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Post by Leith Shahrizai on Jan 26, 2011 22:56:38 GMT -5
I'd debated for quite a while now on returning to the City, of meeting with the quaint, happy little couple I'd built... or at least the one I'd had to lash together and bind with blood and fire, quite literally. In the end, that bitch of a granddaughter was gone for good, and Raen was married off to a proper Shahrizai, someone who had already had a bastard child, proving her fertility.
Sometimes my family sickened me; one weak link in the chain, my embarrassment of a son, had set a snowball chain of events that had ended with my having to... take care of Leighton, and marry off my only grandchild that had any right to claim his Shahrizai name. It was done, though, and there was no going back. Lei was buried in as cheap a grave as I could have bought without suspicion, and with her gone there was nothing to stand in the way of purifying the blood that my halfwit son had ruined.
My decision to travel was finalized, and I refused to let word travel forth to warn Raen and Asha that we were coming. No - I'd surprise them, and see exactly how they were without the convenient ability to hide and lie to me like they did when that bitch was alive. Traveling was hard on my bones... my coughing fits returned when we neared the City, but I shrugged off my wifes attempt to help me, not needing her to do anything for me that I couldn't do myself. By the time we reached the townhome, my back was straight and my face was set; I exited the cab and left the footman to tend to my wife while I strode to the building, opening the door and letting myself in without giving anyone a chance to do anything for me, or announce my presence.
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Post by Raen Shahrizai on Jan 30, 2011 23:02:25 GMT -5
"Ssshh, shhh, mommy's coming..." I was pacing the sitting room with Pascal in my arms, rocking him while he wailed away. He was hungry, I could tell by his cry, which I had learned to differentiate by now. Asha was feeling ill, so she was taking a nap, and I didn't want to wake her up, but I'd never fed the baby on my own before.
I was about to see if I could get one of the serving women to help me at least prepare his food, he was old enough to eat what we ate, just mashed up and strained, though he usually ended up wearing more if it than eating it, when I ran into my grandfather in the hallway.
Startled, I paused, the crying baby on my hip, his fist in my hair, disheveled, and I think there was spit-up on my shirt. "Grandfather? What are you doing here?" The Memorial, he had to be here for that, but I would have appreciated a letter or something of that kind. I stifled my irritation though, since I was living here on his sufferance, after all.
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Post by Leith Shahrizai on Feb 16, 2011 18:02:13 GMT -5
No sooner had I walked into my townhouse when Raen himself appeared, cradling the little bastard Asha had born before she'd been presented to us for marriage. My grandsons face was startled, but more than that there was an air of uncleanliness about him, stains on his shirt, his hair a mess. Even with his look of surprise and his question, I merely stood for a long moment to appraise him, not bothering to hide the disapproval on my features nor the critical look I gave him.
The silent arrival of my wife as she stopped just behind my side broke me of it, and my eyes met his, my brows still lowered. "A few business ventures needed my attention in the City, and I decided to come personally to oversee them." No point in saying out right I was looking over him and his situation without his bitch of a sister around. My eyes dropped to the crying baby on his hip before rising again, looking both ways before meeting his gaze. "Playing the part of the woman in the relationship now, are you? Eluas balls, Raen; mayhap I should have you come live with me for the summer, see if I can force any manliness I can out of you. Something I should have done long ago," I muttered when my wifes hand touched my arm. I ignored her, but let the subject drop. "Where's your wife?"
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Post by Raen Shahrizai on Feb 19, 2011 15:48:19 GMT -5
I couldn't stop myself from rolling my eyes at my grandfather's sharp tongue, and I was relieved from answering right away by the appearance of one of the servants, who whisked Pascal away either to feed him or to wake his mother, I did not care which just at the moment.
"She's ill," I said, then dropped the news that would probably make him caper about the room with joy. "She's pregnant, actually. How do you like that, you'll be a great-grandfather in six months time." I led him back into the sitting room, pouring two glasses of brandy and then handing him one of them. "What brings you to the City, then? Smelled the death of the Queen and started circling?"
