Disclaimer: I do not own Animorphs and the characters Jahar and Alloran do not belong to me nor do Forlay and Noorlin. Cathra and Himuran are borrowed characters from a friend I used to rp with. If you google them, you'll find their profiles all over the internet. Their personalities have been altered in this story, however.
Larithos, Enilas, Miricras and his companion, Illia, and all the other characters are mine.
Chapter 1
(We Met in the Vlimlir)
My name is Alloran-Semitur-Corrass. Prince, that is. I admit it; I am proud of my new title. Proud as an Andalite infant who has just learned to raise his tail above his head and can hold it there. My eyes must certainly have been shining the same way as I was promoted, and I was just as jittery.
On the day that I met my beautiful wife, I was in the vlimlif, which translates to "garden of the people." It is like the Andalite version of a human mall. It is a massive garden where Andalites meet to browse and trade and just to gather and socialize.
I had a duty that day that most Andalite Warriors and Princes would consider absolutely boring. But it was one I personally, had begun to enjoy. As a warrior, I had been assigned to standing guard at the vlimlif, helping to prevent riots and fights, keeping peace essentially. Not that there would normally be such problems in the vlimlif.
But now as a Prince, I could not escape this duty - now it was my duty when not aboard a starship to supervise the warriors stuck with this tedious task. As I said however, I had grown to like this duty, after having experienced a lot of battle. Many young Warriors I have met have not seen battle yet as I have, and do not understand that such a menial task can be relaxing, even a joy.
Yes, at the garden there are no fighters, there are no exciting battles, there is no "honour" and no "fighting for the People."
But there are females.
Before you become upset, please realize that I was unmarried at this point! I was not even engaged. It is a complicated story.
My father always chose my older brother, Arbat, as his favorite son. He disliked me since I stuck up for my mother whenever he would belittle her or boss her around. (My father was a very traditional male. Very much one for "keeping his wife under his hoof.") He hated the way I stood up to him and he used nearly every opportunity to express his displeasure. The main way he expressed it in my adult life was by ignoring my desire to find a wife while harrassing Arbat to get married - when Arbat didn't even want to! You see, it was the father's duty in those days to arrange a marriage for both of his sons (should he have two). Of course the elder should be first, but it was only right to be considerate of both.
My father died, leaving me unmarried.
Now that he was dead of course, I was my own master and I could, in proper society, pursue a wife on my own. So naturally, my boring duty found me observing the female life in the vlimlir.
It is no secret in the galaxy that Andalites have four eyes and this bit of information is certainly no secret to Andalite females, who know that the opposite sex of their race can use them for more than just avoiding very unpleasant attacks. Thus, I was certainly not gaping at anyone, but just scanning...sometimes over the same area once, twice...several times. I knew I must have been obvious to a point, but I wanted to be a little obvious. Meaning, I wanted a female to know I was attracted to her. I wanted her to know that I was interested in courting her.
Most of the females were in groups, I noticed right away. Something I found disconcerting since I have always been shy as a male around females. Around other male Andalites? Of course not. But the impressions of the opposite sex always matter more to a male as interested in females as I am.
Oh and I was very, very interested in females. I was feeling the pressure of several long years first through late adolescence, and then through early adult hood, of not, how shall I say, releasing physical tension.
Simply, and bashfully put, I had never mated before and I was fast approaching middle age. Warriors nearly half my ge had already experienced the pleasure of knowing a female in the most intimate way, and having to lie and pretend that I knew what they were talking about, no, pretend that I was even more experienced than they was growing rather tiresome.
Also, please do not think I was merely desiring physical pleasure. Yes, it was one of the main factors in my growing quickly desperate for a wife, but it was not the only one.
I was also feeling very lonely. I wanted someone to be there for me, to live with me in my scoop. Someone to express my feelings to, someone who would be sympathetic. I wanted someone to hold, to be held by, to understand me most of all. I had learned from my experience so far that to be understood is one of the greatest joys of life. It is a privilege, and never a right. A gift and something that can never be forced upon anyone, or taken.
