Member
The Queen left his hold and pouted at him. Jandar frowned at her suggestion, narrowing his eyes in disapproval as he listened. He whipped around to Faeril, disbelief colouring his features when he realized she would not do much to oppose Fatima’s reckless suggestion. Fatima herself could hardly believe the words that left Faeril’s lips. She stood in shock, eyes wide and mouth parted as she digested this information. A smile soon hinted on her face only to be turned to a frown by a sound beside her. The sharp inhalation of his breath was heard as Jandar took a moment to gaze at Faeril. She’d even faintly agreed to this utter ridiculousness, for Mother Darkness’s sake!
One of the three brothers asked her something about taking his leave and watching over Faeril. Fatima was distracted by Jandar's obvious displeasure and gave the short response of, "What? Yes. Of course. Whatever you need." It was odd that he asked her this. It wasn't as if he were part of her court and was certainly not used to having her permission asked. It was she who needed to asked permission of them. As evidenced by what was to come next.
With a slow exhalation, Jandar turned back to face Fatima, scowl in place, eyes sparking in anger. “Absolutely not,” he hissed out, his censure clear. The Warlord took a moment for a calming breath and two, and though he rolled his shoulders to let the sudden tension that had taken ahold of him dissipate, he could not entirely dispel his frown. Fatima turned more directly toward him, ready to take on this confrontation. She was not about to back down without a fight.
“You were attempting to hide when you arrived in Dhemlan, were you not?” he said, tone much calmer, though he was still intense in his manner as he endeavored to argue against his Lady. “Faeril may have said that an unknown Queen appearing here and now would cause confusion for a while, but that would only be for a short while,” Jandar stressed. “You, my Lady, are very likely Terreille’s only decent Queen left, the only one not yet corrupted. Moreover, you possess enviable power,” from the Warlord’s tone and pointed expression, it was apparent that he was referring to her jewel. “However, you do not have the influence necessary for a direct approach. You cannot afford to be discovered. You do know what they do to any obstacles, do you not?” Jandar gazed at her harshly, as if daring her to say that the torture, slavery, murder, and plain political manipulation that were not only alluded to but at times plainly paraded across the Realm were something that she could easily avoid or combat should she risk discovery at this point of time.
The Warlord shook his head, sighing. “The purpose of our journey, besides fleeing, was to find Prince Markov’s contacts,” he reminded the Queen. “If we want to build up your influence, we first need a greater number of trustworthy allies. With a group like us, the best we could hope is to harass them here and there,” Jandar waved a dismissive hand, not clarifying who ‘they’ were, as it was fairly self-evident. He brushed both palms through his hair, mussing it up even further – he made a note to himself to wash up before venturing into town as well – as he considered what else to say to convince her.
“Instead of worrying what may happen to Dareen and I due to my lack of knowledge, it would be best if you inform me of Hayll and their ilk as best as you can. I’ve heard enough to gander a guess, but details certainly would be appreciated,” he suggested, head tilting slightly to the side. Then, he straightened, taking on an exemplary posture, one he’d had not much use for this past week or so – straight spine, squared shoulders, chin tilted up just-so, charming smile seemingly falling naturally in place, no hints of stress, tenseness, or discomfort present in his posture. “Besides,” he drawled, tone just the right balance between confident and coaxing, “I was raised as an aristocrat, even if it was in another Realm,” Jandar flashed Fatima a momentarily wider smile, though not quite a grin. “Politics are my playground, deceit a favoured toy,” he bragged, smirking. However, a very subtle cant of his eyebrows – what may be recognized as a very mild frown by someone observant enough – was a sign that he was relying on hope (of all things) that Fatima would be willing to not only listen, but agree and stay back where it was safer.
She listened patiently. At least, as patiently as she could considering she very much did not want to be stuck and left behind again. Every so often she would open her lips as if to respond but her companion had more to say so she would close it and wait. Everyone seemed determined to put her in a little tower and make sure she never saw a hint of blood. Her mind momentarily flashed to the image of Jassen’s broken body upon the stairs. She closed her eyes and breathed it away, coming back to the conversation in time to hear Jandar brag his upbringing.
Fatima sighed slowly as she began to formulate her response. She searched his face a moment before she said, “I was in hiding, in disguise. At that time it did not fit for me to pronounce myself a Queen so clearly. And I was trying to hide from my own Court. I left without the number of people I was supposed to. Just me and Jassen.” She allowed her arms to fall to her sides as she gripped the cloth of her skirts. She would not cry.
“I do know what the Queens will do and have done. I’ve seen it. I’ve lived here my whole life. I may not have much experience in the Courts but I have seen the things done to our people. Seen the things my own mother had done to those who displeased her. I am quite confused by this impression you seem to have of me. As if I am a fragile flower who has only ever basked in sunshine.” She chewed her lower lip and looked to the ground. “I want to help. I want to be of use. I cannot sit aside and allow you all to just put your lives on the line for me without doing anything myself. What would you have me do? Sit beside the campfire and do needle point? You said it yourself, I know about life here. You admitted that you do not. You can attempt to fake it all you like, but slip up on one lie and I do know what they would do to you.”