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Post by Leith Shahrizai on Feb 20, 2011 16:31:16 GMT -5
I watched him critically as he rolled his eyes at me, announced his wife was pregnant and called me a vulture almost in one breath. With each word my expression hardened, and by the time he'd finally shut his fool mouth my eyes were glittering. My wife gasped behind me, and I strode up to stand before him; he was taller, but I'd learned the trick years ago of tilting my head just so to give the illusion I was staring down at him.
"Best watch that foolish mouth of yours, boy," I said softly. My hand burned to slap him like I did my wife when she stepped too far, but I held back for now. "You wouldn't want to end up out on your rear with that bastard child, your wife and your new baby now, would you?"
Not waiting for his answer, I stripped my cloak and tossed it at him as I turned and strode down the hall away from him. I needed a drink, not to flap my jaw like some whores maid.
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Post by Raen Shahrizai on Feb 20, 2011 22:10:02 GMT -5
When he walked off, I tossed his cloak onto the hall table and gave Grandmother a hug. "How are you?" I asked her, wondering how she could put up with him every day.
"Oh, I'm well," she said, returning the hug. "That's wonderful news about the baby, Raen, but please try not to antagonize your grandfather, you know how he gets." She gave me another quick squeeze and then quickly followed after him, no doubt to pour his drink. I paused to rub my temples, she was right, of course and I collected myself before following after them, pausing only to send a servant with a warning for Asha to collect herself and at least make an appearance. Perhaps if we were lucky, she would sick up on Grandfather and that in itself would see him out of the house.
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Asarhia Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Raen Shahrizai
Posts: 48
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Post by Asarhia Shahrizai on Feb 20, 2011 22:37:00 GMT -5
I wasn't happy when the servant brought the news of Leith's arrival. I'd been ill for several weeks, this pregnancy not so easy as with Pascal. I wondered sometimes, in the small hours of the night, if this sickness came from a child conceived in such deception and pain, but I tried to keep those thoughts away by snuggling against Raen and convincing myself that I had done no wrong, it was all Leith. And now here he was, popping up like a bad copper. Or a guilty conscience.
I quickly dressed, brushed out my hair and added some rouge and kohl to give my face some color. My stomach heaved, but I'd eaten some bread with milk to settle it, and hopefully that would do the trick.
Downstairs, I found Raen and his grandparents in the parlor. I went straight to Raen and slipped my arm around his waist, showing solidarity in front of the person I knew I had the most to fear from. If he ever told Raen that I had known he was up to something where Lei was concerned, well, the idea was so terrifying that I quickly pushed it aside.
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Post by Leith Shahrizai on Feb 21, 2011 19:50:17 GMT -5
As much as I'd made no small time in striding into the parlor, my wife was quicker, darting as nimbly as she was able to pick up the bottle of brandy and pour it, handing it to me with a wrist that I inwardly admitted was still graceful. She was the picture of poise and beauty, even in her older years; clear blue eyes stared out from a lined face, but between the grey on her head was still a few luminescent strands of blue-black. I didn't think she'd ever completely grey out, even if she lived to be a hundred.
Grunting a response, I took it and turned to watch my grandson coldly as he entered. No words were exchanged, and a few moments later the patter of feet came, announcing Asarhia. She scurried in and to Raens side, attaching herself to him like a leech, and I narrowed my eyes. Part of me was gratified to see it; this never would have happened if that bitch was still around, but I wasn't so sure how much spine this woman had. I needed strong great grandchildren to make up for the mistakes of my idiotic son... Mayhap I'd have to take Raens children and see about their education myself, and their toughness. Death never crossed my mind; I had no intentions on succumbing for years yet.
"Asarhia," I grated quietly. "I hear you're in a delicate condition. Congratulations."
There, a little niceness, just to put Raen off balance and calm that little chit. What would come next, I wondered?
