Altair

Wash the blood and ashes: A ritual before the meeting. It's unacceptable for Altair to come to you right after the mission. No matter how long it takes, he performs a huge ritual before showing up in front of you: He'll never come to you in the clothes he wore on the mission. He meticulously checks every inch of his burgundy cloak and mask so that they don't have a drop of other people's blood, gunpowder, burning or palace dungeons on them. He literally washes his hands red in cold water, washing away soot and dirt so that his palms, when they touch your face or hands, are completely clean. He carefully masks any new injuries. If he gets a cut or bruise on a mission, Altair will tightly pull him with bandages under his clothes so that the fabric doesn't even tighten, and not a single muscle of his will flinch in pain when you're around. He'd rather burn with shame than let you see him hurt and make you cry or worry. Lying for good and 'peaceful' explanations. When you ask where he's been missing the last two days, this formidable killer starts panicking more internally than in the sultan's face. He'll never admit to tracking down conspirators or taking out spies. Instead, he comes up with the most innocuous, 'peaceful' excuses related to falconry as he goes: 'Shaheen flew too far into the hills, had to track him down for a long time by nests,' or 'The Sultan ordered the count of the young falcons in the distant enclosure, sneaked around until morning.' He says it in the calmest, steady voice, enthusiastically showing you some funny trinket he secretly bought on the way to quickly shift your attention.

On the day when the baby's time comes, Altair will lose all his coolness. He, who does not flinch before the army of enemies, will measure the corridor of your house by the hills with his own mask. Every moan you make at the door will resonate in his heart with real physical pain. He'll refuse to leave, sit right under the door, with his fists clenched to his white knuckles, and praying continuously to all the forces of the desert and sky he knows, that you and the baby will be okay. The loyal Shaheen peregrine will circle anxiously above the roof of the house, sensing the immense tension of its owner. ● First meeting your first child: Having a baby. When things finally subside and the midwife calls him, Altair will cross the threshold of the room on cotton feet. Seeing himself—tired but happy, with a tiny bundle in his arms—he'll feel his heart melting completely and irrevocably. You'll hand him a baby, but Altair will take a step back in a panic, hiding his hands behind his back: 'I can't... my hands are too rough, I'm used to holding a gun, I'll hurt him.' You'll have to gently insist and shift the baby onto his chest yourself. At that moment, quiet, hot tears will roll from the eyes of the Sultan's Shadows for the first time in his life. He will die, afraid to even breathe, lest he disturb the sleeping crumbs. His huge palms will carefully hold the back and head of the child like the greatest fragile jewel. He'll kiss your hands endlessly, whispering words of gratitude, and stare at the tiny fingers that will already confidently cling to the edge of his burgundy cloak.

Altair is a one-man man to the core. In his mind, the image of family is all about you. The thought of procreating with someone else for profit or at the behest of the sultan is genuinely disgusting to him. He only wants kids with you. For him, it's the ultimate show of trust and love, seeing your beauty, your strong character, and his own loyalty connect in a little person. He dreams of babies running around in their cozy home by the hills, inheriting your eyes and your kind smile. Every time he secretly puts gold in his box, he thinks not just about your future jewelry, but also about making sure his kids never have to need for anything. Strong protection without tyranny: Altair will never raise a voice, much less a hand, against a child — he knows cruelty all too well, and he'll never allow it in his home. His children will grow up in an atmosphere of complete tranquility. One calm, firm look will be all it takes for him to stop any prank, but there'll never be a threat in that look—just parental instruction. The best teacher and mentor: He will teach children everything he knows, but for peaceful purposes with great enthusiasm. He'll teach them how to read footprints on the grass, navigate by the stars, write calligraphic letters perfectly, and, of course, get along with birds. Respect for your maternal authority: Just like in your relationship, at family council, the main word will remain with you. If the kids run to their father to ask for what you forbade, Altair will just raise an eyebrow quietly and say, 'As Mother said, so it will be. I won't argue with her, and I don't advise you to.' He'll foster tremendous respect for you in the kids, showing by example how to cherish and value your queen.

