honeycomb.
Sucking on the sweet morsels, I continued on my way home, purse emptied, treasures in hand. Little time had passed, and I still had a half a day ahead of me. Was it really just this morning that the king was murdered? I did not want to think about it.

Amir

Amir was completely confused, and he didn't like it. Kassim had told him to make sure Saja was indeed secure in her room, and he'd done that. But then Zia had made him an offer...

He thought he was being clever. He could find the killer and bring him back to Kassim. They would the heroes and Farid would be left in the cold. That sounded nice.

But then things stopped making sense. For one thing, this person didn't seem to recognize him, which rankled. And Zia didn't even seem to be answering to her own name.

He was going to say something, but Zia softly but vehemently warned him against it while the man they came to see went to change. He was going to obey, if only because he didn't have anything to contribute, until it became clear that the princess was having difficulties.

"Lave m sister alone and tell me what you know."

Amir may not have had any affection for his half-siblings, but a wretched commoner was not allowed to speak to the royal family this way.

"Sister? How interesting."

The prince growled. "I'll pay you?"

"How much?"

The situation did not progress much from there. Try as he may, he could not seem to get the upperhand. It was frustrating to him that his usual tactics wen're working. If any anything they were making things worse.

Finally he lost his patience and shoved the man. This action was quickly regretted as he found something sharp pressed to his neck.

Jamie

"Don't we all?" I asked softly. Even if it wasn't Kassim, I would still be a slave. Perhaps to an even more cruel master. Hating my lot in life was hardly going to improve it.

He seemed to ignore my statement, perhaps he just didn't want to answer. And that was fine. "But this could be mutually beneficial."

"Oh?" I asked, wondering what he was suggesting.

"I mean... Eventually the situation will change and you'll need an ally."

I thought that one over and nodded. "Yes..."

"If you do well, I'll make sure you don't have to be anyone's slave ever again."

I started and looked at him, half unable to believe it. Did he know what he was promising me? What a great feat that would be? I smiled broadly. "You sir, have a deal."

He laughed and I couldn't help grinning wider.

Prince

"Can you write?" He asked her.

"Of course."

She didn't seem to realize how impressive that was. Prince himself was lucky to have been taught, and most of his men couldn't. It was useful too, and made things remarkably easier.

He nodded. "You can leave reports here then and I'll come get them. At least for now."

"Alright."

"I'd like you to note everything you can,'" he instructed, lip curling a little despite himself. "Hes a sorcerer so anything could be important.

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Vicky I'm sorry this is so late in coming and it's not longer- Farid is being difficult right now. I apologize for his gruffness. xD

Farid/throne room, near midday:

He couldn't stand it anymore- seeing his mother shed tears for a man who didn't care for her, seeing her weeping for the man Farid loathed to call father. He soon ducked out of the room and stalked down the halls like a angry wolf- just waiting, no, daring somone to cross him- no one did. Servants and palace guards hurriedly stepped out of his way when he passed- his dark looks and seething eyes wild have made anyone flee.

Farid fled to the only place he was sure no one was- the throne room. Only when his father was actually in there was the room even open- he shoved the heavy doors and they yielded with little effort. His boots made a dull echo on the tiled floor, he paced in peace for a quarter of an hour until his second found him.

His second- Or Murtagh was a middle aged military man- born and raised in a military family and was as hard as nails and tough as old shoe leather. He saluted and looked his young captain over concern in his ugly old war torn face,

“Well?”

“Nothing sir.....” Murtagh flinched as he said it- it was the first time in his career he had ever come up so empty handed. “I'm sorry.”

“Don't apologize to me, save your energy and my time and use it to get me answers.” The ice in Farid's voice had a venomous edge that put the older man on edge,

“O-of course sir.”

Farid was about to reply when he felt a tap on his shoulder- turning he found Qabi standing there.

"Qabi, where have you been all morning?" He didn't mean it to come out the near growl it did- he frowned at this, his voice never did convey what he was really trying to.

"Sleeping, why? That's not the important question. Where has my guard been all morning? Anyone could have walked into my room and stabbed me while slept," she said teasingly- he could hear the laugh in her voice.

