Antares
[an TAH rez]
✮ sayyida ✮
▻ jyeshtha ♀ (x indira), aminah ♀ ◅
When Nyimara appears, he is careful to turn to properly, but not directly face her. The descent down the hill is done with practiced ease and her voice is casual - but he can hear the bite of frustration in the word choice. Had there been incursions lately? Had it been his family? Had some of them already came looking due to rumor or looking for stragglers and returning companions? "I would never presume to violate the territory of a stranger. It is asking for trouble both diplomatically and socially." He is open with his response, wishing to leave nothing of his visit in question. Blunt but polite, that was the goal.
"But it seems I am still at a disadvantage, stranger…" she says with a smile that still he cannot determine is entirely sincere - an edge to it reminding him of a jackal’s bared teeth."You know my name and title but here I am knowing nothing of you. Speak." She makes him wonder, momentarily, if she was entirely sane with a chuckle - but at least she did not break into maniacal laughter. Perhaps tension was altering the tone that his ears were hearing.
"I am Antares, and this is my Wife Sayyida." He inclines his head as a mutual leader might to one who claimed a larger land beneath his rule than his own. She was queen of a land, he was sheik of a people. He was the one who owed the deference of such a thing. He does not wait for what was not due to him. "Before there is even a blink of concern-- yes, I am the Antares that once ruled here, but no I do not want to ever rule it in that capacity again." It was the least he could do to stop any fretting that might rise about being challenged or trying to come and reclaim what had been forced upon him at one time. "I came to inquire if you could or would spare your eastern dunes for my people. We would seek nothing of you other than what you would already be doing to maintain your place as leader here… and that portion of land which we might view as our own place to raise our families. It was once the same between us and Maslakhat of The Tekes. In turn, we could provide patrols of the border and a more formalized defense from the eastern and southern shores."
He hoped such a thing sounded at least somewhat appealing - that she would see the same benefit that the longer-lasted ruler Maslakhat had come to see of their symbiosis. More bodies and more eyes… "Our troubles would be separate save for the protection of your land and our home, as it naturally overlaps - save for if one of mine would cross you in some form, allowing me to mete the judgment or punishment would be entirely by your own grace or respect for me as their Sheik and never presumed as my place would still belong under the jurisdiction of your law."
OF THE LOST ISLANDS WILDS
▻ eleven years - arabian - mulberry gray with bloodmarks - 15.2 hh ◅