A third factor was children. Oh how much I wanted a family. I will not lie - I was never a big feminist. I was raised in a family with a mother who was always there to care for me, take care of my needs, hold me, deal with my tantrums as a child and my hormones and attitude as an adolescent. I admit I wanted a female to be home when I camehome, and furthermore, I wanted to hear my own children laughing and playing when I came home. I couldn't imagine anything more beautiful or sacred than having a family of my own.
I promised myself too that I would never shout at my wife or demand of her or expect things of her. Well... maybe expect, I couldn't lie about that. But I promised to myself to never, ever hurt my wife the way my father hurt his.
He did not beat his wife. He did not need to for she was always afraid of him only with his voice and the things he said. My father was a very powerful and strong male in both body and spirit.
I wanted to be like him, powerful and strong. But not tyrannical and never as cold as he could be. I wanted to love my wife and I needed her to submit to me. I needed her to obey me and stay home and roam on the grasses of my land with my children. I wanted her to submit to me...but I wanted her submission to be completely willing.
So as you can see, my bill was rather large. Yes, I wanted a submissive wife. But I also wanted one with spirit, if a little feisty. I wanted one that would be strong when I was not home. Naturally I wanted an attractive wife since I was very much the Andalite male - shallow and arrogant. I needed someone I could show off in every way at social events with other warriors and princes. I wanted a beautiful wife, but I wanted a clever wife too, and witty.
I was, as I said, lonely. I craved conversation beyond 'females', 'how attractive their bodies were', 'how much I wanted a female', 'how fun destroying Yeerk ships could be', and 'what I would do if I ever caught a yeerk alive.'
I say it was a large bill simply because my prime was also a time of social progression. More females were being educated in universities and less found getting married and settling down an exciting idea. I understood. I would have died if I hadn't been accepted in the military. I was a rowdy, and as I mentioned, rebellious Aristh and I craved adventure and mischief of any sort. The military had represented all of that for me. I could never have stood for staying at home and being a scientist or an artist. I would have ended my life on my own blade.
I was strolling around, snapping at the two warriors to stand to attention, laughing as they took me seriously. They laughed too and relaxed. I did not care if they were at attention; as I said, not much happens in the vlimlir.
I remember scanning the crowd once again, looking for a female just standing by herself, when I saw her. I eyesmiled where I stood. She couldn't see me watching her, but I would approach her soon so it did not bother me.
She was not standing, which was unusual, especially in public. She was on her stomach, reclining, with her forelegs crossed and her tail resting in the grass beside her. All four eyes were looking down, intent at some consoles she had spread around her in the grass. Studying? A university bound female. I felt a tinge of disappointment, but reminded myself that university did, eventually end. Who was to say she would never want children? And I had even heard of some modern females having both careers and raising children. As ludicrous as it sounded to the old fashioned part of me, the part of me that was feeling incredibly lonely wanted to believe that it could be possible.
So I slowly, and with as much dignity as I could muster, stuck my chest out, raised my chin, and made my way over to where the young female was resting.
She looked up slowly after a moment when my hooves stopped almost directly in front of her consoles. All four eyes looked together, first at my hooves, then up legs, then up to my chest and face. I eyesmiled my most charming smile at her.
Jahar
'Oh no,' I thought. 'Not another one!' My name is Jahar-Firvon-Senira and my mother fusses over me a lot, telling me that I look quite harried these days. I feel harried. No, I am harried.
You see, I desired to study in university, but my father and several males I kept meeting had very different plans. I was willing to marry. I really was! I had told my father several times that I was, and that was the only reason that I was allowed to attend university and study the subject I love most; biology.
It sounds foolish to you, I suppose. What does a female do with biology? What is her business to be studying something as complex as life? Her only business with life is to procreate!
