Altairila: Hello again, thank you for your review! Yes, Altair will definitely make more appearances, though he features heavily near the end of the story, so he might not show up as much as you're hoping. The sequel that I'm planning will have a lot more of him. I hope you enjoy regardless!
Chapter 12: The Drama KingKnocks came from the doorway. They seemed to echo slowly from the front of the home, like some dramatization from a movie. It gave Ryan an odd suspicion that something important was going to happen. One thing was certain, it wasn't an ordinary person at the door.
Nadir stopped what he was doing and glanced in the direction of the doorway. "Nafisa, were you expecting visitors?" The hitch in his voice sounded almost hopeful, like he prayed she was going to say yes.
Before she could answer, the tone of the knocks changed, increasing in volume and fury. It was as if the deliverer were angry at the wood and fighting fiercely with it. Then shouting occurred, muffled from the distance. Ryan couldn't make out the words, but he could still sense the anger behind them. He paused in his work, setting aside the dirty dishes.
Nafisa continued cooking, despite the disturbance in the atmosphere. Ryan figured she was more concerned at whether or not the food would burn from her inattention than who could possibly be throwing a tantrum at her house. He wondered if it was a regular occurrence for her.
"Something wrong?" Ryan asked, noticing the worry creased into Nadir's face. The fact that he was worried at all made Ryan feel like they should be running from…well, whatever it was that was making him break a sweat in the first place.
He shook his head. "No…" He went towards the doorway. "Stay here, I'll be back."
"NADIR(1)!" A shout was heard from the doorway, this time very audible, a masculine voice that was deep and full of fury. It sounded like he wanted to barge in the room and choke Nadir where he stood. Hopefully he was courteous enough to wait for Nadir to come out of the house before doing so.
Ryan didn't know whether to roll his eyes or to be anxious; Nadir seemed to have a lot of people who hated him. He decided it would be best not to get his life on the line again by becoming involved.
He was shouting so loud it seemed to shake the very floor. "Nadir, you lazy insolent wretch! How dare you show your face here!"
"I've been told that many times when coming here. Have you come here to say that yet again, Baha al-Din(2)?" Nadir chuckled, his smile on his face. The worry in his eyes remained.
"And here I had thought your wife a sensible woman to not allow a man such as you back within her home. I thought wrong." Ryan saw the man wore a bitter expression, like he ate too many sour skittles at one time and couldn't handle it. Ryan figured he was about Nadir's age, if not a little older. Nadir's smile twitched at the remark and Ryan thought in horror, for a moment, that he would throttle the man right then and there. In addition, Nafisa was very sensible, but she was also very violent. The man was lucky Nafisa was not here to-
"Abu Khairiya(3), you better shut your reckless mouth before I sew it shut for you!" Too late. Nafisa appeared, her hands placed firm upon her hips with an irritated expression on her face. Ryan only hoped that their dinner was safely finished and on the table.
"Al-Din, you were always one to worry overzealously -…"
"My daughter is missing, you self-centered fool! It has been 6 years she has been gone and it is all because of YOU!" Baha roughly pushed Nadir and Ryan panicked, quickly getting between the two.
"Okay you two, break it up!" He pushed the two away from each other, Baha still glared, the flames of anger burning strongly. Ryan was surprised he wasn't incinerated on the spot.
Nadir looked completely calm but confused, which the angry man couldn't really take credit for. "What do you mean by 'missing'? She is gone?" The last three words seemed like a foreign tongue to him, it seemed unbelievable to him.
Ryan glanced outside and realized people were gathering around like it was some sort of attraction. Baha was caterwauling of his daughter's disappearance and how much of an "inconsiderate dolt" Nadir was. All the while Nadir tried to understand the reason why she disappeared only to get a great big bucket of hatred thrown back at him.
Ryan shook his head at the two, not sure of what to say or do in the situation. Nafisa was beside him, also looking on. He remembered his parent's arguments, often rising up to becoming shouts across the rooms about the tiniest of problems. Arguments he had trouble breaking up at times, if he bothered to get himself involved. He did not want to get involved in this.
Baha noticed the group of people forming in front of the house, staring, craving entertainment and gossip. He cursed at them loudly and they dispersed hurriedly, saying not a word. It was almost as though they saw nothing at all. Ryan supposed it was exactly as Baha wanted it.