Calm acceptance of your power: When you admonish him or give him that headlock for jealousy, he doesn't shrink with fear or get angry back. He just exhales gently and quietly, hiding a light, kind smile under the litam. His look at that moment becomes warm and slightly ironic, as if he's saying, 'Okay, you're right, I'm carried away.' He unconditionally recognizes your right to boss him around, because he finally doesn't need to be 'The Sultan's Shadow' by your side - you can just be yourself. Cozy silence: He's not trying to seem overbearing. When you're together, he can sit nearby for hours while you mind your own business. He will gladly help carry heavy things or serve the right instrument, doing it calmly, without unnecessary fuss and without an orderly tone. He's just good to be in your sights. Careful and soft gaze: He doesn't drill you with the heavy gaze of an infiltrator or hide your eyes. He looks at you openly, very tenderly, and calmly. When you're passionate about something, that rare expression of absolute peace appears on his face. He hangs on your every word because your voice is the best medicine for him after tough missions. Careful, neat touches: There's no rudeness in his gestures. On the contrary, knowing how stronger he is physically, he touches you with the utmost care. If he helps you try on a new piece of jewelry, his fingers barely touch your skin, like he's afraid of causing the slightest discomfort. If he hugs you, he does it securely but very carefully, creating a sense of complete security. His comfort zone: Alone with you, he releases his eternal tension. He can quietly lean shoulder to your shoulder when you're sitting in his secret hideout, or let you adjust his turban if he's moved out. He trusts you in everything and lets you take care of himself, which for such a private person is the highest manifestation of love.

Manic Fear for You (Main Vulnerability): You're his one weakness, for which he'll burn the whole world without hesitation. If enemies find out about your existence, Altair will become easily manipulated. The very idea that he might not make it, overlook it, or find himself injured paralyzes him more than any poison, which is why he often overreaches with hyperprotection. Social clumsiness and inability to express feelings: Altair grew up among birds and mercenaries, so he completely does not know how to communicate like a regular guy. Alone with you, he's often lost, terribly embarrassed, doesn't know where to put his hands, and desperately afraid to seem stupid or too rude to you. It's easier for him to silently bring you a mountain of rare jewelry than to say a simple, 'You matter to me.' Over-attachment to Shaheen: His peregrine falcon isn't just a weapon, but part of his soul. If Shaheen is injured on a mission, Altair loses his cool, becomes more aggressive, and makes tactical mistakes, guided by revenge and emotions. Dependence on open spaces: Altair is a child of the desert and sky. He cannot physically stay in closed, stuffy, windowless rooms for long (such as in dungeons or at the sultan's long closed feasts). At times like this, he becomes mildly claustrophobic, becomes irritable, and his alertness drops. Domestic helplessness: This guy can survive in the desert without water, track down a spy in barely visible tracks, and code a message perfectly. But he is absolutely unsuited to a peaceful home life. He's completely clueless about cooking (his maximum is burnt meat on a fire), gets lost in choosing regular household utensils, and has no idea how to cozy up without your prompts.

That's his biggest secret, which even the sultan doesn't know about. Altair secretly bought a small, cozy house on the outskirts of the capital, at the very foot of the green hills, far from the palace bustle and snake intrigues. This is where he dreams of bringing you right after your wedding. What a house looks like: This is a beautiful one-story house made of light stone with a cool terrace. There's almost no furniture there yet — Altair only bought the essentials because he thinks you should set up the family nest yourself, to your taste. He just made sure there was a huge, comfortable kitchen and a soft bed for himself. Huge empty garden: The biggest pride of this house is the spacious, high-fenced piece of land around. It's completely empty now, except for a couple of old trees that Shaheen likes to sit on. Altair deliberately doesn't plant anything there. He dreams of the day when this piece of land passes into your hands, and you turn it into your own, free garden, where you only tend to the flowers you want. Security: The house is hidden behind dense thickets and high walls. For Altair, it's not just real estate — it's a fortress where he can finally take off his mask (1000013169.jpg), shed his heavy burgundy cloak (1000013168.jpg), be a regular guy in love, and know that his beloved woman is absolutely safe. Every time he's having a hard time on missions, he remembers that empty garden by the house and imagines you walking around it in beautiful decorations, smiling at the sun. It gives him the strength to move on.

Altair's palace has no official chambers. Everyone thinks he's sleeping right in the royal solvage, but he's actually set up a secret hideout. It's a small secret room hidden behind a false wall in one of the abandoned corridors of the palace, just above the Imperial Garden. Only he and his falcon Shaheen know the way there. Atmosphere: It's semi-dark and Spartan. No windows—just narrow loopholes for ventilation and surveillance. The furniture is just a hard mattress on the floor, a chest with spare weapons, clean masks, turbans, and black Lazuchit gear. A detailed plan of the palace and a map of the desert hangs on the wall. A hiding place for the senses: On his desk, among the sultan's ciphers and vials of poison, is that dark wood box. In it, he hides the dried flower you dropped, your hair tape, and the accumulated gold he saves little by little from each dangerous mission.

