He sat on the edge of a great garden split by running waters, a man made flow with connected bridges crossings over the rushing waters into the city beyond.
Men and women of art admired the great beauty of the flower gardens riddled with flowers of red, violet and yellow amidst others.
They admired the architecture of the city, scholars writing on paper, others painting on thick canvas the horizon they stared at.
Meanwhile, admiring all this, Malak sat in a corner of the gardens on a table of ivory and wood, with Uhar standing behind him as he admired the sight of the rose plucked and held between his fingers.
It was half dead, one of the few who didn't recieve enough light amidst the others who stood over it. It's thorned stem was weak and soft, the thorns too soft to defend it, too soft to remove it from the danger of being pricked.
Complicated dark eyes stared down, softly turning the rose over in his grasp.
" So frail ... so ... weak" He had a soft spot for roses, always had since the earliest of days in this world, and of the days before. His voice was forlorn and touched deeply with longing... with missing.
" Here ... let me help you little one" He gently held his hand over the warped pettles, eyes closing slowly.
[ Blessing given]
The roots of the stem surged, reaching for the nearest source of nutrients, and with a chuckle, he urged the rose back to the garden bed.
" There there... " It burrowed itself deeply, interweaving itself through the unclaimed dirt below, seemingly to shift of its own volition, in search of the best angle to catch the sunlight, and then it sat, drawing in everything it had been denied for so long.
He watched it, lips thinned... complicated.
" Grow strong little one ... I hope to see you the largest and most vibrant rose in this city when I return" It grew larger visibly, as he and Uhar stared at it, watching it occasionally brush aside another flower when they neared too closely to its claimed light.
" A connoisseur of beauty I see" A voice sounded several steps to the side, deep but tinged with caution. A finely kept men of vibrant robes, with a neatly trimmed beard and pitch black hair. His eyes held an intelligence few in this world could hold.
" I try. I may not understand what they see when they look at a sunset " Malak gestured to the artists and architects. " But I can appreciate beauty when I see it. I believe the most beautiful thing in the world is the struggle of life, the fall before the inevitable rise. How one may reach for something more despite the mud sucking them down, it's beautiful to see the desire in man's eye... for something greater"
" And a philosopher I see... forgive me ser for the earlier transgressions my court have levied upon yourself, I'm the magister of Sathar, Alek Aethis, i wish to converse" Behind him four guards shifted nervously, as he came to a stop two metres from Malak and Uhar.
' Of course you do' Malak turned his gaze from the man, spitting Krone, the fat handler, huddling down under the magisters shadow, before turning to stare back at the horizon.
" Then sit ... " It wasn't a question nor did it acknowledge the magisters status, a silent display of power and status the magister didn't quite yet understand what for, but did suspect.
Alek rounded the table and sat himself at Malak's side, both facing the lands beyond the city that the gardenbed oversaw.
" May I know your name ser ... " Alek asked, smiling slightly in that way an aristocrat looks at prey.
" My name ... is irrelevant. I am simply the lord of roses, the gift giver..." Malak denied the question with ease, he didn't recognise the authority of the magistrate and they both knew it, he didn't care for it, and they both knew it.
Lips thinned and brows tightened ever so slightly. But the calculation in the eyes remained" giver of gifts you say, may I know what gifts you give"
" Don't mix words. I don't care for it. You see your little pet over there and his new finger... " Malak waved Krone over, whom kept his head low bur shambled over at his bidding none the less. " I'm sure you explained what occurred earlier .. my rat friend"
" O...of course generous lord, I explained the the magister exactly what had occurred just as you explained" Krone inclined his head before running back and hiding behind the four guards, spying both the magister and himself closely.
" Am I to believe that you have come before me for such gifts... " The magister remained kindly, nodding ever so slightly after a moment of silence.
" I would like proof of your claims... lord of gifts. You must understand that .." Malak waved a dismissive hand and gave a scoff.
" I understand perfectly well magister, I'll play your little game for the small amount of amusement it may give ... you ... guard" He pointed to one of the four guarding the magister, wagging a finger to draw the man over. " Come ... "
The man looked to the magister whom gave his approval, taking four steps forward past Uhar before standing awkwardly before the two.
" What ails you. What do you seek above all else. Does your cock not work as well as it used to, or does your wife not look as appealing as she once did. Do you crave the strength to tear a beast apart with bare hand, or perhaps you want to never want for gold once more ... choose ... but only one" Malak smirked under his veil, watching the soldier looming unsure, giving glanced to his lord master. " Don't seek from your master, ask for yourself ... "
The guard looked at the magister again who nodded in approval once more.