Ryan then wished his mind would stop translating everything that was being said, twitching at Baha's words. Violent curses flew from his mouth, graphic and disturbing. Finally, he stopped for breath.
It was as if that was all it took for the argument to finally deflate. Ryan knew he should have felt relieved as the mad man stalked off to his home but looking at Nadir, it was the end of the world. Nafisa was already playing wife, patting his back with concern.
Ryan felt the strange need to follow the crazy man. And he did not know why. Maybe it was because he wanted to try and sway the sour man's opinion of Nadir. Nadir was awesome, and he had taken Ryan in, so for him to call the man "lazy", "insolent" and many violent curses made Ryan feel something needed to be done. As soon as this whole ordeal was smoothed out maybe the troubled feeling Ryan had in his mind would go away.
He found himself following the man, straight to his dwelling. If Nafisa and Nadir noticed, they didn't say anything. Maybe they weren't worried because they knew Ryan wasn't the type to go pick fights with people who would probably beat him with their hands tied behind their back.
Ryan wasn't much of an experienced follower, and with every step he took he was sure that the Baha guy would know he was right behind him. He didn't say anything, but that didn't necessarily mean that Ryan was successful. After maybe half an hour, they arrived at his home which looked humble and no grander than Nafisa's. The fact that the guy lived only half an hour from Nadir's home made Ryan skittish.
After Baha closed the door behind him, Ryan decided to try and knock. He was scared out of his wits though, and hesitated for so long that he jumped when a voice behind him spoke. "What're you doing?"
He spun around and saw Shadin, a curious look on his face. He sighed and smiled gratefully. "Hey, Shadin." The younger boy always looked so skinny, it made him wonder if he ever ate enough.
He almost looked flattered that Ryan remembered his name. "Are you playing a prank?" He seemed interested as he examined the door, though it seemed he didn't want to look Ryan in the face. "I'd choose another house if I were you." He seemed to recognize Baha al-Din, but then, who wouldn't? He was practically a walking billboard declaring himself the angriest of the angry.
"You think I'm pranking?! W-what-…No. I just need to talk to Mr. al-Din." Ryan looked towards the door fearfully. The idea of talking with him seemed less of a good idea the longer he stood there.
Shadin stared at him, then said, "You mean Abu Khairiya? Well, why don't you?"
After a pause, Ryan turned and started walking fast. "Eh. Maybe tomorrow." Shadin seemed frozen for a moment before chasing after Ryan. "What?!" He gripped onto Ryan's arm and pulled as hard as he could manage. "You can't just run away!"
"T-then, why don't you talk to him instead?" Ryan suggested sheepishly.
"But you're the one who wanted to talk to him in the first place!"
Ryan conceded in defeat, he couldn't lie to himself anymore. "Ugh…You're right." Another pause. "Can you come with me?"
Shadin sighed and tried to look exasperated as he attempted to hide his smile. "You're possibly the most cowardly boy I've ever met."
Ryan grinned and replied. "So this means you'll come with me, right?"
Seconds later the two of them were in front of the door nudging the other one to knock first. "You do it, you're the brave one, Shadin."
"Oh no, you. It's your responsibility isn't it?" The two of them continued standing there. A slow small wind blew past them, the sun shining brightly overhead. It was hot as usual. And if they didn't do something soon, their bodies would start collecting dust.
Ryan threw his fist in the direction of the door, but it opened suddenly and he immediately retracted it before he hit the woman before him. She was probably Baha's wife. "Who are you two?" She seemed only slightly intimidating than her husband.
Ryan whispered the first thing that came to his head. "We're not here to sell Girl Scout cookies, if that's what you're wondering." He immediately cringed internally. God, I'm such an idiot.
Shadin thankfully took immediate charge. "Uh, what my companion means to say is that he wishes to speak with your husband."
They both held their breath, waiting for her response. She looked over the two of them, an odd pair. "Don't look so terrified, my husband is all show. He may act tough, but he is human like everyone else."
Ryan was unsure if that was an answer to their request. But Shadin was quick on his words and recovery as he politely replied. "Then you'll allow him inside?"
