Saladin sat in front of Mother, and his two advisors were standing behind him like statues. "I and my company have made a decision. It was not unanimous but we have decided to follow you. I have read your book, along with the two beside . It is a world, a vision that I want to see, and I believe our Lord would bless."
Saladin reached behind his back and pulled his golden dagger out. He cut his finger and rubbed his blood over the words on one side before placing it on his two hands, bending his head, and offering it to Mother. Mother smiled and took it. She pricked her finger and dragged her blood on the other side, sealing the deal.
"Thank you." Mother handed the dagger back. "I know that you are soldiers and fear less than the common man, but this decision I’m sure was still a hard one. For that I thank you. Thank you for believing in and the vision." Mother lowered her head but fought not to break into a wide smile. Finally, she had the army she needed. Everything was slowly coming together. It couldn’t be known yet. It was her ace card.
"With the deal signed in blood, I have news that may interest you." Saladin’s words broke her free from her thoughts and she paid full attention. "A very important guest is arriving in Nakhla in the coming days. The people I know within Brookhaven saw a lot of carriages leaving the Royal Palace escorted by dozens of Royal Guards."
"The Emporer?" Mother asked very interested. To her question, Saladin could only shake his head.
"Unknown. No one sane will go near that and whoever is being escorted doesn’t leave the carriage until out of sight. I only know they are cutting through Nakhla because soone in Silverhaven said they took the road this was, not straight to Almaris." His words left Mother contemplating what to do. She gently tapped the table.
"Thank you. This is useful. If the Emporer is coming here himself then we have a very good chance." Mother stood up, "I need to et with so people to discuss what to do going forward. Would you like to join?" Mother asked and Saldin gave a single nod, standing up and following her.
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Isra looked out the carriage window and sighed with nostalgia. It had been so long since she had been to her birthplace that she hadn’t even realized she missed it, even if it never treated her the best. Breathing the air felt different. The sky looked different. She didn’t know what it was.
"Your Majesty," Esmond said looking out the window. Isra turned to look at him. "When we arrive in Nakhla you must be extrely careful. If it were my choice I would not let you go near the city."
"But it’s not." Isra replied quickly, "If I am to pacify and help my people Esmond I have to know what is wrong. I can’t just go to Almaris and host a feast. I need to know the people’s complaints and worries. There is no better place than where it is at its worst." Isra’s voice was full of compassion as she spoke.
Esmond could only shake his head. "I hope the people show the sa respect towards you. I am just scared that they will only see you as an extension of His Majesty." Isra saw in his eyes that she didn’t truly understand what she was stepping into. It wasn’t out of disrespect but worry and fear.
Despite this, it made her angry. Her eyes went narrow and she looked at the old man with deep but controlled anger. "Do not think I am blind to the affairs of the world Esmond. I am not a pretty bird who is oblivious to everything outside my cage." Isra’s had a flash of mories from her old world. She had been one of the people at the bottom. She understood why people tried to revolt. She had been a part of it once. To question her on a topic like this was insulting. She didn’t bla Esmond however. How could he know?
"Forgive ." Esmond bowed his head. He had never seen Isra like that and knew that even if he didn’t voice it, he disrespected her. He was so used to her gentle and caring self that he didn’t even acknowledge that she could get angry.
"As long as you understand." Isra turned to look out the window once more. "Tell . How bad has it truly beco?"
With a heavy sigh, he began. "Mother, the leader of those calling for ’Khors Utopia’ is a very charismatic woman. Marcus went to see one of her rallies to get a better picture and he said its a problem that needs to be solved sooner rather than later. By any ans. He may be a soldier and think with violence more, but he’s not soone to call for any ans necessary when dealing with civilians."
"Is she a direct threat to the Empire?" With a coldness in her voice, Isra asked. Esmond felt lucky today seeing such a wide range of emotions in Isra, his opinion of her rising even more.
"No," Esmond said with confidence. "She herself is not. It’s her idea. We kill her we cut the voice for them, but we will never be able to destroy what she preached now. Especially with that book she wrote. A very dangerous weapon she created."
