House Hospodia, having dealt with internal rebellions to its authority, is united once again, with a new leader prepared to give even his life for the cause. In the course of his previous campaigns, said leader had thoroughly beaten the once-formida...
Ten minutes after his mother's departure, Ishtar Husniris was still going through the main corridor--but apparently with little sense of direction. Thankfully he was still about one hundred steps away from the next fork.
A burst of bluish smoke materialized suddenly ten steps before the boy, making him yelp in surprise. It was Brista.
"Ishtar, child. Where do you think you're going? At this rate you'll lose your way--"
"Grandmom!" despite being a vampire, he ran to embrace her. "Please... I don't want to see Mama and Uncle bickering again. Please do something, I beg of you!"
The Dragoness uttered a low gasp, but allowed her second grandson to cry through the lower parts of her black satin dress while clasping both her arms protectively behind his back
"Tell me now, calm and precise. What happened?"
The boy looked up, pausing to take out a white handkerchief from the right side of his coat's pockets and with it wipe his own snot away.
"Mama... she went somewhere again. Said you've been lecturing her and all, didn't look too pleased about it... Oh, Grandmom, just how had it come to this?" a tear rolled down his face again. "Since when did Hospodia divide itself?"
Brista exhaled, moving her right hand up to pat Ishtar's head. "We are all concerned, Ish, and are seeking the most proper ways to mend this slit. Trust us?"
He nodded slowly, sniveling. "I do pray it will get better... but how soon?"
"Soon. Your great-grandfather is summoning his own children together as we speak. Let's pray something good will come out of it, hmm?"
Kisara's son blinked away his tears. "I understand, Grandmom. Hospodian princes must be strong, so Granddad Mustafa had said. I am one."
The current Lady Hospodia smiled and kissed the boy's forehead once, briefly. "There's a decent prince indeed. Walk with me, there's something you must know."
Ishtar complied, a little more cheerful now. "What is it?"
"You see, dear, Hospodia was not always like this. There were times when our people had marched under one flag, one leader, one faith."
"Yes," he replied, "that was during Great-Grandfather's time, was it not? That's part of our lore already."
"And now," Brista said with scarcely a pause, "I'd like to tell you what even the lore books had missed, or otherwise forgotten to elucidate. Sure you don't want to hear it?"
The princeling grinned. "Of course I do, Grandmom. By the way... this is the way to your own bedroom, correct? How about you start when we get there? Telling a story while walking is... well, not very ethical."
"Good idea."
***
*Mustafa*
As Lady Hospodia opened the door to allow her second grandson entry to her room, the present Lord Hospodia sat surrounded by his siblings and cousin with somber expressions, facing a man who--despite the advancing years--had yet to weaken in his resolve to keep together what he had spent a good part of his life for. Seeing him like this somehow brought Mustafa's memories to this man's glory days, when he himself was but a prince and everything was much simpler.
"My dear children... and Vlos," Urdin began in a fervent tone after murmuring a prayer, his hands clasping the throne's arms, "this might well be the last time you'll be able to see me like this, so set your petty worldly interests aside and listen well.
"Promise me that after this"--he looked at the present Lord Hospodia as he said this--"you will either amicably share this empire we've struggled together for; or keep it in your hands, united and unmolested, until such time as the most proper successor in your clearest judgment has come up... and that you will deal with each of your children in ways you deem necessary to preserve our unity, without in any way deviating from The Straight Path. Promise me!"
"I will do my best to see that our unity holds, Uncle, with utmost attention to The Straight Path," Vlos returned, "as I had during your time."
"We promise, Father," Rashid replied, "never to deviate from the Path."
"I promise," Kynara joined.
"Traitors will never find rest with us," Leia said, before slowly shifting her gaze to her eldest brother along with the others.
"Mustafa?" their father inquired.
The present Lord Hospodia kept his silence for several seconds before looking up.
"With esteemed regard to The Straight Path," he began, "some of my ways of rule to date might not have pleased you all; but I assure you, I did them precisely to keep us united and strong. For us to remain so, no traitors, slackards and transgressors are to be tolerated, nor shall they ever be." A brief silence followed. "Yes, Father. I vow to continue your legacy as far as practically possible, and pass it to the most proper successor in opportune time."
Urdin leant back in the throne, smiling. "See that you do not go back on those vows, ever. Now, let me recount how this came to be."
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