Jandar’s eyebrow twitched in annoyance as Fatima expressed her concern for him. “If you know, then why be so reckless as to expose yourself at this point in time?” his voice was deepened by frustration, hints of something very akin a growl colouring his speech on occasion. He mussed up his hair some more, frown deepening. “We need to carefully gather allies. The town needs to be scouted for the depths of her influence first,” he insisted, the obvious disgust when he mentioned her a fairly good indication that he was referring to Dorothea.
Jandar shook his head helplessly; it was clear to him he’d managed to offend the Queen somewhat. Though that hadn’t been his intention, it did not ease his reluctance in letting her have her way yet. “You are powerful and of a strong character from what I’ve observed,” he admitted, not so much complimenting her as he was merely stating a fact. “Knowledgeable too, obviously. But you are much too precious to be risked so soon. Like it or not, you are the only one who can and should replace her,” again, it was clear the Warlord was referring to the self-made Hyall Queen. “You will rule - eventually,” he declared. Did Fatima not realize that that was her ultimate purpose, her role, her ‘use’ as she’d put it so crudely?
“But if you just prance into town now and reveal yourself when we are naught but a rag tag group of what could be loosely referred to as allies, what do you think will happen?” Though he’d asked her a question, it was rhetorical. In fact, Jandar was getting rather heated up as he spoke, hand gestures reflecting his agitation.
“You speak of concern for me, but endangering you would be infinitely worse. When she and her ilk find out about a loose Queen, they will move to recruit you. They will find out everything about you; wherever you lived with before, whoever you’ve ever been close to, and they will use us all as leverage against you. If that fails, they will simply wipe us out, all of us. And what easy work they would have of it,” Jandar spat, surprisingly cynical given that he was relying on this self-same group he’d just criticized for success. He inhaled harshly, shoulder rolling backwards, lips twitching in his turmoil.
The Warlord took half-a-minute to regain his usual aloof façade, turning to stare directly at Fatima’s eyes once again. “On the other hand,” he began, voice almost a whisper now, “if they discover me, I can simply reveal to them that I am a self-made Kaeleeran scout, who was trying to investigate our ambassadors’ disappearances on my own terms when my Realm refused an official investigation,” he stated. “It would not even be too far from the truth,” he smirked wryly. “In any case, my individual life and well-being is not nearly as important as your own, and what you represent. I dare say even a group, in this case Dareen and I, would be insignificant losses if your safety could be preserved. Though, others would certainly need to decide for themselves whether they could act in accordance to that belief,” he shrugged.
Jandar sighed, closed his eyes for a moment, trying not to give in to vexation and despair as he gazed at Fatima earnestly. “Those things you’ve seen...that even I, a foreigner, have seen...With careful planning, and gradually gathering allies, we may be able to undo them. You will be able to fulfill your duty as a Queen, Darkness willing. So please, let me fulfill my duty as a servant - let me take the risks for you,” the Warlord gazed at her pleadingly.
“I wouldn’t be revealing myself, there are plenty of Queens without land and without a Court. If I am made out to be one of these I would be a far less dangerous creature to them.” She knew this wasn’t going to convince him though. He had already made up his mind on her worth and his. She reached out and gently grabbed his hand, holding it in her two. “Understand this, to me, your loss and the loss of any of the others would not be insignificant. Besides, you’d be with me. And Dareen. I’d be fairly safe. We don’t need to have a grand procession into town. Simple, that is what a Queen of no standing would do.”
She pulled his hand to her face and rested her cheek against his palm. Large, white-gold eyes looked up into his. “Let me help. Let me do something. I have escaped the notice and lived out here in the world for fifty years before my mother caught up to me. I was kept hidden long before that. I am no fool, though I may act it at times,” she offered him a broad grin.
Jandar averted his eyes in response to Fatima’s fatal kindheartedness. She hadn’t addressed his concerns entirely to his satisfactions, but...He trembled, jaw clenching. The moment passed, and he returned his fierce gaze back to her. “Fine,” he bit out, blatantly not completely in agreement. He brushed his thumb across her cheek, his gesture belying his harsh tone. He gently removed his hand from her hold, briefly squeezed her shoulder, then let it fall by his side again.
“Fine,” he reiterated, calmer - resigned. “If you are so certain that the three of us appearing can make sense to the locals and if we will not arouse undue suspicion despite the darkness of your jewels, then go we shall.” The Warlord deferred to the Queen’s will, based on the experience she professed to have, and yet, he still felt as if he was doing something that would only end up in disaster.
“We definitely need to discuss the details of our cover story anew in that case. Specifically, what ties would a couple such as Dareen and I have with a Queen like yourself? Potential benefactors to an up-and-coming Queen, perhaps? Simple family friends?” Jandar wondered, partly honestly considering the issues, partly describing the issue as a challenge to Fatima - to test her claim that she could craft and enact a pretense with ease.
She beamed in response to his acquiescence. She touched her fingers to her lips as her eyes glittered with possibility. "I've found that the best lies are based in truth," she responded, her voice quivering with her glee. "No reason Dareen should be no more than what she is, a fighter. We should discuss the new plan with everyone, that way facts as easy to remember and consistent."
Fatima threw her arms around Jandar's waist, hugging him tightly. "Thank you. For trusting in me." She released him and stepped back. "I should go help the others. I can't just be there for the fun and dangerous stuff. I have to be a part of the boring and dirty stuff too." With that she turned on her heel and walked briskly after the rest of the group.
