The bells of mourning rang through the city. Cloaked in blue and black, the people of the coastal capital gathered by the sea to honor those who had fallen during the pirate assault. King Lusweti stood at the center of the funeral procession, hands clasped, eyes closed. He didn’t speak. He didn’t need to. The silence was its own kind of prayer.
The Watchers lined the periter, heads bowed. Children left flowers—white petals for the fallen soldiers, red for the civilians who had perished in the past. Priests and priestesses offered chants for their souls to pass safely, as was custom. The air was thick with smoke, the scent of myrrh mingling with the salty breeze.
Despite the grief, a current of hope ran through the people. Victory had been snatched from the jaws of destruction. For many, that alone was reason to celebrate. As evening fell, drums returned—not for war, but for joy. Fires lit up every corner of the capital. Dances broke out in courtyards, streets, even on rooftops. The mourning gave way to music, laughter, and toasts in honor of the brave.
King Lusweti, however, had more serious matters to attend to.
He summoned Naliaka and Ndengu to the inner court just before midnight.
"With all the chaos we’ve endured," Lusweti began, "we haven’t spoken much about your ti away. I want to hear the full truth now—your training, your missions, what you’ve learned."
Naliaka leaned forward, her eyes shining. "We never stopped moving, Your Majesty. We trained under harsh masters. We hunted warlords, took down bandits. Every ti we entered a settlent, we made sure they knew Nuri’s na."
Ndengu nodded. "We didn’t just train; we fought. We spread the legend of our kingdom across the northern trade routes. So feared us. Others respected us. Many wanted to join us."
Lusweti folded his hands. "And what’s the state of Abyssinia?"
Ndengu’s tone darkened. "The people there are suffering, Your Majesty. The fact that Khisa was still rebuilding their navy when we left should say everything. Their governnt is in shambles. Slavery thrives openly. Corruption festers. Enemies deep inside their territory."
"What should we do to help Khisa? Should we send ships to support him?" Lusweti asked.
Naliaka was the first to answer. "Sending our entire fleet would leave Nuri vulnerable. The enemy has better ships, more experience, and deeper pockets. If they shift their focus south, we won’t survive a direct confrontation."
"But," Ndengu added, "we have the advantage of superior weapons, for now. We can send Khisa supplies—dicine, food, ammunition. We can even spare a few ships. Not our finest warriors, just skilled n and won willing to help. What he lacks most right now is manpower."
"I’m sure he’s already planning how to take the ports," said Naliaka. "But from what we saw in Massawa... it won’t be easy. It’s a stronghold of slavery. Hundreds of Ottoman and pirate forces operate freely. The other port’s no better."
"We’ll send what we can," Lusweti said, resolved. "I’ll have a convoy prepared tomorrow."
He took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "Now, onto your next mission. We’ve found a suitable location for training Mkono wa Giza. You’ll inspect it in the next few days. I need to remain here until we establish proper leadership."
"What about General Malik?" Naliaka asked. "He seems like he could handle governance."
"I offered," Lusweti said with a sigh. "But he prefers to remain general. Claims it’s what he was born to do."
"Then why not appoint soone from the populace?" Ndengu suggested. "You could select a mix of elders and youth. Train them in leadership. Or let the people elect their own representatives—with proper vetting, of course."
"Yes," said Naliaka. "A public office for daily affairs. Then create supporting councils. A rchants’ Association to regulate trade. A Developnt Guild for blacksmiths, builders, and artisans. Malik already oversees the navy, and the Watchers can handle internal security."
"We could replicate this structure across the kingdom," Ndengu added. "Every town with its own leaders, while the royal family maintains oversight."
Lusweti smiled, the firelight dancing in his eyes. "It’s an excellent idea. A true governnt for Nuri."
He rose that very night and went to his study. With quill in hand, he began drafting the first governnt charter of the Kingdom of Nuri.
THE GOVERNNT STRUCTURE OF NURI KINGDOM
Monarchy (The Royal House of Lusweti):
King: Supre ruler, commander-in-chief, and spiritual head of the kingdom.
Queen: Diplomatic leader and steward of cultural and social institutions.
Crown Prince/Princess: Heir to the throne; trained in diplomacy, warfare, and leadership.
Executive Council:
Pri Minister: Appointed by the king; oversees all ministries, coordinates national policy.
Deputy Pri Minister: Second-in-command; supervises special programs and acts in ergencies.
National Ministries:
Minister of Defense: Oversees the army, navy, and the Watchers.
Minister of Foreign Affairs: Manages diplomatic relations and trade agreents.
Minister of Infrastructure and Developnt: Supervises construction, engineering, and urban planning.
Minister of Trade and Comrce: Works closely with the rchants’ Association.
Minister of Health: Leads public health, dical supplies, and crisis response.
Minister of Education and Culture: Oversees schools, archives, and cultural preservation.
Minister of Agriculture and Environnt: Handles food supply, irrigation, land use.
Minister of Justice: Heads the legal system, vetting of public officials, and rule enforcent.
Local Governnt:
Provincial Governors: Appointed by the king, oversee resource allocation and local law.
Town Leaders (Elected/Vetted): Supervise daily administration, law enforcent, and developnt.
Local Councils: Elected elders and youth representatives advising town leaders.
Civil Institutions:
rchants’ Association: Regulates trade, prices, import/export, and market standards.
Developnt Guild: Coordinates builders, blacksmiths, carpenters, engineers.
Watchers’ Office: Kingdom-wide internal security and intelligence.
People’s Forum: Open council for citizen petitions and debates.
Military Ranks (Army, Navy):
General (Jeshi Mkuu): Supre commander of land or sea forces.
Captain (Kamanda): Leads battalions or warships.
Lieutenant (Naibu): Assists captains, manages logistics.
Sergeant (Askari Mkuu): Trains and leads field troops.
Soldier (Askari): Core fighting force.
Only two institutions will be under the direct control of the royal family, Shadow Guard under Prince Khisa and Mkono wa Giza under King Lusweti. This is to prevent exploitation of their services for personal gain.
Once the structure was finalized, Lusweti sealed it in a lacquered box and dispatched it by courier along the new sea channel to his palace in the west—forrly Abakhore territory. It would arrive by morning.
He needed to et with the elders. He knew it wouldn’t be easy—old rivalries, grudges, and fear of change still lood large. But if Nuri was to truly rise, they had to push through. They had to build not just for themselves, but for every generation to co.
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