Really, I originally planned to write the intro to Primarch XI's story in three chapters...Primarch II was suppose to be back awhile ago...but I sort of lost control..=\, I've been wanting to get back to Tempestas for awhile now...

In any case I hope you enjoy this

Faith

Being one of the oldest and most important cities, Ain was far larger and more populous than Nuba. The city was divided into three parts: the inner city was where the wealthiest and the powerful lived, the outer city which was usually reserved for the merchants and craftsman and the out-walls, referring to ramshackle collection of huts and tents outside the walls of the city where the poorer inhabitants or travelling merchants stayed.

The inner city was a collection of tall mudbrick buildings, housing many spacious apartments for Ain's citizens and foreign ambassadors. Mansions made of marble and stone were also present, home to the wealthiest of the wealthy and the powerful, such as the elders of Nuba. The inner city was built in the shape of a circle, with a large square at its centre, where the only the wealthiest merchants who could afford a permit to trade there where they sold only the finest goods.

Hayreddin and his party were offered quarters at one of the stone mansions but they had declined and were instead quartered at one of the apartment complexes. Most of the warriors in his party had gone out to see the inner city, unused to such lavishness.

Hayreddin though, had stayed behind in order to meet the Elders of Ain, and as he waited, he was looking out from the apartment balcony over the outer city and the out-walls. They reminded him of Nuba.

"Hayreddin, the elders are here," came Ravenna's gruff voice from behind him.

Hayreddin nodded and returned to the apartment's main room, preparing himself receive the elders.

XI XI XI

There were four of them, each one well into his seventies. One was immensely fat, dressed in voluminous robes of rich purple with a gold chain around his neck and many rings around his fat fingers. Two of them were bowed with age, dressed in simple white robes and holding staves crafted from what Hayreddin knew to be a Biwak's bone. Despite their apparent frailty, their dark eyes glittered with confident intelligence. They looked so alike in a way only twin brothers could be.

The fourth stood tall, still unbowed by his age. He was dressed in black robes, and had a swaddle of cloth tied around his head. He had no walking stick, instead having a scimitar in a simple scabbard tucked into his belt. His dark eyes stared at Hayreddin from underneath bushy grey eyebrows and his grim lips were hidden behind a thick grey beard.

From his bearing, Hayreddin knew he was the leader.

The fourth strode forward, undaunted by Hayreddin's towering height.

"Greetings," he said in a deep, gravelly voice. "I am Great Elder Nebud."

"I am Elder Abrah," rumbled the fat one.

"Elder Koza," said one of the bowed ones.

"Elder Kazo," said the other.

"On behalf of the citizens of Ain, I bid you and your companions welcome," said Nebud, inclining his head respectfully.

Hayreddin bowed before them respectfully, as tradition demanded he did before his elders.

"I thank you," he said. "You honour us with your presence, Elders."

Hayreddin smiled at them and the effect was almost instantaneous. Abrah and the twin elders found themselves coughing into their hands to hide the sudden flush in their faces, and while Nebud handled it better, he still had to look away for a moment from the dazzling smile. Either way, they were all clearly pleased by the courtesy shown to them.

"I thank you for coming all the way out here to help us settle our dispute with the desert tribes," replied Nebud.

Hayreddin nodded and indicated that they all sit. Ravenna stood in a corner of the room, as still as a statue, watching the proceedings intently while Isan came out from an adjoining room, serving tea to the elders. Once done, she backed away into a corner, her hands folder before her demurely, looking so like a quiet obedient girl that Hayreddin and Ravenna had to hide their amusement. In truth like Ravenna, Isan would quietly observe and listen for anything that might be of use later on.

"I apologise," said Nebud. "We invited you here and yet you are the one serving us tea."

Hayreddin smiled. "Please, it should be the young who serve the venerable elders. I apologise if the tea is terrible."

The Elders smiled and chuckled, pleased with Hayreddin's politeness. They spent several minutes sipping the tea while studying each other.

"Of the first thing," began Abrah, finishing his tea in a single gulp. "You are from Nuba, yes?"

"Yes, Elder," answered Hayreddin.

"This is Nuba, which was once the little village founded on the edge of the sea-cliffs?"

"The same, Elder," answered Hayreddin.

"Tell me, how is Beduin?" asked Abrah.

"You know of Elder Beduin?" asked Hayreddin, surprised.

Abrah smiled. "I was from Nuba. My family moved to Ain to escape the pirates. Beduin and I were friends, though I haven't seen him since."

"Elder Beduin is well," answered Hayreddin. "Though displeased with the changes in Nuba I fear."

"Ha! That sounds of like Beduin, right enough," boomed Abrah. "Always the traditionalist; too afraid of change and always worrying what the spirits want."

"So tell us, young one," asked Koza. "How did you achieve it?"