Faird was livid, her guard left her? That was inexcusable. With everything that was going on it was unforgivable her guard just left her alone. Farid ground his teeth but controlled the tremor of anger in his voice,

"Someone did walk in here, but they didn't kill you, they slit our father's throat like animal." he said softly, but surprisingly enough not unkindly. Qabi's eyes went wide and her mouth fell into a shocked O shape.

“What?” Farid has regained himself, his cold mask was back and his voice held no emotions.

“A assassin killed the king last night. Slit his throat. He's dead.” with this short curt speech he turned on his heel and strode out of the room- he really wasn't in the mood to deal with any more questions- let Murtagh answer any the girl had.

Jamie

"Alright..." I murmured, uncertain if this was a good time to mention that I was also a sorceress, as weak of one as I was. I decided not to right then, perhaps it was better this way. "Where do I leave the letters?"

"Leave them here, I'll find them."

I nodded.

He moved towards the doorway.

"See you," I murmured, not sure how else to say goodbye.

He nodded, and bowed low, though he did keep his eyes on me.

I tried not to be stunned by the prince who was bowing to me, and curtsied low.

He straightened up before I did. "Your name?"

I gave him my nickname, a sign of good faith. "Jamie."

Prince

He ran the name over in his head while he made his way out. He thought it suited her. Also it seemed somehow more personal to be given a real name instead of a handle or a title.

In any case, sh had lifted his mood enough to get through his real reasons for coming here. He now had another pair of eyes on Kassim Someone he might actually let something slip around. And the hallway was in fact vacant so he was free to make his way up to the "proper" ares of the palace without any hindrance.

Now if he could just catch up to his brothers he could call this a successful mission.

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(ooc: I think that's finally the end of Jamie and Akeems conversation. Sorry to folk who were inconvienienced by the flood of notifications ;3)

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(ooc: I've decided to add some more criminal characters to fill out the nonroyal parts on Saria. Here is the first addition)

Name: Hadi, but Prince and his compatriots call him Bandit as a homage to his origins (see history)

Age: 21 (Or around there Hes not sure when his birthday is)

Gender: Male

Role: Guard in the thieves’ court, one of the earliest members

Description: Hadi only has one good eye. And ugly scar renders the other all but unusable, so he prefers to where a patch or other covering over it. He has a bad habit of losing them though, which is one reason he leaves his brown hair long enough to drape over the wound. Its clear he doesn't care much for vanity. the rest of his look is decidedly scruffy. Hes tall, but not a giant, with blocky features and a deceptively easy gait.

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Personality: Hadi hides behind a mask of apathy. He acts disinterested and gruff, especially about throats, but deep sown hes fiercely loyal and protective, which very clear ideas about right and wrong. Hes the first to point out how uncultured he is and he has a snide sense of humour, often making sarcastic comments.

Strengths: His loyalty and shrewdness serve him well, but not as much as his fighting ability. He honed his skills since hes fallen in with prince, and his good with a variety of weapons, though he prefers a saber.

Weaknesses: Being only able to see out of one eye leaves him slightly vulnerable to attacks from the left side. His blind spot is a large concern of his. Also his laid-back, surprisingly trusting manner makes his susceptible to being used.

History: Hadi grew up among a band of bandits that camp out on the outskirts of Saria and pick off new arrivals that aren't well guarded enough. He couldn't remember his parents and always carried the suspicion that they were killed by his "family." He wasn't happy with them of course, but he felt he owed them something for keeping him alive and at least partially off the street, so he stayed.

When Hadi was sixteen years old, however, the bandits finally became enough of a threat (or a nuisance) that something had to be down about them. The new captain of the guard warned them to halt their activities, but they ignored him. They didn't expect him to ambush them using a caravan as a decoy. Hadi was hurt in the battle, including a gash over his eye, but managed to hide under an overturned wagon so the guards didn't find him.

He assumed that Bandits who weren't killed or arrested would be back for the survivors. He was wrong. His relatively shallow wounds had becomes infected and he couldn't get himself to safety. The last thing Hadi remembers of that time is being sure he was going to die.