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Asarhia Shahrizai
Aristocrat
Lady of House Shahrizai
Wife of Raen Shahrizai
Posts: 48
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Post by Asarhia Shahrizai on Feb 21, 2011 20:22:50 GMT -5
"Thank you," I said, stepping away from Raen to walk over to give Leith and his wife each a hug and a kiss of greeting. I really did like his wife, though I felt sorry for her too. Hugging Leith made me want to run from the room, but I played the part of loving granddaughter, if only for Raen's sake. And Pascal's, and my unborn child's. After what had happened to Lei, I would always step carefully around Leith, because I surely did not want to suffer her fate and leave my children to his mercy.
Once the greetings were made, I poured a drink for Raen and some water for myself, handing Raen his glass silently. I had never been so subservient as I was since coming to live here, but first Lei and now Leith had cowed me to the point that I felt it was in my best interests to be so. More than anything, I prayed that Raen would not leave us alone.
"To what do we owe this honor, my lord?" I asked him, though I imagined the coronation was the meaning behind this visit ... or so I hoped.
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Post by Raen Shahrizai on Feb 21, 2011 20:30:53 GMT -5
I had to give Asha credit, she handled my grandfather's presence with grace. She seemed adept at ignoring the things he did that angered me, instead pretending that he was simply here to visit and that his congratulations were sincere. Well, more power to her, and I would try to follow suit.
"Thank you," I echoed, smiling at Asha, though the foremost thing on my mind was keeping my children as much out of grandfather's reach as possible. "We're very pleased and excited."
I accepted the drink from Asha with no comment, simply taking a sip and waiting for my grandfather's response. Why was he here indeed?
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Post by Leith Shahrizai on Mar 6, 2011 18:04:14 GMT -5
Asharhia entered and gave both my wife and I a hug and a kiss; I grunted my way through it, not really acknowledging it other than that one gesture before I downed the remainder of my drink, holding it out for more. Without looking it was gone; whether by my wife or a servant I didn't know, and neither did I care.
"As I told your husband moments ago, I have some business ventures here in the City that needed my attention, and I find these days that I much prefer to check on such things in person rather than letter. Too many chances for lies and stories, that way," I added dryly, my gaze taking in Raen before cutting to Asarhia.
For a long moment I considered her, silent, before I looked away again. She knew about Leighton, as much as I, if not the exact details of it. There was no need to tell her not to tell Raen about it; the stupid ass would have come unhinged, and more the shame for it. We needed to strengthen our blood, not waste it, and as much as it angered me to admit it Raen was the last chance we had at continuing our line of the family.
"How are you two these days? Settling into the townhome proper?" My glass returned to me - by a servant, I noted, - I turned to seat myself in a plush leather chair, stifling a sigh of relief before it could come out. My body wasn't what it used to be, and the journey had been hard on me.
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Post by Raen Shahrizai on Mar 8, 2011 23:41:29 GMT -5
"Yes," I said, taking a long drink from my own glass before elaborating. "There is a lot to do here, besides just from a business standpoint. I feel like it is in our family's interests to maintain a strong presence in the City." It was my not-so-subtle way of letting him know that I was no longer interested in going home to wallow in the back country of Kusheth. No, now that I had spent some time here, I realized that Leighton had been right about this place: it was full of energy and vitality and besides, this house had her memory all over it. I would never tell Asha, or another living soul except perhaps Dante or Demetrius, but it was that that kept me in this house more than anything else. Sometimes I would catch a whiff of her perfume, or feel her in my bed. Sometimes I found a blond hair on my pillow and I dreamt such vivid dreams of her.
I pushed those thoughts aside for now, painful as they were, they were also sweet, and thank Kushiel that I at least had my memories. "I think Asha likes the City, as well, do you not?" She nodded, and smiled.
"Indeed, everything is rather grand here, it's very exciting." She sounded a bit brainless and I had to conceal a smile. She knew that my grandfather did not think much of women, but he was more likely to tolerate one that "knew her place" as Asha was showing him that she did. I wondered about it, sometimes, because despite her apparent meekness, I thought I saw something else lurking there, hidden behind the sapphire of her eyes.
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