"Yes, we are most intrigued by how you did it," added Kazo.

"I beg your pardon, Elders?" asked Hayreddin politely.

"How did you change Nuba from a dying backwater to a prosperous town?" clarified Kazo.

"In just four years no less," added Koza.

Hayreddin smiled. "Respectfully Elders, Nuba was not dying. There was still strength in it; otherwise the pirates would have destroyed it long ago. I did nothing, I only helped the people of Nuba realise their strength and potential. The development in Nuba is not my doing, it is its people."

"Humble, this one," commented Kazo.

"Yes indeed," added Koza. "But since word of Nuba's development reached Ain and many other cities, your name, young Hayreddin, has always been part of it."

"Yes," said Kazo. "Clearly your role in Nuba's development is greater than you are willing to admit. Will you not tell us?"

"Yes, will you not?" inquired Koza.

"There is nothing I can tell you, Elders," answered Hayreddin, bowing his head respectfully. "I am honoured that you and the people of Nuba think so highly of me."

"We do," said Kazo. "A nameless man out of nowhere changes the fate of an impoverished village?"

"A most intriguing tale is it not?" added Koza. "We were curious to meet you since learning of your name."

"It is why we asked you to come to Ain," said Nebud. His eyes studied Hayreddin intently as he leaned back.

"Life in this land is harsh, even for those of us fortunate enough to be protected by the walls of Ain," said Nebud. "Those who live by the sea are threatened by pirates, while those who live in the desert are threatened by the weather, beasts and the constant war of the desert tribes. We have survived thus far because our lives have followed a particular pattern. Any sort of change to that pattern would be hard for the people to accept. The people of Nuba lived for many years running from the pirates, who always destroy their homes. And the people of Nuba come back and rebuild until the next the raid. It was an endless cycle, but no one thought to change that cycle."

Nebud gave Hayreddin a thoughtful look. "Until you came. Not only did you break the endless cycle, you changed things for the better. More importantly, you got the people of Nuba to embrace the change."

"I'm not sure I follow, Elder," said Hayreddin slowly.

"You got the people of Nuba to embrace the change," repeated Nebud. "Think hard on that. Our people do not take change well. In the village where I grew up, deformed children are drowned at birth, the deathly sick are killed out of mercy and to protect the rest of the village and above all, anyone who has different ideas on how things should be would be exiled and at times, even killed. But you succeeded; you made Nuba accept the change. Better yet, you got them involved in it. That is a miracle in itself, Hayreddin."

Abrah leaned forward. "For decades, Ain has always shared our most valuable resource, water, with five desert tribes: the Kaling, the Huraiz, the Kaganagh, the Battuta and the Sina. In return, they help protect our trade caravans. At the same time, we also trade various goods we have in return for the metals that they have access to."

"But over the last two years," added Kazo. "Rival tribes have come forward asking us; demanding actually, for access to our water."

"If these tribes were to share the same water source with the five allied to us," continued Koza. "They would end up fighting each other; war could break out on our very doorstep."

"The problem is, by refusing the other desert tribes access to our water, they might just decide to make war on us in order to get it anyway," said Abrah. "They have already threatened us a few times in the last two years."

"And if the rival tribes declare war on us," continued Nebud. "The five tribes allied to us would not sit idly by and they would no doubt fight as well. The loss of life and the scale of destruction could very well destroy Ain."

As Hayreddin listened to the situation, his heart sank. The situation was far direr than anything he had expected. Thousands of live hung in a balance on the decisions the Elders were asking him to make. Hayreddin was not sure he was prepared for such a burden.

"If I may, Elders?" he asked. "Why me? The four of you know far more about this area and the tribes than I do. I believe I am ill-suited for this task."

"But you see, Hayreddin, that's just it," said Nebud. "We know how these tribes work; because of that we can't see a way out of this. Our way of thinking has been shaped by our years of experience and thinking past that is as monumental a challenge as what we are facing."

Nebud leaned forward. "You though, you have a different perspective from us. You are not bound by our way of thinking. Perhaps you can see what we could not, despite your young age. Above all, you got the people of Nuba to accept change; you got them to change. Perhaps you can do the same for us and the desert tribes. We would do the best we can to help you, of course."

Silence reigned in the room following Nebud's words. The Elders looked at Hayreddin, cautious hope on their faces. Hayreddin leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees and his chin on his hands, clearly in deep thought.

"I..." he began slowly. "I will need some time to think. I need to consult my companions. I apologise, Elders."

"Of course, of course," said Nebud, getting up. He walked forward and placed a hand on Hayreddin's shoulder.

"I am sorry that we have asked you to a shoulder such a terrible burden. Believe me when I say that if we could have solved this ourselves, we would not have asked you; we would not have placed such a burden on one so young. If you refuse, I understand. But we believe that you could help us, Hayreddin. Not just from what you've done for Nuba, but just from meeting you here...we believe."