But I did not expect sympathy and I certainly did not expect support! I only expected the chance, the opportunity, to learn about what I love. You say that females only go to University to be uppity and to 'prove something?' Perhaps some do. But I was never doing what I was to be uppity nor did I desire to prove anything. I only desired to learn, to have a chance to work in research. If I could have that at least, I told my father that I would happily settle down after University.
My father insisted that I would have to work at home if I were to do so. Ha! As if I could do biological research at my scoop! He knows that no society, no scientist would offer me any kind of opportunity. And so after University, being a scoop bound wife would be inevitable.
My father never hated me, I know this. But I hate him sometimes for how he tried to keep me from what I loved, even though I know he only believed he was doing what he thought was best for me. I would be more convinced of this, however, if my father were not so greedy when it came to my suitors.
Which, blessedly, is why I was still single when Alloran encountered me that day.
(S-Sir?) was what I actually said. (M-May I help you?)
(Oh yes,) he said, his eyesmile deepening as he actually, to my horror, reclined across from me. Everyone was staring! (You can.)
I wanted to throw my consoles at him then. It wasn't even the first time I had heard such a cliche line! I wanted to shout at him for his obvious arrogance and smugness in himself, his silly cliche, and the way his eyestalks were blatantly scanning my figure. I could see his intentions an Andalite mile away, I felt like.
(How may I help you, Sir?) I said wryly, wishing I had just pretended he was a figment of my imagination. The thought made me want to laugh. It was a joke of one of my closest friends, Forlay, had made. She was engaged, in spite of pulling this game on her fiance, Noorlin when he originally approached her. They were happy and I was horribly jealous. I knew I would marry someone opulent and influential, according to my father's greed anyway, but I had no reason to hope for anyone with as kind a spirit as Noorlin's. Forlay didn't even want to go to University and Noorlin was already encouraging her to go!
He eyesmiled. (Oh...simply by speaking with me you are helping me.)
'Oh Arisths...' I thought 'Here we go...another romantic!'
(Wonderful,) I said. (Now, if you are not requiring any more assistance, I must study.)
Feeling quite smug and pleased with myself, I went back to looking at my consoles. I waited for what I felt was inevitable; him to retreat to a more sympathetic female in the vlimlir.
I felt a chill as he did not move, but instead, I heard a chuckle. When I looked up, outraged, he was eyesmiling as if he'd found hidden treasure. I felt my stomachs move in nervousness. This one did not seem to get the message! I blinked rapidly a few times, unused to the way his eyes looked directly into mine.
Most males I'd met weren't interested in looking into my eyes. More into my body, as if they wanted to just leap into me, like a very tasty patch of grass. The way he was looking at me...it was as if only my body would never be enough. This one was different. He didn't just want a pretty female. He wanted everything. I could sense that in his gaze, at least.
I was furious with myself for looking down and away, but I couldn't help it. As I said, the attention was very unnerving!
(Sir...I ask of you one last time. If you are not requiring-)
(I'm afraid I do...) he said very quietly and I suddenly felt the need to expell my grass. I took a deep breath however and told myself that I could overcome this. My little motivational speech was finding it rather difficult to take hold, however, as he drew a finger down my cheek.
I jumped.
(Sir!) I cried, indignant. More eyes turned our way. I could almost feel the gossip in the air.
The male laughed, pulling his hand back.
(Lovely one, I require your name.)
I felt in that instant as if he were, instead, asking for my soul.
(I do not feel required to give it, Sir. Especially since I do not know yours...) I wanted to kick myself for the last thing I said. What a way to give the conversation more room!
(Alloran-Semitur-Corrass.) he said quickly, almost rushed. (P-Prince.) he added.
I wanted to laugh. (Ha!) I did! (Ha!) I added.
He looked puzzled.
(You think somehow that I am impressed? P-Prince Alloran?) I was very cruel in those days. I was intelligent, and furthermore, I knew it, and the way my father and others pretended not to notice made me outraged to the point of wanting, needing to show that I was, at least verbally.
Alloran turned purple. He blinked rapidly. I could feel his anger...but most of all, and it surprised me, I could feel that he was hurt by it.