"Why not?" She shrugged as she slid over to the side of the doorway. she gestured down the hallway. "He's down there in the hottest room of the whole house." Ryan decided not to ask what she meant by that and strode forward. He paused and looked back at Shadin who gave him a nervous but reassuring smile.
In natural response, Ryan gave him a thumbs-up sign and smiled, turning and walking down the hallway.
Shadin looked at his fist, which had mirrored Ryan's gesture, and asked, "What does he mean by this?" To his surprise, he found the wife replicating the same gesture with a concentrated look upon her face.
"I haven't the faintest idea." She said after a long pause and stared Shadin straight in the face.
Shadin shuffled on his feet in nervousness. "Yes?"
"Would you like something to eat?" She gestured him inside with her left hand, her right hand seemed unable to return to its original position.
Ryan finally knew what she meant by the "hottest room in the house", as apparently, she meant it quite literally.
Any discomfort he may have quickly disappeared, as he entered what seemed like a whole other domain. He found himself losing his breath as he took his first steps into a wondrous workshop. His eyes examined all.
The man looked at him, annoyed. "Oh, it's you. You're Nadir's boy, eh?" Ryan wondered if he meant that as an insult.
Ryan nodded, unable to say anything as he looked around. There were weapons everywhere, as well as tools and religious relics skillfully made, shining against the sun's rays that were peaking through the windows. "You're a blacksmith?" Of course he is, you dolt! He scolded himself for the stupid question. His first impression needed to be good and he made himself look an idiot.
The response was expected. "You come here to say that, boy?" He took some wood and threw it into the roaring fire. Ryan relaxed. For a second, he thought the man would curse at him and throw him out. Maybe the guy wasn't as bad as he made himself out to be.
Too soon, he found himself examining the metal perched and hung about the room. It was blazing and suffocating in that room, but Ryan didn't care as he moved about, the beads of sweat trailing down his forehead. Sure, he was uncomfortable. And the room was full of steam and the air so thick and stuffy.
But Ryan was mesmerized; he loved medieval weapons. Compared to guns, a sword in action looked so incredibly graceful and beautiful. Sure, the killing was cool, but the weapons were the deliverers in the end. He remembered fondly when he and his sister were really little. She would bring him books with weaponry from times long past and leave him to pour over the pictures.
With a jolt, Ryan remembered why he entered the smoldering room in the first place. "I want to know why you're angry with Nadir." Ryan said, staring at the fire's red and orange blending together, captivated. He almost regretted his question; This wasn't about him, this was about Nadir.
The man stopped at his work. "Were you not listening, you daft boy?! My daughter is gone because of that bastard!" Clearly, Baha wasn't too keen on reason.
Ryan twitched at the curse. "Yes, but how did it happen? How is it his fault?" He had to be patient. Someone had to be mature, and it certainly wasn't going to be the red-faced man sitting on the stool in front of him.
"You ask too many questions, boy." Baha took off his bulky leather gloves and set them down on a nearby workbench. Ryan felt a little miffed, given he had only asked 2. "My daughter was to be married to his son."
He gestured to another stool that wasn't noticeable until then. "Get that over here and sit down." He was incredibly demanding, but Ryan obediently followed his directions and sat down. At least he would be able to figure out exactly what had happened.
"That prideful bastard insisted his son have a cause within the Crusades, and when he went, the boy was struck down in battle." He shook his head angrily. Ryan wondered if it was anger at Nadir or for the boy who apparently had no say in the matter. "My daughter was devastated when he left and she ran away. I have not seen her since." Ryan decided this story wasn't as great as he'd hoped.
Despite his rude behavior, Ryan could tell that the guy loved his daughter more than life itself, and certainly more than his work. Even with his creations around him, it was as though he didn't notice them. To him, it seemed that the metal he shaped was a way to vent his emotion. Ryan could sympathize, but it wasn't Nadir's fault. He just didn't see him as the kind to pressure his own son into a war. "Look, that wasn't his intention, you know. He didn't want his son to die."
