A Very Distant Cousin

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

I could not imagine what it was like to life in 'Fand's world. Well, I could imagine but I was sure that it was not really how things were.

We were finally at my residence so I lead 'Fand in, saving the conversation for when we were not near the sharp ears of the servants.

When we walked through the door a servant greeted and said, "There is an invitation for you, sir," and handed me an envelope. I read it and raised my brows, a smile at 'Fand. Showing him the invitation I said, "how would you like to meet most of the family in a single night?"

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

Servants came to lead our horses away as I dismounted and looked up over the façade of Therin's elegant home. It seemed to suit him in a way, graceful but not ostentatious. I followed him into the vestibule, looking round with polite appreciation at the décor.

Another servant approached with a letter, and after opening it, Therin passed it into my hands. I blinked in surprise at his question, glancing down at the page. "You mean… everyone will be at this… Fete du Natale?" My read d'Angeline was not speedy or perfect but I did well enough. "Who is this Lady Naia Shahrizai? I… I should like to attend." I smiled to myself, thinking that I might finally glean some understanding of these people who were my kin. To have many in one place… someone might even know something of my lineage, if I could find an appropriate moment to bring it up.

"Like it very much indeed… but… no one but you, Aghaye Therin, even knows me. Would that be unseemly?" The last thing I wanted was to make a rude entrance into my family's notice. I was determined to be accepted… somewhere.

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

"Lady Naia Shahrizai is one of my cousins and a good friend of mine. There will be a large number of attendes I am sure, and a large number of them will be Shahrizai. It does not matter if you do not know anyone other than me," I gave him a smile and said, "you can come as my guest."

My mother, having heard us speak walked into the entrance way, curious to see who was in her house. She took an instant intrest in Fand and greeted him, "Hello, may I ask who this is."

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

"As your guest," I considered, smiling sweetly. This way I would not have to fend for myself, would not have to be concerned about making any terrible misstep. I was certain Therin would keep me well informed and see to it that I did not make myself too awkward. I trusted him implicitly. "That would be most excellent."

It was then that a lovely older woman, quite obviously Therin's kin, made her entrance into the vestibule where we stood. She looked up at me with that same grace that had struck me in Therin, but in her eyes was none of the stolid reserve that made him seem so noble. She was beautifully made, like Therin, and radiant when her lips broke into a smile.

"Saloum my Lady," I said, placing my hand over my heart and sketching a lingering bow. "My name is Asfandiyar. I do hope I have not disturbed you from any important dealings."

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

My mother laughed openly as I stifled mine. My father didn't let my mother control much with the family's dealings so most of her time was spent pampering herself, reading, or gossiping. She was the social front of the family while my father sat in the background and took care of business.

She shook a hand slightly as if to shew away her laugher and then said, "do not worry, you have not disturbed me from anything." Then in rapid succession she said, "has Therin offered you a drink yet? Come this way, let us drink and get to know each other." She put a arm around him and lead him toward the sitting room. I followed in both amusement and annoyance as I thought of a good way to save Asfandiyar from her if she should start to overwhelm him.

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

She was little, but undeniable as she wrapped me round with her arm and all but pulled me bodily further into the house. I blinked, still a little surprised by her laughter. Weren't highborn ladies always about some sort of project? Then, I never felt I deserved anyone's lingering attention.

"No," I replied. "We only just came through the door… I should be very honoured to accept your hospitality, Khanoome de Leveque." Not that I could refuse it, the way she urged me forward. I glanced over my shoulder at Therin; thankfully he was following.

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

"Khanoome," Lucretia said, testing out the word, "what does that mean?" Her voice was peaked with interest and I wondered if she would use this as a catalyst for a new hobby. She had tried to learn Menekhet once but had given up after a week of trying to master the language through use of books. My father had tried to get her to visit a scholar who could teach her but for some reason she had decided that she could do it herself. Her pride would not allow her to admit her defeat when she realized that it would not be easy to learn in that manner.

I held back the urge to laugh and shake my head at this memory. She was an odd woman, but I loved her for it, at least most of the time. My younger sister was just like her, though at times seemingly stranger. She would make someone a entertaining partner when she was old enough.

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

I smiled down at her and chuckled lightly. "Ah, I apologize, I'm afraid I have a habit of resorting to the language and titles of my homeland. One says these things all one's life and it becomes quite automatic. Khanoome..." Speaking the word thoughtfully, I reflected that its softened percussive 'kh' might not be easy to pronounce for D'Angelines. I tapped my chin once with a long finger to find the equivalent meaning. "I suppose it is like saying 'worthy Lady'. It is only used in reverence of and respect to married women of high standing."

I glanced at Therin, smiling now that I was relaxing into more urbane conversation. He looked as though he had the beginnings of a laugh at the corners of his mouth, and I was struck by how attractive it was on his severely handsome features. He didn't seem to be one given to a great deal of laughter. But then, tragedy sometimes has a tendency to… steal one's laugh away. I wondered if he laughed easily… before. Or was he always so intense, even as a boy? I found I admired his depth, and felt some kind of unnamable understanding towards it.