In the next instant, his face was calm and his eyes held something in them that made me paralyzed. Determination. This Prince Alloran was not going to give in easily at all.
(Are you?) he chuckled, turning it back to me. (Now that I have given you my name, what is yours?)
(I am not impressed.) I stood up. (And my name is Jahar-Firvon-Senira.)
He rose as well, admiring me with his main eyes as he stood. I felt disconcerted at his height once again as I found myself loking up to him. He eyesmiled smoothly.
(Well, Jahar-)
(AAAAAAGHHH! MY PRINCE! HELP MEE!) a voice cried desperately, interrupting him. Nearly everyone in the vlimlir, I noticed, was looking away from us now. I saw the source of the commotion after a moment: two warriors appeared to be having some trouble with a female...
Alloran
Ah, there would be trouble just as soon as I was going smoothly.
I turned, instantly in Warrior mode. My eyes widened at the sight of one of my warriors pinned down at the back by the hoof of a very determined looking female, and my other warrior trying to push her off. Their tail blades were grappling above their heads.
(What is this?) I snapped, coming closer.
(Get away you big brute!) the female cried in my direction. I glared at her. Then at the male grappling with her.
(What is going on here?) I demanded of him, hoping for an answer.
(This female just attacked us, sir!) he cried.
The pinned Andalite, Miricras, groaned. (Sir, my back! Please...get her off!)
She laughed almost madly. I cringed at the sound. (It serves you brutes right for the way you were looking at me!)
(Enough!) I cried, feeling extremely annoyed to be pulled away from such an attractive and bright young female, so challenging, because of such stupidity.
They didn't listen and kept grappling. I whipped my tail forward, knocking my warrior out of the way. Then I leapt up in front of the young female and looped my tail with hers, twisting it so that she couldn't use it.
(Aaah!) she cried, stumbling off of Miricras. He scrambled up, embarrassed, and very glad to be free from his compromising position.
(Let me go!) she snarled.
(No. You are disturbing the peace.) 'My peace!' I thought. (And you attacked my warriors.)
(They were ogling me!) she hissed, struggling to pull her tail out of my grip. I was amazed - I'd never seen such a crazy female before. I could tell if I let her tail go, she would be all to glad to have a go at my head with it. It would have been admirable...if I had not been on the receiving end of her glare at the moment, anyway.
I kept hold.
(If they were giving you unsavory looks, you could have told me and I would have punished them.) I glared at the two now standing behind me (cowards!) with my eyestalks. They cringed, seeing the promise in my eyes. (I will punish them.)
She sneered, using my distraction as her chance and whipping her tail from the grip of mine, and across my face. I stumbled back as she hopped away in triumph.
(Oh as if you'd have cared! You Princes are so full of yourself! You pretend to be friendly with me but that's what you all do, and then you-)
My warriors had come through finally and snuck around and grabbed her arms and tail. She screamed like a mad thing in thoughtspeech and managed to kick Miricras in the face, and smack Aldinar, the other warrior, in a very, very private and sensitive spot with her tail.
He fell to the floor, whimpering in thoughtspeech like an Andalite child.
I felt furious. I did something I've never done before.
I leapt on top of her.
I didn't think anything of it until a moment after I did it! Then I realized my mistake. You see, I would do this all the time with males that were being as disruptive, and I would put my tail around their neck and pin their tail to their body underneath my body.
But to do such a thing to a female was...well...lewd.
(AAAAAaaaaagh! I'm being raped!)
(No you ARE NOT!) I snapped, feeling myself turning purple again. I turned an eyestalk, sure to find the female I had been admiring gone.
No, even worse. She was standing there, laughing at me! My humiliation was nowhere near complete, however. Now other females in the vlimlir were crowding around us, shouting things like (PERVERT!) and (Can you believe him? The filthy beast!)
I was only trying to restrain her! She was crazy! And worst of all, yes, even worse than being called a pervert and laughed at by a female I had thought my match,worst of all, I noticed my superior, Captain-Prince Enilas-Fital-Marbit standing nearby.