But being the stubborn donkey that he clearly was, Baha wouldn't accept it. His daughter was lost, someone had to be blamed for it, Ryan supposed. "Well, I didn't want my daughter to run away! I never agreed to their bonding, but my wife insisted…And now she's gone! My dear little-…" He realized he was speaking to someone and cleared his throat, rubbing away the tears that were supposedly nonexistent. He banged his fist into the table beside him causing his tools to shake. "For what other reason would that bastard have for leaving Masyaf?! Shame! He left, and he should have stayed away."
"Maybe he felt bad too. His son had died, didn't he?" Ryan said, staring at the brown dirt on the ground and smudging it around with his foot. When he dared to look up again, the old broken hearted father was already working again. The stool sat abandoned.
The man snorted, clearly unsatisfied with Ryan's explanation. "I'm getting back to work." He announced gruffly. He took his large gloves, put them on, his large hammer and took a piece of metal towards the fire. He glanced for a moment, back at Ryan. "You're still here?"
There was no way he was leaving now. It wasn't that late and he had more than enough time to waste. The mission was not completed, so that meant Ryan had to stay just a little longer. Besides, he really wanted to watch a pro at work. "Can't I just watch?" He asked quietly.
"Do what you will." Ryan assumed that was his way of saying "Of course you can, it would be no trouble at all." But then, it was hard to imagine the man saying anything was "no trouble". To him, everything seemed problematic. Ryan watched as Baha set the metal within the fire, slowly turning it a glowing red.
It was then that he realized he didn't have the faintest idea of what he was doing. What was the purpose of the repetitive process of heating and cooling, then reheating and cooling within the water again? How did he know when to stop? Maybe it would have been best to ask the said blacksmith at work before him, but thinking of asking the man made him jumpy.
Suddenly, Baha spoke. "Water." Maybe he was talking to himself.
"Are you talking to me?"
"Who else, you idiot?" Ryan should have seen that coming.
This man was as vague as his wife when it came to directions. "What, to like…drink?" He was hoping that asking another question wouldn't get him another unnecessary insult.
"No!" He shouted, making Ryan jump, "I meant for my work, you jackass." Ryan didn't know what he did to deserve to be called that, and he had no idea where to get said water. Still, he wasn't going to ask another "stupid" question. He quickly rushed out of the stuffy room.
Shadin apparently thought it necessary to stand up when Ryan found him and Baha's wife eating some odd type of bread. Or at least Baha's wife was eating; Shadin's piece looked like he nibbled it. Or maybe some mouse got to it first. Now he knew why his friend was so skinny. It was like he didn't like eating or something. His piece sat unfinished upon the table.
"Shadin, why are you standing?"
"Oh." He blushed as though he didn't realize and slowly returned firmly upon his seat.
Ryan asked, "So, um, where's the well? Or whatever it is you get your water from…"
Baha's wife blinked. "A well? Whatever for?" She didn't like being detailed, did she? Maybe she was teasing him; she had the thought of mischief dancing upon her eyes
"For your husband…He's working." What do I call his work? "Smelting"? "Metal Working"? He'd have to work it out later.
"Oh." She stood up and immediately made way to the back of the room and lifted up a round wooden lid. "Why didn't you say so?" She said it in a matter of fact way, and Ryan resisted the urge to sigh. There was a whole water reserve underneath within a large jar. It was a humongous jar, actually. Ryan figured if it was empty, it would be the perfect hiding spot.
He was unsure of how he was supposed to take the water to Baha, but before he could ask, she gave him a large bucket. She was amazingly helpful! "Why, thank you!" Ryan exclaimed with a smile
She replied with an equally enthusiastic "Why, you're welcome!" She had a nice sense of humor, so Ryan found it easier talking to her than to her husband.
"So, um…" He wasn't sure how to phrase the question without it seeming out of place and awkward. But as he thought more upon it he decided it would be awkward and out of place anyway. "Do you hate Nadir too?" There was a silence before she spoke. Even Shadin was looking at her, the pita bread frozen in his mouth.
"No, I do not hate them." That meant she didn't hate Nafisa either. Ryan sighed in relief.
"My husband needs someone to blame, you know this don't you?" She looked at him and it seemed as though she saw his understanding, reading it in his eyes. She was very different from Nafisa. The two of them were formidable in their own right, but Baha's wife seemed more approachable somehow. "You'd best go now. If there's one thing I know for sure, my husband is not patient." Ryan believed her.
