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Faris steps out from Thrones Tailoring no closer to answers than he was before entering. With all mainstream revenues checked off, Faris follows the laughter and duff drums that emanate from the Nakhflay camp for leads. Tall dome tents, colourful rugs, exotic spices and outdoor cooking contrast gothic churches and white Baroque streets of the rest of Vatala.
Faris joins the shushing crowd by the fire right on time to hear Veryth sing. Holding everyone's gaze, dressed in traditional blue with Ottoman trim, gracefully stood before her people calm and relaxed. An audience of sincere smiles, warm families, close partners, tamed birds and high seated elders. Tankers of fruit juice and tea cups are flowing, no one's wooden bowls are less than half full of rabbit and lentil stew and the cold air dancing with a sea of pleasant smells.

*Slow melodious humming from the crowd *
"It began under a moon,
Hundreds of years ago,
For the love of one woman two warriors tried to woo.
She had died young in life,
But a spell trapped her soul,
And the masters of the night without her were not whole.
Both had made a pact,
Neither one of them could die,
Except by their own magic or the light of the sky,
In a battle of honour,
The two warriors fought,
Over decades many ways of the blades they self taught.
Growing ever quicker,
Never pausing for breath,
For the cursed of the Earth could never truly taste death.
Fated to duel,
An eternity without rest,
For both are ever bound till one of them are best.
Unbreakable blades,
For unchangeable ways,
While time had its effect over endless dark days.
In a tomb still they duel,
For some fate can be cruel,
If one of them escaped the whole world they would rule."

Veryth smiles at her audience in a moment of praising silence before the voices of Merry sound off again. Children take the hands of Veryth, bringing her to sit with them amongst fur cushions lay upon a large traditional rug. Nearby Faris is asking Talib, the greatest merchant for luxury foreign fabric for any useful information.

"Faris! You're here." Veryth smiles.

"How did you know?" A slightly red Faris replies.

"You always carry the smell of vanilla, amber, oud with minute traces of rose." She smiles.

"One day I may need someone with your talents."

"Singing?" Veryth ask with a gentle laugh.

"Maybe." Faris responds in kind. "I am sorry, I know I've not shown my face lately and I'm sorry that it's work that has brought me here."

"No need to explain yourself here, we are family." She says with a smile and nod.

Faris's gaze lowers in sadness for a moment and raises his smile and voice back into the atmosphere.
"I needed to ask if you heard anything that might be relevant to the missing person the guards reported last full moon. Only lead I have is Talib's nephew and niece are supposed to be coming soon."

"I know no one has seen Lady Daniella for the last few days, Mayor Baldwin has had his private security planted around the city lately. I doubt she's gone outside the walls though, but then again, I've heard her father is far from the sympathetic type."

"No one said anything to me."

"Of course, they wouldn't. The Mayor is more concerned with suppressing the embarrassment of his daughter running away than he is about finding her. Poor darling."

"I'll look into it. Thank you."

"My husband is already waiting for you there."

Faris smiles and places his palm over his heart and Veryth nods in kind.

-

Approaching the black skeletal fence, Faris and Axil observe the grounds. Large land with trees of varying fruits, large stone flagging curved towards a stone manor three storeys high. Large windows, wide doors, a glorious barn and a full stable of prestige horse breeds in various colours. The pair are invited in and wait long enough to finish their coffee in a room of leather chairs, low wooden tables, glass ash trays a fireplace. Faris checks how long is left for prayer, comparing his pocket watch to the tall case clock.

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