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

My mother was very pleased with Asfandiyar's answer, I could see it in her pose and the straightness of her back. "Why thank you," she said, as if she was rarely shown such respect. It was of course not completely honest, but I stayed quite. I saw no harm in my mother's flattery, though if it seemed that 'Fand was caught away with it I would talk him down from it a little. Mainly to save him some face in case he decided to bring it up with someone who knew my mother well.

We had reached the guest sitting room and she let go of Fand so that she could lay out on a couch, managing to look both relaxed and regal at the same time. I chose to sat on a couch that allowed for a more appropriate sitting position.

"Please, make yourself comfortable," she told him. "I would love to hear why you have chosen to come and visit our lovely city and waste your time with my lovely son." She added jest into her tone with her comment about me. My mother the comedian, I rolled my eyes in her direction and she purposely ignored me, though I knew she saw me.

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

I settled across from the Lady de Leveque, next to Therin upon his couch. It was one of those long, elegant western pieces of furniture, with three seats as though to give each person their appropriate little bubble of selfhood. It was odd to be seated so high off the ground. Couches in Drujan were considerably lower, less formal. But comfort was everywhere in this sitting room, and I couldn't help but appreciate it as I smoothed the front of my jacket and leaned on the arm of the couch.

"Thank you, Khanoome," I said, smiling slyly at her little dig for Therin. I admired her way of being able to look graceful and command respect even in her current reclining state. It was quite lovely to behold.

"I came to the City of Elua, in fact, to make myself known to the Shahrizai family," I continued. "I have the honour of carrying your esteemed blood myself. However, I know nothing of this aspect of my own breeding, having had no contact with my natural father. I was raised by the Magians of Ahura Mazda… er. I suppose they are somewhat like the Priests of your country." I turned toward Therin and touched his arm lightly. "I have wasted little time with your fine son as yet, I'm sad to say. We only just met this day. Over this very topic. Aghaye Therin thought you might… be amenable to discussing such things, though I am certainly not one to demand such indulgence."

I smiled bashfully, always a little hesitant to draw attention or to seem to think myself worthy of effort. I simply did not know how to go about learning what I needed to know by myself. I was terribly glad to have Therin's support in this. His placid energy calmed me in ways I could not define.

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

I saw my mother's eyes light up as 'Fand told her of his unknown father. Shahrizai tend to value kin and the thought of one leaving a child in another country was tantalizing to her. I could already see the wheels spinning in her head. I imagined a big wheel with the faces of the Shahrizai who's drama she liked to follow spinning like a roulette wheel, the little ball bouncing around trying to find the one at fault. I held back a snicker and distracted myself by getting up and going to the small bar. I knew that she would not let 'Fand leave anytime soon. "Drinks?" I asked after 'Fand had finished speaking.

My mother did not want to be distracted and absent mindlessly asked for her usual.

"Do not worry yourself," My mother said, "I am glad to help." She had a tone of a mother speaking to a hapless child, but I suspect she was indulging her own curiosity more than developing a great concern for someone she had just meet. "Our family does tend to stick close by each other, which makes it harder for people to keep things quiet. Chances are with enough information we could track down your Father, how much do you know about him?"

[Asfandiyar Azarkevanejad]

"Ah, I'll have one of whatever you're going to have, thank you," I said to Therin, not wanting to be any special bother. I was sure his taste would suit me just fine.

I turned back to Lady de Leveque with a self-deprecating smile. "Not very much, I'm afraid. My mother, before she died, was not… in a very amenable state to discuss him," I said, trying to remain tactful. "As I was saying to your son, what little I know has been gleaned from outside sources. Trustworthy, but not well-informed. Apparently my father kept close council and expressed little about himself in Darsanga. Some say it was almost as though he were in hiding." I continued by telling her what I had told Therin on our ride, which was the sum total of the information I had ever had about my father.

"Does any of it… sound familiar?" I asked it with a hopeful but pained tone. I was a little scared to know her answer, whether she knew anything or didn't. My life would surely be very different, all of a racing sudden, if she spoke that simple little word 'yes'.

[Therin Shahrizai de Leveque]

I saw my mother's eyes light up and she paused to think. Her stopping to think before speaking was not usual, I found that I was looking at her with interest, though I had enough mind to bring 'Fand a drink. I sipped mine, not paying attention to it's flavor as she started to speak.

"Strangly," she said, "your story does seem to fit one that I know." She paused again and then said, "though it does seem a bit of a far fetch." She looked Fand over again and I was about to scream in anticipation. I was sure 'Fand felt the same.

She finally stopped thinking and said, "My brother-in-law once traveled to Darsanga, though very few know of this, including Therin. In fact I think my husband is the only other person who does know."

I would have been surprised by my mother's words, but I had learned long ago not to be surprised by anything that Uncle Engel was mixed up in. I did listen with great interest, however.

"I think," she said, "that the timing would be right. He was there for some time and had a lover. He did not say anything about a son, but I suppose he would not have known. He had some nasty trouble here and decided to leave it all behind. A son, whom he thought dead, reappeared and he returned to find out if it was the child and to take care of him when it turned out that indeed it was his son."

When my mother mentioned my wayward cousin I made a small sound of disgust, though it was one I had not mean to make. It was no secret that the two of us did not get along and my mom barely slid me a disapproving glance.

We were both watching 'Fand then, watching his reaction to the news.