(What is this?) he said sharply, trotting over to us, and all was silence suddenly as the other females saw him. My warriors looked at eachother nervously. I wanted to die.
(This...this female is being disrupti-)
(HE'S RAPING ME!)
(I AM NOT! As if I would be stupid enough to rape a female in the midst of day!)
The crowd gasped and gossip flew through the air.
(No no no! That's not what I meant!) I cried desperately.
I noted an amused glint in Enilas' eyes and hung my head in shame.
(Alloran. Step of the young one, please.)
I slowly, carefully did so.
She dove at me, screetching and kicking. My warriors combined with two flanking Enilas managed to subdue her. She glared at me as Enilas trotted up to me.
(You and I will discuss this in detail Alloran.) he said. (DISPERSE!) he shouted to the crowd.
I sighed and kept my head down, knowing that anything I said would not be helpful in the least. The crowd quickly dispersed but I could see females glaring at me. I dared to glance at the female I'd talked to. She actually looked sorry for me then. My humiliation was then complete.
She felt pity for me! And pity is the worst thing you can have from a female.
(She's a crazy one.) Enilas said, as the Warriors marched her away. She was still struggling! (We've dealt with her before. I'm afraid she's onto the idea that we are against her.) he sighed. (All I've ever asked of her is not to be so aggressive in her pursuits.)
(Pursuits?) I said, wondering what pursuits this crazy thing could possibly have besides aggressive ones!
(She is a prominent feminist,) giving me a look as if I had been living in a tree all of my life and had just fallen out. (I am sure you have heard of her? Illia-Scimitar-Sciol?)
(No, I have not heard of her.)
(Hmm. You need to get out more, Alloran.) he trimmed at his fur with his blade suddenly looking bored. (She's attacked several of our Warriors before. I'm afraid you'll probably be seeing a lot more of her. Of course, I keep telling her, there are plenty of feminists who do not feel the need to be so...challenging.)
(Challenging?) I said.
He eyesmiled at me. (But she told me that she enjoyed challenges.)
(Well I do as well, but-)
(Oh I know, Alloran. I know you do.) he chuckled and I turned purple again. I could tell he was thinking of how he'd found me, on top of her.
(Oh what an amusing anecdote that will be on the ship!) he said, and began to walk away.
(Sir!) I cried, desperately. (Surely no one needs to-)
(Oh they won't.) he eyesmiled and I relaxed. (I am merely teasing you Alloran. Except of course the presiding Officer, when I fill out the incident form! And the Andalite who stores it...And the Andalite who organizes the storage unit...)
I groaned and he laughed.
But it was true. By the evening, the incident was all over the area. Exaggerated, of course. To the point that females were furious that no investigation was being held over the incident.
(I'm relocating, Prince Alloran!) my neighbor, an older female named Clirdion told me when I arrived at my scoop.
(Ah. Do you require any help with-)
(No!) she snapped. (Do you not want to know why I am relocating, Prince Alloran?)
I sighed. (Why, I have no idea Clirdion-)
(I DO NOT WANT MY DAUGHTER LIVING NEAR A RAPIST!) she cried, trembling with rage, and kicking a dirt clod that bounced off my head.
(Gaah!) I grabbed my head.
Her daughter looked with wide eyes at me as her mother led her away from their scoop.
(Come along Linea! Stop looking at him!)
She looked away.
I sagged. Until this incident, Clirdion had invited me into her scoop nearly every day. And Linea had seemed rather interested in me.
I thought again of the young female. Jahar...
I felt a little hope. Perhaps I could... No. At least not until my reputation cleared. Whenever that would be...
But I found myself eyesmiling. Because suddenly, I had an idea.
Jahar
I returned home with my consoles, feeling quite merry about the whole incident. I could hardly stop laughing most of the way home. Teach him to pursue me!
I practically skipped home, consoles bouncing everywhere. When I arrived at my family's scoop, my step became more sober however. Or, more ladylike. If my father saw me skipping, he would have blown his eyestalks out.