He rushed out of the room with thoughts on Baha al Din. He was difficult. Why would anyone hate someone knowing that they aren't the one at fault? His little sister was similar in the way she viewed the world, often complicating things in ways that made no sense to him. He never understood her, but the arguments would usually be between his two sisters anyway. He was always the bystander.
Baha of course, was not impressed. "What took you so long?" He grumbled.
Ryan was prepared. "Uh, had a conversation." Maybe if he was lucky, the bitter old man wouldn't bite his head off. "Is there anything else you'd like me to do?"
"You mean aside from shutting that trap of yours?"
"Uhh…" Ryan was glad he wasn't as hotheaded as his sister as he stumbled. "Uh…yeah, aside from that."
"No." He turned back to his work. Ryan felt rejected somehow, but still didn't really want to leave.
"Can I come back, Abu Khairiya?" Ryan asked, using the name Shadin had called him. He could not believe what he was saying, yet his desire to learn more about smithing was too much for him.
Baha did not look at him, but he grunted, "Do what you wish." Ryan supposed he was indifferent.
Ryan smiled at the thought of returning and thanked the man, quickly moving on his way back to Shadin and his teasing wife. Shadin was standing up again, as though waiting for his return. He looked relieved, clearly expecting Ryan to come back in pieces.
"It's time to go?" Shadin looked a little hesitant. Ryan found himself smiling at this. Maybe he'd be able to have a companion for his visits here.
"Yeah…But I'm thinking of coming back."
Shadin looked surprised, but delighted. "Ah! Could I come as well?"
"Why not? Bye, Mrs. al-Din." He smiled, wondering if this was actually the correct thing to say.
She replied cheerfully, unperturbed. "It's 'bint Yazid' from a youngun like you, my dear, and I prefer not to use my kunya(4). Come back anytime, though! It'd be nice for my husband to have some decent company that actually speaks." Just as they left, he noticed Shadin and her sharing a look. He briefly wondered what they were talking about while he was gone.
Long after Shadin and him separated, Ryan felt dazed, boyishly dreaming of the weapons he would make and the things he could build if he just learned how.
Nafisa, however, did not share Ryan's jubilation as he entered the house. She looked at him with a threatening stare. "Just where were you?!" And out so long?" Nadir chuckled. He didn't look angry, just curious.
"I was learning." Ryan replied, still in a dream.
The couple exchanged confused expressions. "Learning what, Rye-an?" Nadir asked. Ryan grinned.
"Abu Khairiya let me into his workshop and I watched him make weapons. It's the coolest thing I've ever seen!" ("Cool?" Nadir mouthed to Nafisa, who shrugged) "I'm hoping if I go enough, he'll teach me how to do it."
"Ah, well good for you!" Nadir said, smiling. He didn't entirely understand his enthusiasm for the wretched man, but seeing Ryan happy made him soften his view.
Nafisa's anger deflated as she sighed in relief. "Very well, just be sure to tell us the next time you decide to wander off."
Ryan nodded and went upstairs, his mind racing. But he slept easily that night, dreaming like a child would, of toys and ideas for a design that would suit a weapon.
He awoke in the early hours and came to the dwelling to find that Baha al-Din was there already, He did not seem surprised to see Ryan back. Shadin wasn't there, but with 'bint Yazid, apparently talking with her in their small garden.
Baha had left the two to discuss…things. Things that Shadin refused to tell him about. Ryan wondered if they were talking about him, but shrugged it off. Shadin didn't seem like the type to talk about people behind their back.
Entering the room, Ryan noticed the tools were not out and fire was not going. This was unusual, especially since it seemed like common sense to be working now while there was still much time. "What's going on?" The room lacked its usual heat, a small breeze floating in from the open window.
The man merely grabbed a list and shoved it towards Ryan. "Hold this."
Ryan watched as he took a few weapons and wrapped them tenderly in leather to make them safe to carry. "We are making deliveries today." He said as he walked out, Ryan followed.
The list of people was, of course, not recognizable to Ryan, but each household seemed grander than the next. The artistic design and manor-esque buildings kept him staring up, causing him to trip and Baha to swear at him. "We'll be lucky if you're alive by the time we're done, boy!" He hissed when Ryan nearly face planted for the tenth time.