" I ... I want" Quivering lips shifted ever so slightly. " I want to have a cock worthy of the gods themselves"
" For your dear lover I presume " The guards behind couldn't help but chuckle at the request, if any of this was real might as well make it something that would satisfy them.
The guard nodded slightly but gave a small confident smile as the magister interlaced his hands and sat back, watching with squinting eyes, seeking understanding.
" Then you're in luck, they don't call me the gift giver for nothing, and this is quite the gift i assure" Malak gestured thr guard to kneel, whom did so as he bowed his head ever so slightly which Malak placed his white gloves onto the guards helmeted head.
[ Gift selected. Assigning changes ]
The guard reacted instantly, face reddening as his pants became tight around his leg, a startled gasp escaping his lips as she shot to his feet, removed his armour like a dancing animal, pulled his pants open and stared down with wide eyes.
The magister rose aghast, they could clearly see the outline on the guards pants, something that had been a running joke amongst their brethren for years gone in an instant.
" Sek you're hung like a horse" A guard cursed, turning away in disgust as the guard, Sek, stared down with wide eyes, before a grin slowly rose over his features, sending a condescending smirk at his three brothers in arms.
" Suck it ... " Sek turned to the magister whom was looking at him like he was some interesting subject. Whilst the lord of gifts remained as enigmatic as ever." Thank you for your generous gift, oh lord of roses"
" Hm ... I wouldn't be living up to my name if I couldn't fulfil such a simple wish" Malak waved the guard off, the magisters head turning like slate on a table to stare at him with guarded, strange eyes.
" Is there something wrong magister " Malak asked, finally making the magister unfreeze, startled. He recovered quickly, shaking his head, stiffling the predatory grin that came to his face"
" Is there a limit to these gifts you can give ... " It was a careful question, a question pointed enough that it made Malak pause momentarily at the hidden emotion smothered in the words.
" Hm ... not any you'd be able to understand. You'd have to be specific" Deliberately elusive, he'd leave his capabilities a mystery, they'd chase him, they'd want to figure out how to use him, how to make a weapon out of him.
" Gold ... " Alek prodded, shifting himself slightly.
" I can give you a gift that will make you be able to make gold with a fingers touch. Maybe lucky enough that you'd stumble upon a gold bar everytime you'd round a corner. I can make you the richest man in the world in time" The greed that lit up behind the magisters eyes made Malak smirk, visibly licking his lips as he spied the hairs on Alek's body stand on end.
" Control ... beauty " It came out a whisper, a wanting so powerful Malak was slowly beginning to understand exactly what it was that Alek wanted.
" I could make you irresistible to the gaze of those around you. A voice as smooth as harp, looks that would make you a marvel of physical perfection" Malak lowered himself closer, watching Aleks breath quicken. " I can give you a voice that sways masses. I can give you a cock big enough to sway the heart of many a whore. There is nothing I cannot give control over"
The magisters lips visibly quivered... and his last word came out a whisper.
" What about life ... "
" Indeed. I can make your life easy, I could remove every obstacle in your way. Or is it the clutch of death you fear. I can extend your life till the heat death of the world itself ever after that ... would that suffice" Malak's face now hovered barely ten centimetres infront of the magister, voice compelling the man to dive headfirst into his greed.
The magister seemed to come to his senses, leaning back as he shook his head clean of the sheer greed that had almost made him grovel.
He raked in a shuddered breath.
" One last question ... lord of roses ... your guard ... is she one to benefit of your gifts " His Adams apple dropped ,gulping as sweat ran down the back of his neck.
" Absolutely... they don't call her the unkillable for no reason" Malak barked a harsh laugh as the magister seemed to contemplate his words.
He turned to face Uhar now, who stood well heads over the height of the guards. Ever silent, ever a looming monolith of promised pain. Her face unreadable, yet her body spoke of strength men could only envy.
" I see ... " The magister seemed to come to a decision, lifting his chin slightly, smiling an inviting smile, inclining his head slightly.
" The courts welcome your stay in Sathar. I would ask that you abide by our laws during your stay in our beautiful city. I will have your room cleaned before your return. All halls and venues are open to you. I shall send a servant to help you with any request... and should you need me... my doors are open to you always" His magnanimous generosity was meant to instill trust and dependence, but only made Malak smear under the veil covering his head.
" That is most generous of you magister... should I need anything... I'll be troubling you " Malak inclined his head slightly before turning back to the horizon.
" Of course you are always welcome" The magister turned and quickly made himself scarce, the four guards following behind the man they served dutifully whilst one walked with the strut of someone who had the whole world ahead of them.