"From the way you talk, I assu it will be impossible to destroy it." Esmond only nodded. "If we can’t destroy it then we must suppress it. I’m sure Alfred will agree. Try and get rid of every copy we can and then make the punishnt for owning one severe."
"I’m sure His Majesty will wish to own a copy, however."
Isra nodded. "He does enjoy collecting. He has proposed a new project to actually. He calls it the tis House, the House of Wisdom. A place to store knowledge from across the world. I didn’t understand the point but he said that if it exists those in the future can avoid the mistakes of the past." Isra didn’t say the whole truth, it involved Alfred’s past life, but Esmond nodded understanding the vision.
"It doesn’t surprise . He has always been a man who records the past. I just wonder where he will build it if he does." Isra shrugged her shoulders. Alfred didn’t explain it in detail, it still being an idea. But she could see in his eyes when he told her that it was sothing he was going to do.
The conversation died down and Isra looked back out the window, falling into nostalgia once more.
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Mother arrived at the eting place with Saladin. Inside Gregor, the three nobles, Aseel, and a few others sat. Mother took her seat next to Aseel and Saladin took the remaining one, his two n standing behind him. "Thank you all. This council is the beginning of his new Kingdom and whilst I called you here for different reasons, an opportunity has arisen that we can not afford to ignore"
Mother started getting the attention of everyone. "Saladin has inford that a Royal carriage is coming towards Nakhla. Whilst we don’t know who it is aboard the carriage, if we play this right we may be able to get a bargaining chip to use against the Emporer." Her words got a rise of excitent from everyone.
"If it’s the Emporer himself, how shall we proceed?" One of the nobles spoke up. His question got nods from everyone.
"If it’s the Emporer and we are able to capture him, hopefully, we can negotiate all our terms. I doubt he will surrender all his new lands, but we may be able to create a foothold."
"Will we kill him?" Gregor asked in a soft voice. So froze to this question and looked towards Mother. She put a gentle smile on and shook her head.
"No. If we do, we prove that we are no better than him. And despite what I think about him, he is necessary to rule the lands he owns. If he dies how many will die in the wars to take his place? I don’t want the death of thousands on our hands." She spoke with sympathy, but her thoughts were elsewhere. While she wouldn’t kill him directly if he died under mysterious circumstances after being released then who could bla them?
Her words got approving nods from so and uncertain gazes from others. She expected the mixed responses to her words and needed it. She needed these people to help her with the actions she couldn’t take in public.
"What if it’s the Empress, or worst the Crown Prince?" Saladin asked and everyone looked towards Mother. "Like I said, we don’t know who is being escorted."
"The empress still gets a lot of love from the people, especially the woman. She has given us a few more liberties. Any action against her will have to be quiet but it will be the sa. She can beco a bargaining chip to negotiate. Depending on how much the Empoer loves his wife, we may be able to get a better deal than with the man himself."
"It’s dangerous," Saladin spoke once more. "They have a very good relationship from what I have heard. If we are going to use her then we must be extrely careful. And if it’s his son, I’d advise we don’t make a move." His words made everyone confused. Saladin sighed seeing them. "The Crown Prince as we all know is disabled. I assu he is also very protected by his parents. If we make a move on him I think it could see the entire city burned down to rescue him."
"But they would never let him leave on his own. How old is he? One maybe two. At least one of them will be alongside him. If he is, we capture everyone who ca with the Prince and send the Prince back as a sign of goodwill." Mother said getting an approving nod from Saladin. Despite her desire for Khors Kingdom, she didn’t want to have to use Edward for it. She pitied the boy, considering his disability. He was also innocent.
Mother shook her head to clear her thoughts. "The Commonwealth has sent a couple of shipnts of weapons and gold for us. Saladin. We have the equipnt you need to carry out any operation. This may be our only chance to get such a valuable piece to use so I want you to make the necessary preparations for it." Saladin nodded. Clapping her hands she smiled, "Let us move on to the next topic."
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