Letters from Corus, Falik in Persopolis

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik had been home in Persopolis for a number of weeks now. His family and the Training Master had been right. Being back in the hot sun of the desert and spending time away from Corus and the scene of so much pain had done wonders for him.

Any time that Falik had slid in to a black mood or he was found brooding his mother and sister would pressgang him in to some task or his father would have him running errands. He also spent time with the other young Bazhir practicing his warrior skills, some were impressed by what he had learned at the palace.

Right at this moment he was sat in a window seat in his family's spacious parlour. In his hand were eagerly awaited letters from Corus. He had been promised visits, although none had come yet, but letters were a close second.

He sorted through the pile which included one from Alexander, one from Damien, one from Gwynn and one from Katherine.

He decided to save it until last, worried about what it might say. They had not parted well and it was mostly his fault.

[Katherine of Blackwater]

Katherine rode into Persopolis gazing at all the buildings. She rode besides her mother Klyn and the pack horse. Her mother decided that Katherine should come along since she wasn't doing very well at the palace.

"Come Katherine, or will be late to see Master Kaleem." Klyn said poking her daughter with her boot.

"Coming mother, wait we're going where." She asked.

"We are going to see Master Kaleem Al Basiri. He has some information I need for my book. And here we are." She got off her horse and knocked on the door. A servant opened the door.

"I'm Klyn of Blackwater, I've come to see Master Kaleem."

Katherine stood behind her mother feeling very uneasy. She hadn't seen or spoken to Falik in over a month. What was she going to do?

[Falik Al Basiri]

The family's house servant, Wasim, interupted Falik's reading with a polite cough.

"Master Falik, sorry to disturb you but your father has visitors. Will you be receiving them until your father returns from his meeting?"

Falik looked up from his letters somewhat puzzled. He'd had no idea that they'd been expecting guests. His father must have arranged this whilst he'd been away the previous week visiting their tribe.

"Of course Wasim, show them in."

He stood up and adjusted his clothes. He wore the loose tunic and trousers common with the Bazhir, they were his favourite midnight blue colour. His black hair was loose about his shoulders.

Wasim ushered the guests in announcing them, "Lady Klyn of Blackwater and Lady Katherine of Blackwater."

Falik was startled for a heartbeat, then remembered his manners and bowed deeply to Katherines mother. As Katherine stepped in to the room Falik bowed courteously to her. He kept his manners distant and polite, thinking it was best to keep things proper and unsure of how Katherine would be with him after everything that had happened.

"Lady Klyn. It's a pleasure to meet someone so deeply respected by my father and may I say as accomplished an author as yourself and Lady Katherine. A thousand blessings to see you well and in my house."

Inwardly he cringed! A thousand blessings!

At that moment the front door creaked open and he heard his father and mothers voices drifting down the hallway.

[Katherine of Blackwater]

Katherine followed her mother and Wasim into what looked like a parlor. She waited, hearing her name being announced she walked in. Her heart started racing as she saw who was in the room. What am I going to do...

Klyn bowed to the young boy. "It is a pleasure to meet the son of Master Kaleem, and I thank you, young lord, for the compliment." She said rising and smiling. She turned to her daughter and saw how uneasy she was. "Katherine don't be rude..." She whispered.

Katherine bowed back to Falik. "A pleasure..." She said quietly as rose and looked at him.

Klyn knew what had happened between them. She had forced it out of her daughter, convincing her that it would make her feel better. Though, she now figured she should leave them be to talk. "Wasim, I need a couple of things from my packs. Would you care to show me where they were put?" She said following the man out the door.

How could she do that. Katherine's only thought was. She knew what was going on. She knew she would of have to talk to him. She turned and looked at him. "Falik..I..was worried about you." she said, holding back her tears.

Everytime Gwynn had metioned Falik it had broken her heart, cause she knew that she didn't do her best in fighting against his attackers, but knowing that he had gotten hurt and changed because of it, had caused alot of pain and sorrow for her in the last couple of weeks that he had left.

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik watched Klyn walk out of the room. Now that Katherine's mother had left he felt the tension drain out of him. He looked at Katherine as she started to speak.

Suddenly a massive smile crept across his face. He swiftly covered the distance between them in a couple of steps and swept Katherine up in to a massive, tight hug.

"At the risk of being improper," he laughed "I've really missed you!"

[Katherine of Blackwater]

Katherine felt herself relax, as she saw Falik smile. "I've missed you to." she whispered as she pulled back from him.

She walked over to the window seat and sat down. She untied her hair and ran her fingers through it. "So how have you been doing, I havn't talked to you since the day in the courtyard. To be honest I was scared to say good bye to you when you were leaving." she looked down hiding her blush.

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik felt shame wash over him. He looked down at his feet.

"I'm sorry. For anything I said and did that was hurtful. I...wasn't myself at all. " He looked up and met Katherine's eyes.

"I'm doing better now though. Each day gets easier. I needed to get away from the whole mess, put some distance between myself and my problems. Funny thing is that I miss the palace now. Which I suppose means I should go back soon."