It turns out Nadir was serious about teaching him to ride a horse that day. It was nothing riding a horse in a video game. The living, breathing animal waddled beneath him, snorting and making him hold onto the mane in a death-like grip. It actually wasn't too bad...until the galloping started.
The lesson ended with Ryan screaming to get off the horse while Halil ran in circles, probably having the time of his life. Ryan swore that horse was laughing at him. He must have looked like an idiot. Shadin was there to witness the whole thing and the poor guy looked like he was going to die from lack of oxygen. He was sure everyone within the area heard him screaming.
Hopefully Baha wasn't part of the population who did. The man would spare no complaint and scoldings to Ryan, and he did not wish for the man to discover his fear.
Ryan discovered that the blacksmith had an amazing talent for aggravating everyone he met and that when angered, he would cuss…a lot. Ryan at times, felt very tempted to cover his ears to protect them from his vulgar words.
On the way of the deliveries it seemed almost as though the man had an attendance list of people to insult, never seeming to have a positive thing to say about anything or anyone. Some of his customers were French and some were Arabic, but they all seemed to tick Abu Khairiya off somehow. His insults were as creative as they were ubiquitous.
Maurice Chastel, for example, was supposedly idiotic and didn't know what a sword was, only purchasing them as though they were trinkets. Baha liked to comment on how unbelievably fake his French accent was.
Then there was the LeBranché family who he said were bratty and pompous. "Who do they think they are?!" He would complain again and again how they would find imaginary faults in his work to try and lower the price.
Ousama Rashid, Nazir Khan, Jacques Novae, Armand Loraque…This list went on. He would talk and talk and talk. And then talk some more. Ryan even once considered asking if the guy would shut his trap, but knew the attempt would be both pointless and dangerous.
The rides on Baha's cart were never quiet or awkward. Baha would always have something to complain about, including the pace at which the horse was riding...when he was the one at the reigns.
And while walking towards the households he would nag on how Ryan wasn't holding the packages "properly". He once even caused some guards to come and ask what the problem was, but usually Ryan's answer ("Yes sir.") would keep al-Din's temper at minimum.
What Baha also never failed to do was comment how cheap the customers were, and how the rich people hadn't a clue how much work it took to make one weapon. That was possibly one of the only comments Ryan enthusiastically agreed with, having witnessed many of the wealthy only picking a weapon for their decorations. Only the ones with fighting experience seemed to know the difference between the showy and the reliable.
Despite Baha's eternal complaints, it was clear he loved what he did. His work was skilled and he was not afraid to show it. After all, he had let Ryan watch him despite the fact that he barely knew him.
Ryan also noticed when working for Baha al Din that, though he got angry at Ryan a lot, he never physically touched him. At times, his fury would be at its highest and Ryan would prepare for the attack only to never receive it. In those moments, Ryan realized the words were just a disguise, and that his new mentor wasn't nearly as mean as he behaved. He's probably just a soft little teddy bear that hates to be hugged in public. Ryan didn't dare tell him that, though.
A/N: Wow, Baha's really grumpy! Seems like Ryan has found his calling, though, which is good. I wonder what Kaylyn is up to about now. And where's Khairiya? The next chapter should make it obvious. Hope you enjoyed!
1) As I mentioned before, calling someone by their given name under most circumstances, unless you're friends, is considered rude in this time period. So Baha is being purposefully rude here, which shouldn't surprise anyone.
2) Annnd another type of name appears! "al-Din" Is what's considered a laqab, or an honorable name given to someone, usually after performing a good deed, that denotes a good quality about them. "al-Din" translates to "The faithful". Interesting for someone like Baha, no?
3)I can't remember is this kind of name has been mentioned before, so I'll mention it again here. "Abu Khairiya" is a kunya, an honorable name given to people with children that is used before their given name. "Abu Khairiya" literally means "father of Khairiya."
4)So here, Baha's wife (whose given name is Kahla by the way, though she's only ever referred to as 'bint Yazid in the story) expresses a desire to be called by her nasab rather than her kunya, which is understandable since her daughter is missing. A nasab is a type of name placed after the given name denoting paternal lineage. So "'bint Yazid" means "daughter of Yazid".
Source: .