My apologies for the slightly long break...but it took me a while to figure out how I want this arc to go. In any case, now we return to Primarch XI's story.

As always, I hope you enjoy...

The Summit

The city of Ain was abuzz with activity. Cattle herders displayed their finest livestock, calling out their prices to onlookers; the women bustled about preparing food; guard captains briefed their men on issues of security while runners ran along the streets, shouting out news for the biggest event to ever happen in Ain's history.

The Summit.

The twelve main desert tribes have agreed to a meeting for a cooperative venture that would allow them all peaceful access to Ain's water supply in return for various benefits to the city itself. Given the often shifting alliances and hostilities between the various tribes, such a thing was unheard of.

It was all made possible by the man who had come out of the growing town of Nuba, Hayreddin. The remarkable young man had tirelessly negotiated with the tribes for the past six years. The first two had been spent convincing the tribes to agree on a truce that would allow them access to water in turns to prevent violence from breaking out. The remaining three were spent convincing the chieftains of the possibility of a cooperative venture and the final year had been spent convincing them to attend the Summit together. It was a tall order that should have been impossible, but Hayreddin, with the wisdom of Ain's four Elders and his own companions had somehow pulled it off.

Indeed, many believed that it was Hayreddin who had somehow appealed to the chieftains to briefly put aside their differences in order to even consider such a possibility. Anyone who had met the young man would at first be stunned by his beauty, then charmed by his eloquent speech and respectful behaviour. Even the chieftains of the tribes, by all accounts prideful, grim and rough men hardened by the decades of hard living in the desert had found themselves listening whenever Hayreddin spoke in his soft, melodious voice. It was the charisma of the young man that had prevented the chieftains from rejecting the idea of cooperating with the other tribes outright, paving the way for the coming Summit.

However, the gathering of the twelve chieftains who have lived most of their lives in conflict with each other was still a cause for concern, so the Ain's soldiers and security forces had spent much of the time preparing in the event that the situation got out of hand.

As night gradually fell on Ain, anticipation and tension was high within the city.

XI XI XI

Isan walked up the stairs to the apartment where Hayreddin stayed, carrying a tray of food. Sometimes the young man was so caught up in his efforts that he forgot to eat or drink. Not that it seemed to have any particular effect on him.

Balancing the tray on one hand, Isan brushed a lock of stray dark hair out of her eyes. In the six years she had spent in Ain, she had matured into a truly beautiful woman, with her long hair, smooth olive skin, dark eyes; the gazes of men would follow her wherever she went; at least until she opened her mouth to speak as Ravenna would often grumble.

Isan smiled to herself at the thought. She and the hulking warrior had grown closer in the last six years. Though they constantly bickered, they had found themselves spending more and more time with each other; not just during meetings and discussions with Hayreddin, but also to explore the city or the oasis just to wind down from the stress of diplomacy and politics.

Hayreddin had noticed, and often teased them for it; asking if they were actually having an affair behind his back or if they were finally going to tie the knot.

The thought of marrying Ravenna, much to her surprise, did not repulse Isan much; in fact, it did not repulse her at all. If anything, her heart often fluttered at the thought; true, Ravenna was a good bit older than her, but such a thing was common enough, and Ravenna was a good man despite his taciturn, grumpy disposition...

All thoughts fled her mind when she entered Hayreddin's room.

The young man was standing on a balcony overlooking Ain. He was dressed in simple brown robes with his sword tied to his side. There was a light breeze that night, blowing his dark brown hair across his achingly perfect face. His dark brown eyes were shut and his usually charming smile was absent, a small frown in its place. The light of the moon made his sand-pale skin seem to glow.

Isan paused at the door, composing herself. Despite knowing Hayreddin for a long time, she was still stunned by his beauty, which she knew far surpassed her own. Everyone stared at Hayreddin whenever he was present.

They simply couldn't help it.

"I brought you something to eat, Hayreddin," said Isan, setting down the tray on a table in the room.

Hayreddin turned to her, opening his eyes. He smiled at her.

"Thank you, Isan," he said, walking into the room. He paused, staring at her for a moment before smirking. "Where's Ravenna?"

"How would I know?" retorted Isan, blushing a little. "I'm not his keeper."

"Not yet, at any rate," said Hayreddin, grinning. "Maybe once this is all over, perhaps?"