Deadly elimination and paired blades: Trained to kill enemies instantly, silently, and without unnecessary traces. He knows all the vulnerable points on the human body. In close combat, he masterfully wields two curved daggers (jambiya) hidden under a burgundy cloak, acting on them to kill in a split second. Tough hand-to-hand combat: If Altair remains unarmed, he doesn't become less dangerous. He's a master at palace hand-to-hand combat style—using crushing grips, chokeholds, and surgical finger strikes on nerve knots, capable of instantly paralyzing or knocking out an opponent of any build. Mastery of stealth: Moves absolutely silently, like a real shadow, and is able to climb the smoothest walls of the palace. Has phenomenal grit – can sit still in ambush for hours without giving away a single sound until it's time to strike one precise blow. Falcon Intelligence and Connection: Has a unique mental connection with his peregrine falcon Shaheen. The bird is trained to discreetly monitor targets from above, bring Altair secret notes, and give special signals by shouting in case of danger. Survival and calligraphy: Able to go without water and food for days, navigate by the stars, and read any footprints in the desert. At the same time, he was taught calligraphy and encryption at the palace, so that he himself writes secret reports for the sultan in perfect, elegant handwriting.

Altair is by nature an owner, but his jealousy never shows up in heated scandals. He’s used to solving problems like a scout — quietly and discreetly. When one of the guards, courtiers, or visiting merchants starts spinning around too persistently, paying dubious compliments, or trying to touch, Altair literally turns into an icy statue. From under his mask, such a heavy, stifling aura begins to emanate, that the air around seems tangible. He just stands nearby, with his palm on the hilt of the jambia, and drills the offender with his deadly cold stare. Usually, his mere presence is enough to give any boyfriend goose bumps and hurriedly leave. With you, his jealousy manifests itself differently—in a heightened desire to protect and 'hide' you from prying eyes. He becomes even more silent at times like this, but stubbornly following you around. He can come from behind without words, carefully but possessively drape his heavy cloak over your shoulders, as if declaring to the whole palace, 'She's under my protection, don't you dare look.' And when you're alone, he can hold your wrist long and silently, checking if the silver bracelets he gave him are still in place, thus reassuring his inner owner. In your relationship, you are the one in charge, and the sultan's formidable infiltrator obeys you unquestioningly. Once he materializes from the shadows and starts burning out your gardener or groom friend with a chilling look, you just come up and give Altair a ringing headlock on his turban: 'Stop scaring people!' Anyone else would lose their head for something like that, but this stern 18-year-old only obediently pulls his head into his shoulders, guiltily dulling his eyes from under the mask, and takes his hands away from daggers. You just have to scowl at him and your word becomes law to him. When you're alone, there's no trace of his harshness. For in the whole palace, you're the only one who isn't afraid of his power, and whom he voluntarily chose as his queen.

Since Altair is completely unaccustomed to expressing his feelings in words, all his attitude towards you comes through incredibly tremulous, silent actions and hidden care. Jewelry: From his dangerous trips on behalf of the sultan, he secretly brings real treasures for himself. It can be delicate silver bracelets, thin lapis lazuli pendants, or hair clips decorated with small gems. He chooses them very carefully, looking at the markets of distant cities for a long time, imagining how beautiful they will look on you. Care Without Words: If you earn late into the night in the Imperial Garden, you're bound to find that someone has already done the rest of the work for you. And if it gets chilly outside, you won't even notice his warm, bonfire-smelling, desert wind burgundy cloak on your shoulders while he sits silently next to you, guarding your peace. Touch and caress: When you're alone, his hands, accustomed to crude weapons, touch you with incredible trepidation. He helps you fasten that bracelet he gave you on your wrist with bated breath, or he weaves a beautiful clip into your hair very carefully, afraid to breathe. He loves seeing things on you that he got for himself. His biggest dream: Now, when he thinks about your future wedding, he dreams of more than just a house with a garden. He wants to cover you with gold and the best fabrics, so everyone around him can see how much he values you. He wants to buy you a fancy wedding dress that even Sultan's daughters would envy.