Just then, my father emerged from the scoop. He eyesmiled.
(Ahh, Jahar!) I felt a little nervous. He was never this excited to see me unless something was going on.
(Father!) I eyesmiled back.
He chuckled and said (Put your consoles down in your quarters. I want you to meet someone.)
I felt my spirit sinking. Oh not again! There, in my family's scoop, stood the biggest brute I'd ever seen. He sneered when I entered, and gazed with obvious hunger over my body. I glared back at him.
My mother eyesmiled encouragingly, no, pleadingly, at me. 'Please behave! Please find him attractive!'
I wanted to die. I could tell from the way my father was eyesmiling, from the way his eyes glinted, that this one had quite a lot to offer.
(Isn't she lovely?) my father said.
(Magnificent.) the Andalite replied. Ugh!
My father chuckled. (Jahar, I want you to meet Rilisar-Esciron-Treth. He's a Warrior - soon to be Prince.) my father practically giggled gleefully as he said Prince. I wanted to say 'Well why don't you marry him then?'
I came forward however, and eyesmiled. It was not worth it to make my father angry.
(Hello Rilisar. It is wonderful to meet you.) I gazed into his eyes, trying to look as passionate as I could about meeting such a big clod.
My father loved me in that moment, I knew, by the look on his face.
(It is wonderful to meet you too,) he said, and I could tell my greeting had the brute stunned. Well he might as well be infatuated with me! Now perhaps if I could bring him crashing down hard somehow, he would clear off! A smug smile replaced the spellbound look and I knew he felt he had won. I wanted to laugh. Just like that Alloran!
I almost missed Alloran compared to this big monster anyway. Alloran at least, had not been so obvious in his ogling of my form. He had actually been a little more smooth than this Andalite, even with all his cliches...
(Well, now that you're introduced - let's talk about the wedding!)
I faked a laugh. (Father!)
My father faked a laugh. (Jahar...)
(The wedding?) Rilisar looked nervous. (Ahh...I was hoping to ah...court Jahar.) I sneered.
Court! Of course! He meant that he was hoping to 'court' me into some kind of phsyical interaction, and test me next to whatever sleazy female(s?) he was already cohabiting with! I had seen this kind of male before. Oh yes, he wanted a nice, long 'engagement;' one he would probably plan to break off after getting whatever pleasure he could from me.
(Court?) my father was onto him too now, I could see. In that instant, I loved my father!
(Ah...yes! You know...) he forced a chuckle. (To ah...get to know Jahar...and ah...make sure that ah...)
(You're/We're compatible?) my father and I both sneered. He looked at us, shocked.
My father looked at me. I looked at him.
(He's got six thousand lirlas, Jahar! Imagine all that land!) it was private speech.
I detested my father then. He felt it and looked away. Then he looked back at me and I could see his anger. There would be no mercy this time. This time my father's heart was hard.
(How long do you want the engagement to be?) my father asked Rilisar who had begun to look as if he wanted to run, as fast as possible, out of the scoop. I looked down, so ashamed. I could see with my stalk eye that Rilisar was looking smugly at me now, however.
(A year, I think.)
I looked up at him and almost laughed. A year? Ha! How could a year possibly be enough to find me under him when I wouldn't give up in a thousand years! I would rather have died. And when I thought of that, I realized I really felt it too.
(Fine.) my father said, sealing the deal. My anger crashed and I suddenly wanted to hide somewhere and cry of shame.
(You will ah...of course, give generously at the wedding?)
It was a traditional question about the dowry, being the six thousand lirlas of land, of course.
My mother feigned embarrasment and I hated her too suddenly. (Darling! How improper!) Hers was a traditional response. But she had wanted me to go to University! How could she stand by and watch this happen?
(Of course,) Rilisar said. He was actually looking with a little concern at me now. Ha! How did he expect to last a year, when he couldn't even handle me not being compliant to begin with?
I continued staring at the floor.