"Be quiet before I shove all this food down your throat," snapped Isan, her cheeks reddening further.

Hayreddin chuckled, settling himself down into one of the couches around the table and helping himself to some dried fruits. "My apologies; please join me."

The two of them sat together for a time, eating quietly.

"So the chieftains arrive tomorrow," said Isan at last. "Ravenna's been coordinating with Ain's security forces to make sure they don't do anything the chieftains will see as offensive."

Isan paused. "Of course, you could've just asked them to come unarmed."

Hayreddin shook his head. "These men live their whole lives in a perpetual state of conflict; being unarmed is the ultimate sign of weakness for them."

"So instead we risk a fight breaking out between the chieftains of the most warlike people in the desert," said Isan, snorting. "Honestly, this whole I'm-a-man-I-must-show-my-sword-is-bigger-than-ever yone-else's thing is stupid."

Hayreddin laughed. "I agree; but I understand why too. Getting them to agree to come to the Summit peacefully had been hard enough; getting them to come unarmed would've been impossible."

"I'm sure you could've persuaded them..." began Isan.

"Please, no comments about me batting my eyes at them," said Hayreddin chidingly, making Isan smirk. "It already took all our best efforts to get them to come. Let's just leave it at that. In any case, I have absolute faith in Ravenna to handle security."

Isan sighed. She knew Hayreddin was right; the people of the desert tribes would sooner die than part with their weapons which were so integral to their way of life. But honestly, the need of men to exert their dominance through violence was so...vexing, but such was the way of things. Isan often thought privately that the world would be a far better place if women were running it instead.

But of course, such thoughts were deemed nonsensical, even among women themselves, thought Isan with a scowl.

"Do you think they'll come to an agreement?" asked Isan, dismissing the irritating thought from her mind.

"They've agreed to most of the terms in regards of not attacking Ain and the trade caravans, answered Hayreddin. "What we need is an agreement to uphold the peace between the twelve tribes; to stop them from going to war with each other."

"That's...a pretty tall order," said Isan slowly.

"Of course, but there's no point considering it if we can't stop them from killing each other at the Summit," said Hayreddin, smiling. "We'll have to make an environment where they can peacefully talk first."

Isan looked at him thoughtfully. "Do you really think that's possible? The tribes have been at war with each other for generations...there are too many wounds on all sides that simply talking can't resolve."

Hayreddin looked away, and Isan saw a hint of self-doubt on his face. Isan had seen it before when they had first learned of the situation upon arriving in Ain six years ago. She wondered at times how someone like Hayreddin could ever doubt himself, but whenever she did, she reminded herself that Hayreddin carried the heavy responsibility of walking the path where his decisions affected countless lives.

That was why he needed Isan and Ravenna; not just to counsel him, but also so that he could express his doubts and fears; so he could let down the mask of unwavering confidence he showed to everyone else.

"I have to hope so," said Hayreddin softly. "I have to believe that they want a life free from war and death."

Hayreddin turned back to Isan and smiled. "Just because things have always been so, doesn't it mean it should always be so. Just like what we accomplished in Nuba, don't you agree?"

Isan smiled and nodded. "You're right I suppose. How do you plan to enforce the peace?"

Hayreddin smiled. "I have an idea."

Isan waited expectantly, but he said nothing further.

"Well, what is it?" asked Isan impatiently.

Hayreddin's smile widened into a grin. "That would be telling."

Isan stared at him. "That's not funny. Tell me."

"No."

"By the spirits! Why not? Ravenna and I should know so that we can..."

Hayreddin raised a hand to silence her. "I don't need to tell you and Ravenna about it to know that you both will think it's an insane idea."

"Don't you think that's all the more reason you should tell Ravenna and I about it?" asked Isan.

Hayreddin looked at her thoughtfully. "You and Ravenna once said that you had faith in me."

"Of course we do, but..."

"Then have faith in me now."

Isan gazed at Hayreddin. He gazed back, his dark brown eyes unblinking. Isan thought again of how she always felt that there was nothing Hayreddin couldn't do; how she and Ravenna had talked him into coming to Ain because they believed that he could do the impossible.

"Alright," said Isan.

Hayreddin nodded, smiling gratefully. "Thank you, Isan."