John walked into Adrian’s office. He saw the small man sitting at his desk waiting for him. With a smile, he gave a polite nod before taking his seat. "What did you wish to see for Sir Regent?" John, still with his polite tone asked.
Adrian smiled under his mask. "It’s nothing too serious, I just had to delay because I was busy before." Adrian reached into his drawer and pulled so papers out. Looking behind John, one of his n walked towards him silently.
Passing the papers over, John looked at them confused. "It’s blan.." His words couldn’t finish when a hand covered his mouth and a blade stabbed into his heart. Adrian looked at John with pity. He didn’t want to kill him initially but even if he was incompetent, soone having the power and resources to snoop around was bad for him.
"Forgive . It’s nothing personal." Adrian said a couple of words before disregarding the dead man. "Are the n ready?" Turning to the other in the room, his question got a nod in reply. "Good. Carry it out."
The man gave a bow, before silently leaving. Adrian smiled as he dealt with the body in his room. How long had he waited for this mont? He finally would have full control over the Palace. Years of planning. Years of getting the workers on his side. Years of building his own group of assassins. How hard he had to work to keep it hidden from Aswad, the Sultans and Yusuf.
It was all finally paying off. Around the Palace, bodies fell. Those who were loyal to others who were not Adrian died. Poison, cold steel or freak accidents. Many died before panic could spread. He could hear the heavy footsteps of Mansa’s n. He knew they were coming for him. He had never considered Mansa a threat himself, but the people under his control were.
The loud footsteps were followed by a loud groan and then a thud, as the rattle of amour went off. Adrian walked out, seeing the two dead on the floor, darts in their necks. He had ordered his n to kill Mansa’s n first, the only ones being able to pose a threat. He assud the two in front of him were the ones who slipped away.
Walking over their bodies, Adrian took the ti to admire his work. He saw that the servants on his side cleaned things up under the directive of his close subordinates. His smile was wide seeing his work. Walking to his quarters, he closed the door behind him gently. He took his mask off, placing it carefully down on the table. His disfigured face was on full display and catching a glimpse of his reflection made him angry, but quickly sad, wiping his smile away. He had a small rest, letting his face breathe in the privacy of his room. He had a lot of work to do in the coming weeks and he needed his mind clear and perfect.
His eyes went hard again as he placed the mask back on his face. Fixing his appearance he walked out of his room and back to his office. His assistant and a man with thick curly hair that reached his shoulders and dark brown skin waited. "Ahd." Adrian called to him, "Are you ready to take John’s place."
Ahd nodded getting a smile from Adrian. "Send a letter to Nasr, detailing a failure to send any more supplies. Explain a lack of funding. Then send one saying a network has been created." Ahd bowed walking out of the office. Turning to his assistant he spoke again, "Have they arrived?"
"They’re in the next room. They helped us with Mansa’s n saying it was to build goodwill." Adrian nodded going to the next room. Sitting down, three n in steel amour sat, talking to one another.
"Evening gentleman." Adrian walked in taking a seat opposite them. "I heard you helped out earlier, thank you for that, but we need to talk." They sat silently listening. They had colluded with Adrian for a few years now and knew that every ti he had a proposition it saw a rise in power for them.
"The current commander of the City Guard is getting old now I think. Can’t do his job properly anymore. So I think it would be safe to see a switch of hands. I can help you achieve this but you must follow my orders and clean up the City Guard. Too many are loyal to the wrong people."
The three looked at one another. Quietly muttering between themselves they decided on how things would get done. Adrian sat a listened to them smiling, knowing they were on board without much convincing. Eventually, the one in the middle nodded giving the signal for the go-ahead. "Wonderful. First deal with those with loyalties to the Safrids. Kill them, I don’t care how. Then go for the Commander. You know what to do after." Giving the order he got up and left, leaving the three to leave on their own.
The moons hung high in the Safrid capital. There was an eerie silence around the streets as a feeling of dread spread. The sound of footsteps broke through the silence all around. The people didn’t know why but knew not to be out on the streets today. Within the barracks spread across the city, subtle nods were given between n as they slowly manoeuvred themselves around. Quick and efficient, a slaughter ensued around the city.
Those who died didn’t have ti to react, not expecting to find a sword in the back from people they had eaten and drank with days before. The killer’s faces were cold. It wasn’t anything personal to them, but they had their loyalties. Those asleep were not safe. If they slept in the barracks they awoke to fatal wounds, turning their bed sheets red.
Those in their own hos were not safe. The sound of doors being kicked down would spring up in the silence of the city, before the screams of n and won rung. Murdered in their own house unable to fight back.
Adrian watched from his office down at the silent city. It wasn’t apparent from his view yet but he knew chaos was breaking out. A knock on the door and its opening took his attention. "They have all been released." His assistant gave a bow before leaving. Adrian smiled.
"It a sha the city guard just saw their numbers fall. Cri is surely going to rise now." Adrian spoke to himself in a mocking voice. He wondered how long it would be before the people began to kick up a fuss. They already were dissatisfied with the war that was going on. Prices had risen and many had lost their sons, brothers and fathers in the conflict. It was only a matter of ti.
The old City Guard Commander sat at his desk. The sound of multiple footsteps charging up took his attention as he reached for the sword on his waist. With a loud crash, the door flew open. Multiple n walked in weapons drawn. The old commander despite his age, charged with a fury. He knew he was going to die but he would at least take one with him. He deflected a sword swinging for him, trying to strike at a second, but was stopped by a wound to the stomach. Gritting his teeth he madly swung his sword, as multiple blades fell upon him. It was quick and brutal, his body looking as if it had co out of a bear attack.
The eerie silence that had plagued the night for so long was gone. Cri shot up as those released went from house to house letting out their pent-up desires they had been forced to hold. Rape, murder and robbery hit hundreds. The worst of the worst who had been saved execution due to the sudden war now could plague the city once more. The screams of innocent won were a tune that was sung throughout the night.
Adrian continued to watch from above. He could see the chaos slowly spread and beco more apparent. Fires started and the distant screams of won could be heard. He knew he had hurt many in the process but didn’t care. He needed their sacrifice. He needed them angry. He needed chaos. He had to have the city in disarray by the ti the Kingdom ca.
He needed to create an opportunity for a saviour. He was willing to provide this for them if they gave him what he wanted. He had so far been given enough. How many of the Sultan’s children had he killed already? Only Nasr, Harun and Zarah were left. He knew Isra was off limits and wouldn’t dare to make a move against her. He was already being given enough. He thought about the three. Nasr was an impulsive man who was unfit to rule a kingdom. Harun and Zahra he was sure were deviants having an incestuous relationship. They were too close for siblings and many escapes to each other rooms had been recorded. He thought of Isra. It had been a long ti, but she was a wild girl who had been abandoned by her family for many years.
He pushed it out of his mind rembering sothing. There was one final thing he had to do. He reached into his desk and pulled out a small blade. Making his way out of the room, he walked down the dark corridors. He knew the place like the back of his hand. Stopping in front of a wide pair of double doors, he walked in and saw a sleeping boy.
Thanks to his actions it was easy to walk in, the guards having been dealt with. Standing over the sleeping boy, he had cold eyes. He didn’t wish to make a kid suffer and was quick, plunging it deep into the boy’s heart. He saw the fear in his face but did nothing, walking away as the boy’s screams slowly died down. With his death, Harun now was the heir to the Sultanate.
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