[center]---The Grand Malaky Palace, Amrah---[/center]

"His holiness? Bah, I pray for the day that pretender dies and suffers an eternity of torment for his perversion of Hamud's holy words," said an elderly ajar, dressed in little more than a simple white robe, with his equally white hair tied together in a braid. He was standing on a balcony overlooking the great city of Amrah, the beautiful stone buildings and the green of gardens visible even from the distance. In the distance one could even make out the massive stone wall encircling the entire city, creating a sharp divide between the vibrant life of the city and the scorching death of the desert. This man was Baha al-Batabi, a Haloist ascetic and Uncle of the current Malik. But he was also a heretic, belonging to a sect that viewed the Stomian beliefs as perversions of the Prophet Hamud's words and the Doge as nothing but a corrupt pretender with no claim to dominion over Haloism. Granted, he kept these views secret from everyone but his close family; while 'heretic' points of view were legal by Khaydahi law if the Stomians in his nephew's court discovered his beliefs it could strain relations.

Beside Baha was his nephew himself, shaking his head and chuckling at his Uncle's words. Malik Sa'ah Mee'ah al-Maseebi found his Uncle's religious fervor amusing, but there was no denying that the man was wise. Sa'ah Mee'ah was attractive, at least by the standards of the ajar populace; he had deep red eyes and pitch black hair that fell down to his shoulders. He also had a distinctly angular face, with prominent cheekbones and sunken eyes. While normally he would be dressed in extravagant and exquisite clothing, and laden with jewelry and a turban he was currently wearing nothing but a white robe and a deep red out-robe, open and draped around his shoulders. After all, he was alone and in private with a family member, there was no reason to get all dressed up.

"I still have to go, you know," Sa'ah Mee'ah replied, still chuckling, "After all, it would be rude to decline and you know how I enjoy a good festival."

"Yes, you do enjoy them," Baha replied dryly, "A bit too much, if you ask me."

At that Sa'ah laughed out loud and put his arm around his Uncle's shoulder. "You can live like a monk if you want, but that doesn't mean everyone has to," he replied, "Besides, I have to attend things like that anyway. So I might as well enjoy them."

Baha shook his head before looking back at Sa'ah Mee'ah, "So what exactly did you call me here for? You seem to have already made up your mind about this, and you know my opinion."

"You think I should send back a letter saying 'go die in a hole you heretic scum'?" the Malik replied playfully.

"No, I agree that you need to go. As much as I despise the Doge and the Stomians it would not do well to insult them unless necessary."

"Well, I'm glad we agree on that," Sa'ah Mee'ah replied, then his tone became serious, "No, I came here to ask you to serve as regent while I am off in Stomia."

Baha began to protest, but Sa'ah Mee'ah cut him off. "Don't protest, I've already made my choice," he said, "You know I would trust you with anything, and you know as well as I do that people respect you. And just because you're serving as my regent doesn't mean you have to live like me."

Then the Malik laughed, and his previous jovial attitude returned, "Eat all the bread and water you want, it just leaves more meat and wine for me when I return."

Baha sighed and shook his head, knowing that arguing with his nephew was utterly pointless, "As you wish."

"Good, now come in and have a seat," Sa'ah Mee'ah said, gesturing to the archway leading back to his bedroom, "We haven't sat and just talked in forever."

Baha looked up into the sky, closing his eyes and murmuring a prayer before looking back at his nephew. "I am sorry, but I need time to prepare and think this over," he replied, "I may not have to make a choice, but I still need to prepare. You are planning on leaving as soon as you can, are you not?"

"Ha, you know me all too well," Sa'ah Mee'ah replied, "But I guess that makes sense. Stop by anytime, you may be a humourless old man but I enjoy talking."

Baha simply nodded his head before saying his farewells and heading back inside. Sa'ah Mee'ah stood there, looking out over his city thinking of the days to come. There would be the preparations for the journey of course, choosing who he would take with him, informing everyone that Baha al-Batabi was to be serving as regent whilst he was gone, packing his things, and the like. He had no qualms against the Doge, though he accepted him as his ruler as much as any Haloist in Khaydah might. Yes, he was the head of the Haloist Church, and thus a holy emissary, but here in the deserts of Khaydah he held little power. And the Malik was definitely looking forward to the feast more than the sermon or blessing. He just hoped it could compare to the feasts he held here in Amrah.