For the second time this night, the eldest and heir of the Achebe family, who was usually so poised and composed, found himself letting out a string of curses in multiple languages - he was fluent in six. The knee high waters rushed around them and the horse began to whinny nervously.
Faraji tried to console him, to keep him calm, all the while forcing down complete and utter terror. They were stuck. The storm would continue and the waters would rise. Hakeshna save them...
He continued to maneuver the horse towards her home, but he knew they wouldn't make it. It was too far!
He made a split second decision, deciding their lives were more important than reputations, and turned back towards his estates. They were much closer and he was certain his mother had already sent out the search parties to ensure her precious son's safety.
So they rode. The rains continued almost out of spite, but the walls came into view and they didn't fall.
A shout went up and the gates opened - his home was on top of a hill so the waters weren't nearly as high here, though that wouldn't last for long.
"My Lord!!" He heard the familiar voices of his home calling to him, and then they were inside and being pulled from the horse before half dragged, half carried into the front door. The guests were still there, none daring to venture out during a storm of this caliber, and as such his return, with the unconscious Ibra, was well noted by each and every person present.
"Take care of her, please." Faraji demanded of one of his more trusted guards, "A room, healers, anything she needs."
Then he was climbing the stairs where his mother, his father, and Saanvi waited, clinging to one another with fear.