He smiled. "It's been wonderful to be home though, to be amongs the Bazhir and be myself rather than Page Al Basiri for a while. Oh but there are so many things I want to show you while you're here and you must meet my sister! She's desperate to talk to you."

He caught himself babbling. "You must be tired after the journey up here. I think you'll be staying in our guest wing across the courtyard there." He gestured towards the large floor to ceiling doors that opened on to a large courtyard, a bubbling fountain and the opposite builiding that was made out of the same smooth cool stone as the rest of the city.

"Let me check with mother. I'll be right back!"

[Katherine of Blackwater]

"It's okay. I knew that you wern't yourself. Though I do have to admit I don't think I've spent so much time in the palace library before that. I even read books about the history from about a hundred years ago. Which to John of Elden he thought I had lost my mind." She looked at him and smiled.

"But I am so glad that you are feeling better. Maybe when my mother's done here, though I don't know how long that is going to take, you can ride back to Corus with us."

Katherine was shocked to hear about his sister. "Why would your sister be desperate to talk to me?" she asked, though it would be nice to meet her.

"I just need to change into some other clothes, my mother got us all the way to some small oasis just about a mile out of here. So we stayed there last night. You'd be surprised at how she rides."

She watched him leave and spotted the letters next to her. She smiled seeing hers.

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik came back in to the room with his mother in tow. She had insisted on meeting Katherine after hearing so much about both her mother and the girl that had helped save her son's life when he was attacked.

Sanaa Al Basiri was tall for a woman. She wore traditional Bazhir dress, her hair and face covered by a blue veil. Her large brown eyes were immaculately painted with makeup and she wore a stunning gown of light scarlet fabric and covered in intricate Bazhir patterns and tiny mirrors.

Now that she was in her home and away from public she unwrapped the scarf and veil from her face, dropping it on to a table and smiling warmly at Katherine.

"Katherine, may I present my mother, Sanaa Al Basiri." Falik grinned as his mother finally got to meet his friend.

Sanaa bowed her head gracefully then extended a slender hand to Katherine to shake. Falik's mother didn't stand on ceremony for very long.

[Katherine of Blackwater]

Katherine stood up and bowed. When she rose she smiled as she shook her hand. "Falik has told me a lot about his family. I feel honored to meet you Mistress Sanaa."

She sat back down and looked at Falik's mother closely. She's very pretty. she thought. "Your gown is very pretty. I love the color." she said.

Katherine looked at Falik and smiled. She loved meeting new people. Specially the family of her friends.

[Falik Al Basiri]

Sanaa smiled at the compliment. "If you like I'll take you to the bazaar to buy some Bazhir fabrics. They're quite beautiful and much more appropriate to the weather here than the clothes they make in Corus."

She turned to her son.

"Falik, show Katherine to the guest room on the top floor. We'll eat in about an hour." She left the room.

Falik grinned. "My mother, ever the gracious host. Follow me!"

he led Katherine out across the large, airy courtyard towards the steps that led up to the guest wing. Halfway across the courtyard he stopped and turned and took both of Katherine's hands.

"I really am glad you're here." He said, blushing slightly, "I thought...well I thought I'd ruined our friendship for good."

Suddenly something popped in to his mind. "Wait here!" He called over his shoulder as he ran back in to the house.

[Katherine of Blackwater]

"I would love that." Katherine said to Falik's mother.

She got up and started to follow Falik. "I like your mother. She's very nice." She looked around the courtyard as they passed through it. IT was beautiful.

She followed Falik up the steps. When he took her hands, she felt herself blush slightly. "Falik, I'm glad to be here to. Seeing you, and being away from the palace, I think it's helped the both of us. And I'd neve let anything ruin the friendship we have."

Katherine watched Falik's face. When he started running back to the house, she was puzzled. She stood there and waited, just like he asked.

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik trotted back in to the courtyard holding something carefully in his hands.

"I bought this for you." He said opening his hands and holding them out to reaveal a tiny soapstone statue of a sealion, almost identical to the one that had been broken in the fight in the courtyard.

"I though...maybe you'd still like it."

[Katherine of Blackwater]

Katherine looked at the tiny statue in his hands. "This is for me? It's so beautiful." She took it out of his hands carefully and looked at it. It was a sealion.

She looked at Falik. "Thank you, I love it." She leaned up and brushed her lips against his cheek.

She backed up and blushed. "Anyway...um the guest room is where?"

[Falik Al Basiri]

Falik stood slightly shocked for a second and blinked before he felt the heat rush to his cheeks.

"Umm...it's...up the stairs..." He led Katherine up the stairs to the upper level of the guest wing. He pointed to a door on the left.

"That will be your mother's room. There's a common area here you can use and your room in on the right. There's fruit and water in there and a wash stand. Wasim has brought your packs up I believe. I'll....um....I'll see you at dinner."

Falik bowed and made a quick exit. Once he was safely back down in the courtyard he stopped and took stock of what just happened. He rubbed his cheek where Katherine had kissed it and a little smile crossed his face. Lord Genlith would not have approved!