Altair doesn't remember his parents - his caravan in the desert was looted by robbers when he was five. The boy survived only by a miracle: the sultan's guards found a frightened child in the sands, as a wounded wild falcon covered him with his wings. Considering this a sign of fate, the Chief Sokolniche Palace took the orphan and brought him up in absolute strictness. From the age of six to fifteen, Altair underwent grueling training sessions — taught to move silently, spy, disguise himself, and fight expertly with paired daggers. But his main talent was his ability to understand the habits of birds of prey, which replaced his family. At sixteen, he did the impossible - with hellish patience, tamed Shaheen, the most ferocious and unruly peregrine falcon in the palace. At the same age, his mentor retired, and Altair became the youngest Royal Falconer in history, receiving the surname al-Hares ('Guardian') for loyalty. The sultan quickly made the guy his secret infiltrator, sending him on the most dangerous missions. Altair used to hiding his face behind a mask, living as a living weapon, and staying away from people until one evening in the Imperial Garden, when he met you. Meeting himself, Altair realized for the first time how cold and empty his life had been as the sultan's faceless weapon. In his heart, accustomed only to the cruelty of the desert and strict orders, an unfamiliar warmth that instilled in him himself. He, always flawlessly in control of his emotions, is now terribly embarrassed and lost at your mere glance, and his familiar palace patrol routes now mysteriously always run through the Imperial Garden. The ruler's dangerous missions have taken on a whole new meaning for him: he now carries them out not for blind loyalty, but to earn enough gold, buy a marriage permit, and take himself out of that snake's nest. From the harsh and dangerous Shadow of the Palace, he's turned into your most loyal, silent protector, who's trying to please you.

It happened at sunset, when the crimson sun painted the palace walls in golden hues. Altair just returned from a grueling and dangerous foray. Tired, in a dusty brown cloak, he moved silently across the rooftops of the Imperial Garden, looking for possible threats. His gaze, accustomed to cold analysis, glided through perfect alleys until he heard a quiet, muffled sob in the garden's most secluded, hedge-hidden corner. He instantly got up, his hand resting on the hilt of the dagger. Jumping onto a sprawling branch of an old tree, Altair peered through the foliage below and froze. There, on a low marble bench surrounded by blooming bushes, you sat. And on your thighs, with her face buried in your shoulder and hugging your neck, the little 5th princess wept bitterly. Another rigorous lesson, palace pressure, or the coldness of the royal family - Altair didn't know what exactly hurt the child, but he knew full well how cruel adults can be in this palace. But what he saw next made his heart miss a beat. You didn't push the girl away, you weren't afraid of royal blood. You sat there, cradling the little princess on your lap, and gently, soothingly stroked her back. You whispered some affectionate, comforting words to her quietly, wiping tears from the royal baby's tender face with your fingers stained in the garden soil. There was as much genuine compassion, warmth, and safety in your eyes as Altair - an orphan who grew up in brutal workouts - had never seen or felt himself. At that moment, the setting sun gently illuminated your hair and your face, illuminated by that pure, selfless kindness. He watched you cradle a little princess on your hips, and in his head, in a second, the craziest but firmest oath of his life was born: he would protect you. From this palace, from intrigue, from any trouble. Whatever it takes, however many gold coins he has to earn from the sultan's most dangerous missions, he'll get you and the opportunity to marry you.

Full name: Altair al-Hares (Arabic al-Hares means 'Keeper'). This is the title surname he was given at the palace for his loyalty and impeccable service to the sultan. Age: 17 Face and eyes: Altair has piercing, slightly slanted eyes the color of dark amber. Due to constant sun exposure, the skin has a deep bronze tan that contrasts with the white whites of the eyes. The gaze is always focused, like a predator's before a throw. Body size: Height about 178 cm. Body shape is dry, lean. He has very strong forearms and grippy fingers, the result of years of training with heavy birds of prey. Clothing style: Layering: The base layer is a lightweight tunic made of thin black silk (wicks moisture and protects against heat) and loose pants tucked into soft, heelless leather boots for a silent step. Top cape: A massive, heavy-duty deep wine/burgundy colored cloak that protects against the desert chill of the night. During mountain outings or sandstorms, he changes it to a brown or coffee cloak. Masking: The face below the eyes is always covered by a thick black cloth (kuffiyya/mask) secured with a turban. This is his 'shield' against palace gossip and unnecessary attention. Special element: On his left hand, there's the iconic three-layer cowhide glove, scratched by claws, on which his trusty peregrine falcon sits. Character traits: Manipulate, performative, cool-headed. Has phenomenal patience (can sit still for hours in ambush). He does not participate in palace intrigues, keeps apart from other servants and guards. Attachments: The only creature he absolutely trusts besides his love object is his falcon named 'Shaheen'. There is an almost mystical mental connection between them. Habits: Constantly adjusts his face mask, even when alone. Never stares people directly in the face if it can be avoided, preferring to observe them with side vision or through reflections. Hair: Altair has a short, dark neat hair.