The next thing he knew he was in the back of an apothecary's shop, his wounds treated at last although to late to save his vision, being watched over by a distressingly tiny thirteen year-old. The child introduced himself as The Prince of Thieves and declared Hadi to now be one of his subjects. Hadi, out of gratitude and no small amount of amused interest decided to go along with the game. He's been with the court ever since, and is one of the few trusted enough to guard the Prince.

Other: Ambidextrous. Or rather, he is right handed but forces himself to use his left as much as possible so he won't be weak on that side

Up for love: Yes

Kassim

The witch left him at a disadvantage. He hated that. He had meant to earn her favour and instead she left after only asking about Saja. How humiliating. And on top of that, Jamalynn was nowhere to e found, so he couldn't even vent some frustration picking on her.

Sighing, he went to the door and asked the guard there to make sure his brother was set to him before heading the the bookshelf and browsing some of the magical texts he kept there. He was looking for a particular spell. Something really nasty that would help take his mind of things.

He was well into the book by the time a knock sounded.

"Come in," he said, fully expecting it to be Emeer.

It was not. In fact, it was simply a messenger confirming that Amir was not in the palace. He had gone off with Zia of all people. On today of all days. Farid was already getting ahead of them just bey virtue of having the guard at his disposal.

"Fine" he growled. "Then just go make sure my mother knows that the king has passed."

With that, the messenger fled and Kassim resumed his place on the divan, hoping there was a really wicked spell somewhere in its pages.

Sarah

The queen, if fact, had not heard. Her servants were staying out of her way, since she had reverently been on a silent war with her husband and she tended to take her rage out on them given half the chance. But since Emeer was dead...She supposed that made her the winner. She refused to consider that perhaps this was him being unreachable meant he had the last laugh. No. She would put that thought completely out of her mind.

The silence now had a different feel. She knew very well how foul her late husband could get. She has supposed everyone was trying not to disturb him. Now that she knew different...she knew exactly where she had to go.

Name: Leila Adh-Dhikh

Age: 24

Gender: Female

Role: Leader of The Hyenas (Thieves, Assassins and sundry)

Description: Leila is a petite, lithe woman with an athletic build. She has catlike features and light brown eyes, running to gold. She has lovely dark brown hair, but she treats it terribly so it’s often scraggly, cut half way between long and short. She tends to wear clothing suited to her profession, and has tomboy tendencies from days spent masquerading as a boy. She likes the colours gold and black.

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Personality: Leighla seems cold and calculating, but this is only a thin mask over a lot of rage and resentment. She’s likely to lash out at any little thing. This makes her rather unpredictable, which has its ups and downs. She has an peculiar view of women, and her own femininity. On one hand she doesn’t let anyone disrespect her because of her sex, but neither does she have much personal admiration for “sheep”, as she sees other girls.

Strengths: She has all the skills necessary to be a leader to her gang. She is also smart, graceful and utterly ruthless. She the kind of person who is dangerous because she has no qualms about killing. She is also extremely ambitious.

Weaknesses: Her unpredictable and easily angered nature sometimes work against her. She has trouble keeping allies, and her fixation on largely petty revenges often blinds her to the big picture.

History: Leila was the youngest daughter of a less than successful merchant. When her father died, his business associates divided his remaining wealth between them, leaving nothing for the family. Her mother remarried, and her sisters were swiftly married off despite their circumstances, but Leila was still considered too young for such prospects.

Rather than wait her turn for a husband, Leila dressed in boy’s clothes and got herself an “apprenticeship” in one of the leading criminal gangs in Saria. She swiftly earned higher rank and reputation, so by the time it was revealed she was a girl no one dared come against her, certainly not because of her gender.

She was “lucky” in that the current leader of the Hyena gang happened to die while she was still young but skilled enough to take his place and secure her position. She is still ambitious and wants to take control of the cities underworld at the very least, and take some revenge on the merchants who tore apart her childhood home.

Other: Particularly annoyed by Prince, for various reasons

Up for love: Yes

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(ooc; Okay, so this is my other non-palace resident. If anyone is at a loss and wants to start something with her or Bandit, feel free.)