" Keep your eyes peeled Uhar... I wouldn't be surprised if they tried to find some way to confine us ... I hope he isn't that stupid" He leant back onto chair he sat, observing the passing clouds, watching them pass as the mid day sun began to begin its slow descent across the heavens.
" .... " She moved silently, now standing directly behind Malak entirely, blocking off access to him entirely as she held a hand to the hilt of her sword.
" Men like that... they're a dangerous type. Willing to do whatever it takes to rise above his station... trample everyone around and they wouldnt blink twice ... i've dealt with men like that a plenty" He chuckled, but that magister wasn't the only one like that in this world, they all were. Horny, killers, murderers the lot.
' I expect some to come knocking to make requests shortly. This is about to get interesting' Malak rose from the ivory chair, adjusting his robes before rounding the table and beginning a slow walk across the gardens. They were predictable in that sense, it may not be the magister himself that comes asking. Maybe a citizen wanting to he more virile, a woman wanting a new face, tests for downsides, a test for limits. They didn't understand the system, they didn't understand where these gifts came from and they never would. Nor would they be made aware of the caveats that might come from the systems gifts.
" Let's go back to our room for abit, I wish to see just what angle the magister is going to approach this from" They crossed the beautiful city. Walking past the flowing man-made rivers, past an artist trying to paint the sun in all its eldritch glory, an imaginary thought of what the sun looked like beyond the skies.
' That's not exactly what it looks like but a commendable effort none the less' Malak chuckled, feet passing over brick bridges that crossed the flowing rivers, roses planted along the bridges ends.
They crossed over the interwoven paths. Circling the circumference of the city as birds chirped over the beautiful cliffside where vines and other flora ran up and down, given life by the sun and waterfall spray.
" Impressive" Malak mumbled as they stepped back into the room they had been given alon their arrival.
There were no corpses, no stains of blood on the new rug that had replaced the old blood soaked carpet.
The bodies were missing, the ground had been scrubbed clean and now standing in the same spot as the girl who had tried poisoning him earlier stood a new serving girl.
She was pretty, undoubtedly so, pretty enough that it made him suspicious right off the bat as to what her identity would be. His eyes danced over her hands. Which were bare of the calluses a working person might have, instead they were smooth, well rounded, bare of any signs of real work. But it was her eyes that spoke the loudest.
She didn't have the unease others would have infront of a lord. Rather they were cold jaded chips of dark brown that gazed upon him with contempt.
' Intersting ... a spy perhaps.. you do move quickly magister, i'll give you that' He strode forward into the room, the fair skinned heart shaped face girl bowing at the waist enough to expose the top of her breasts through her shirt.
" Milord ... I was sent to cater to you at the magisters request, I am Leah... " Poisonous lips spoke flirtatiously on his wars, earning an amused but no less dangerous chuckle from the lord of roses.
" Hello Leah ... I am the lord of roses ... I do hope you've been made aware of just what is expected of you when you stand in my service" The black haired girl rose at his words, nodding with jaded and defiant eyes, but her hands none the less slowly rose to the straps of her garments.
" What are you doing ... " His voice rumbled at the evocative gesture, lips thinned and frowning in distaste.
' Surely this creature wouldn't stoop so low as trying to seduce me ... me ' He sneered, as she lowered her hands and made an apologetic face.
" Forgive me milord, I had assumed that because... " Her words died in her throat as a groan rumbled from Malak's neck.
" Assumed ... I am not something to be assumed. You will do well to remember that my word is all that you need follow, not your brain or fucking hormones. Assumptions will get you fired ' He grunted and pushed past the girl, moving to the table littered with his previously read books.
" Take these and replace them with other content... I wish to read about the history of Westeros and the Valyrians" His annoyance was clear, as the girl took the books with obvious confusion, eyes blinking slowly at the harshness of his words.
' A woman with looks but no substance thinks i would desire her body ... disgusting ' He shivered as he handed the final book to the girl like one would hand a handkerchief to a lecher. Earning him a subtle glare from the girl who quickly covered her own offence, curtsied and fled to do as was requested.
But just before she could step beyond the door, Malak's voice echoed once more.
" If I desire such things like the needs of the flesh covered... you would not need to assume... now leave ... and don't return until you have what I asked" And so she stepped out, dismissed clearly as she cursed under her breath, books in hand as she stormed her way toward the magister to complain.
As she left, Malak came to stand at the window sill overlooking the valley and its beautiful sight of greens and flowers, silver pools stretching intonthe wilderness beyond.
" This place sure is breathtaking... as is most dangerous things" He cast a silent gaze back to Uhar, who basked in her presence in her perpetual silence.
" Remain vigilant Uhar, I don't trust this nest of snakes. And if anything untoward should happen, I expect you to kill every last one of them "