As Nebud and the other Elders headed for the door, Nebud halted and turned to Hayreddin once more.

"Whatever you decide, I am glad to have met you, young Hayreddin," he said. "I hope we will have your answer soon."

XI XI XI

Hayreddin slumped back into his seat, mulling over what had just transpired. Ravenna and Isan sat down beside each other, facing him.

"I'm starting to think coming here was both a good and bad idea," remarked Hayreddin. He straightened up and looked at his friends. "Good because the situation here is pretty bad, and bad because I'm not sure if I can resolve it."

Hayreddin covered his face with his hands. "One wrong move, one misstep and thousands of lives will be lost. I don't know if I can do this."

"But if you do nothing, those lives will be lost anyway," answered Isan and Hayreddin cringed, knowing she was right.

"The Elders might still be able to solve it," hedged Hayreddin, but Ravenna shook his head.

"It's like they said, if they could, they wouldn't have asked you to come."

"But…can I do this?" repeated Hayreddin. "It was different with Nuba…I wanted to protect Nuba from the pirates…and everything just started changing from there. Here…I'm trying to stop a war from breaking out."

"You can, Hayreddin," said Isan gently.

"Can I? Can I?" cried Hayreddin angrily, frustrated at their misguided confidence in his abilities. "What makes you so sure? What makes you think I can do anything different from the Elders? What makes you think I have any right to make decisions that could affect thousands of lives?"

Isan was a little shaken by Hayreddin's uncharacteristic outburst, but Ravenna was undaunted.

"Because you already have."

That stopped Hayreddin short. "What?"

"You've been making such decisions for Nuba," said Ravenna. "When you proposed building the Wall, the traditionalists and superstitious were opposed to it and in most cases, they would have resorted to violence to stop you. But not only you prevented it from happening you converted many to your cause. When the Wall was finished, you effectively ended the old ways of Nuba; the people began looking to the future, not clinging to their traditions."

"I didn't mean to," said Hayreddin quietly.

"It doesn't matter, Hayreddin," answered Ravenna. "Your decision affected everyone. Every decision you have made since you changed Nuba has affected everyone. Not everyone agreed with you, but you did what you did because you believed it to be the right thing for everyone. That's what it means to lead. That's what matters. I believe you'll do the same here."

"You can do this, Hayreddin," said Isan. "If anyone can, it's you."

"But all those lives, depending on me…" whispered Hayreddin in anguish.

"After hearing of the situation, could you really just leave all this behind?" asked Isan.

Hayreddin was silent for a moment. The answer was obvious to him right from the start.

"No, I cannot," he said.

Hayreddin leaned back and looked at his friends, seeing the absolute confidence they had in him, the trust they had in him.

It was humbling.

"Why do you believe in me, when at times I don't?" Hayreddin asked.

"Because we have faith in you, Hayreddin," answered Isan, smiling. "After everything you've done for Nuba, for us, how could we not?"

Ravenna nodded curtly. "It's time you have faith in yourself."

Hayreddin bowed his head and he already knew what his answer to the Elders would be. It was no longer a matter of if he could help Ain. He had to.

His friends had faith in him, so he would to.

XI XI XI

Nebud was taking a stroll in compound of his mansion, his granddaughter hopping along beside him energetically, making him smile. In his compound were an assortment of cacti, palm and olive trees; the few plants capable of thriving in the desert.

He watched as his granddaughter ran to one of the olive trees and started leaping up to get at the fruits. His smiled turned to a frown.

He hoped to the spirits that war would not come to Ain. Seeing such innocence embodied in his granddaughter, he hoped dearly that he could protect her from the horrors that always came with war. He had seen too much of it in his long life.

"Master?"

Nebud turned to see one of his servants bowing respectfully to him.

"Yes, what is it?" asked Nebud.

"Master Hayreddin has come," answered the servant. "Shall I bring him here?"

Cautious hope flared in Nebud's heart. "Yes, of course! Be quick about it!"

Nebud gritted his teeth as he anxiously waited for Hayreddin. It took all his willpower not to run to the remarkable young man when Hayreddin arrived, led by his servant.

"Elder Nebud," greeted Hayreddin, bowing respectfully. "It is an honour to meet you again."

"Please, young one, you do me a great honour by coming here," answered Nebud, touching Hayreddin on the shoulder. "Have you decided then?"

Hayreddin straightened up and looked Nebud in the eye, his dark brown eyes shining with determination.

"Yes."

That one simple word was everything that Nebud could have hoped for.

Unknown to them, that moment would resonate far into Baybar's future.

Next chapter onwards, we will be returning to the stormy world of Tempestas and Primarch II...