(Jahar, why don't you and Rilisar go for a stroll?)
(It's a lovely evening,) my mother eyesmiled at me and in her eyes, I could see it. 'Don't you see this is better for you than University?'
(I'm tired.) I said. (We can stroll tomorrow.) I glared into my father's eyes, which were furious now. (I hope you will excuse me, Rilisar. Have a good evening.) I turned and hurried out of the scoop to my favorite hiding place I would go to when my father was angry. It was a tiny clearing in the forest. There, I raged, cutting tree branches and throwing them, and then I cried of shame.
Alloran
(Do you think five thousand lirlas of land is enough?) I asked Captain-Prince Enilas the next morning. (I mean...I could perhaps offer more...)
(As a dowry? That is perfectly decent!) Enilas chuckled. (Oh I wish I had had five thousand lirlas to offer my father-in-law when I was younger and getting married!) he sighed. (He might not have been so insufferable...)
(How much did you offer?) I was very curious suddenly. Enilas rarely ever talked about his private life to me or anyone!
(Two hundred lirlas...) he sighed, deep in memory. Then he glared at me as I began to laugh loudly in thoughtspeech.
(Two hundred lirlas?) I cried, laughing. He kicked me hard in the leg.
(It was a lot back then!) he snapped. He began to storm away. Then he sighed. (I apologize, Prince Alloran. I am...a little sensitive about the past.)
I chuckled some more. (I married a lot younger than you!) he teased.
I sagged. He chuckled. (I apologize. That was immature.)
I wanted to say 'Yes it was!' but I remained silent. He chuckled some more at my obvious indignance.
(Well. Five thousand is certainly appropriate. Who is the young female, may I ask? Oh no...it's not Illia is it? I'm telling you Alloran, do not even attempt to go near her again! I think she will take your leg off-)
(No, no.) I laughed. (I...Her name is Jahar-Firvon-)
(Senira?) he finished, his eyes lighting up. (Jahar? You want to marry little Jahar?)
(Little Jahar?)I said, puzzled. (Wait...you know Jahar's family?)
(Oh yes! I'm Jahar's 'Uncle' of sorts. Her father and I were very good friends as young Arisths. I visited them not too long ago. Yes...I remember little Jahar. She was so feisty...) his eyes were fond in memory land again.
(Feisty?) I laughed. I believed it. (What of her father though? What is he like?)
(Prince Larithos? Oh...) he chuckled. (You will need a little more than five thousand lirlas to convince Larithos you are worthy to marry his daughter.)
I wanted to mention my plan, but I decided Enilas was not the right person to mention it to. No...only Larithos was.
(More than five thousand? Why?) I said. (I thought you said five thousand was decent. Is he...fond of land?)
(He is greedy,) I had been careful to allow him to say it and I eyesmiled when he confirmed it. His thoughtspeech became private. (If I were you, Alloran. I would offer quite a bit more than just five thousand...)
I looked at him suspicious suddenly. (I am wondering sir why you are so...approving of my desire to marry 'little' Jahar, as you called her...)
(I think you would be suitable for my friend's daughter,) he said simply. I felt a little proud suddenly. Enilas had always seemed to like me.
(Also, I shall be honest with you Alloran. Jahar is having some trouble with suitors. They always seem to...lose interest in her. Oh I think it's mostly Larithos-) he said quickly when I raised an eyestalk. I knew why but said nothing. (He's so horribly greedy. And the way he sells her...) he sighed. (It makes me sad. He used to be so...different as an Aristh. But he was always ambitious! And in his older age, his daughter is his only chance for greater wealth. She's lovely, of course. But he really is pushing his luck!)
He eyesmiled at me. (If you think, however, that you have enough land, I would say go for it! In any case, you'd better move quickly...) he began to walk away. (I hear he has found quite a suitor for young Jahar...)
I had an odd feeling about Enilas. But if his goal involved me gaining Jahar...well...it certainly wasn't a problem.
Let me know what you think, ladies and gents:)
