A Wander Through the Bookstore: A Cautionary Tale

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I smiled a little to match hers.
"I don't think he liked me either." I said with a little chuckle.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"I guess that makes all three of us then," I said with a light chuckle. "He wanted a son," I offered in explanation, shrugging. I didn't mind talking about it, I had buried my feelings about it deep inside me many years ago.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I nodded softly.
"And he got a daughter." I chuckled. "Serves him right."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"And to rub salt in the wound he was double blessed when my sister came along," I added with a soft sigh. "Then I was sent here as some sort of a punishment... so I have grown up around some Shahrizai, but.. .none ... and none that closely related since my sister has stayed in Kusheth." I didn't know why I was telling him my story, standing in the middle of a bookstore, it just felt right.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I gave a half smile.
"I don't mean to be stand offish." I said softly. "And I didn't mean to offend. I'm just not very interested in knowing the Shahrizai side of me, and I'm alright with that." I offered.
"You, I suppose, is a bit of a different story. Theres not some convoluted connection, you're my father's brother's child." I shrugged with a little smile.
"I guess I can put up with you."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"I can understand... but thanks for the almost appology," I said with a sly smile. "I suppose I can try to put up with you as well," I said with a chuckle. I looked down at his books. "What are you reading?"

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I chuckled a little and then turned, taking the book in hand and held it out a little.
"Its a book about a couple in love and a war that's centered around them." I said. "Its called The Longing."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I took the book from his hand as he held it out to me. "Do you mind?" I asked gingerly. I didn't want to overstep my bounds.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I waved my hand a little.
"No, go ahead." I said softly. "I've never read it, but I've read another book by the same author."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I opened the book, leafing through the first couple pages. "Looks like it may be a good one," I uttered glancing back up at him. "You have good taste in literature. I have a few books that are rather similar. I am something of a book worm, one could say. The best is just to shut yourself away and read a book... or ten." I said that last part with a smile. "Do you enjoy it as well?" I asked, trying to familiarize myself with my cousin.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I chuckled smiling softly.
"I like to read, I'm perhaps not as deep into them as you but I'm not sure I'd be whole with out a good book."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Then you understand." I said with a smile. "That's the way I am with literature and dance. They are my two creative... outlets, I suppose you could say." I handed his book back to him. "So, how long have you been in the City?" I asked as I turned for a moment to reach for a book above my head, stretching to grab it.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I took back the book and smile.
"Not long, just after the plague." I said a bit sadly. "My sister and her husband passed leaving me the ward of my niece."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I looked over at him, stopping as I reached for the book, forgetting for the moment that I had been about to procure it.

"I am very sorry for your loss Azriel," I said softly, looking at him in earnest. "That must have been very hard for you. But you must be very happy to have your niece as a reminder and a remainder."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I smiled a sad smile and nodded.
"She's the only thing that matters to me." I said softly. "I never thought it possible but I think I wouldn't know what to do without her."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I smiled back, touching his shoulder with my fingertips gently, showing that I understood how he felt.

"I have been estranged from my sister for quite some time. As terrible as it sounds, but, now that my father has... passed away," I said, pausing momentarilly to shake the feeling of sadness I had. "Well, now there's nothing stopping me from reconnecting with her. It's bittersweet, at best." I shook my head softly, my waves of blue-black hair shifting over my bare shoulders. "Family has always been important to me even though in the traditional sense, it was never something that I had really fully experienced. I've kind of always been a drifter on the outside, even with kin. I've only now started to explore outside of my home, really, having been a practical hermit, locked away with my books," I said with a soft laugh.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I smiled and nodded, understanding what she was saying.
"I think I understand that. I was like that in Marsilikos." I said thinking about after Isabelle died and I was left alone and broken. Who would care to seek the outside world then?
"I'm sorry about your father though."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"As am I," I said honestly. "I never hated him for his biased treatment, if anything I was... disappointed. But thank you for your condolences." I could tell from his words and his facial expressions that he knew a great deal about loss, and love, and pain. I wanted to get away from this topic, so I decided to move onto something that he said that had interested me.

"I have always wanted to travel, and I hear that Marsilikos is beautiful, among other things. What was it like there?" I asked as I moved to take down the book that I had stopped reaching for before. I finally had it in my hand, bringing myself back down to stand flat footed, looking up into his honest and handsome face.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I smiled softly, a bit more grateful that she changed the topic and nodded a little.
"Marsilikos is....breath taking." I said with a little chuckle. "I miss it to be honest."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

I nodded. "It must be completely different than the City. I mean, the City holds its own charm, there is no doubting that, but the crash of waves and the openness, and the taste of salt in the air," I closed my eyes imagining it. "It must be amazing for the senses." I opened my eyes slowly, settling on his deep blue gaze.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I nodded with a soft smile.
"Yes, I think you captured it perfectly."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"I suppose it is one thing to read about it and quite another to experience it in the flesh," I offered with a smile. "I can tell you really loved it there. DO you ever plan on returning?"

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I nodded again.
"I hope so. I'd actually like to take my niece with me. She has a desire to travel and I'd love to take her."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Well she sounds like a lovely girl, and adventurous," I said appraisingly. He seemed to really love and cherish her. It made me smile to see a family torn by tragedy able ot find solace in each other. "Is there anywhere you would like to go that you haven't been yet?" I asked, wondering at his interests.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

"Bhodistan." I said smiling at the thought. "A friend and I were going to travel there one day...I hope." I said chuckled a little.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Bhodistan?" I asked quirking an eyebrow. Something about the way he said friend, made me feel awkwardly ... I don't know. I shook it from my body, not letting it issue on my face. "Interesting choice."

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I shrugged.
"Some where exotic and what not." I chuckled. "I think it would be very enjoyable. My friend is half Bhodistani, but she was raised here. She wants to see if as much as I." I grinned a little knowing that the desire for travel was infections.

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Intriguing! For me it has been Menekhet, and Temenos, and..." I stopped realizing I was babbling. "Let's just say I am enamoured with travel, at least in the literary standpoint. I am sure it is much harder than the tomes make it out to be," I said, blushing mildly at my sillyness.

[Azriel Shahrizai]

I chuckled and nodded still.
"It is indeed, but far worth it I would think." I said leaning onto the stack softly.
"I think Menekhet would be nice though, good choice."

[Sarielle Shahrizai]

"Thank you," I said bowing my head slightly, shifting to face him as he leaned against the shelf, not disrupting it or the books. There was an air of purity about him. "Was there anything else you were looking for here in the bookstore?" I enquired.