Adrian stood in the council room by the window. His mask was off as he looked at his disfigured appearance in its reflection.
"You look much better with the mask on," Yusuf said, chuckling. Adrian turned, placing the mask back onto his face, getting a charming smile from Yusuf in return. "So why have you called me? It can't be because you wanted to show me that."
In contrast to Yusuf's playful voice, Adrian was serious. "The realm is on the verge of civil war. Enemies surround us, and our Lord is trying to cut off the very thing protecting us from invasion." Adrian took a seat, exhaling deeply. "You are a man who moves for the realm and himself, you don't care who sits on the throne..."
"Careful, Adrian. You may like being disfigured by Sultan's, but I quite like my face." Cutting in Yusuf took a step closer to the short man, his voice cold.
"It's fine, I made sure we are alone." Adrian waved the man off. "If the realm is to survive, it means that the civil war cannot be dragged on. As I know, Aswad isn't the only one with a network around the Kingdom."
"So you wish to use my people. Their merchants, not assassins." Yusuf waved his hand away, dismissing the idea as ridiculous.
Shaking his head, Adrian continued, "I'm not asking you to kill anyone but to gather information. As the threat of war grows, the North will rely on these merchants. If they happen to hear plans that can be used for Nasr's advantage, then it could see a quick end to the war." Adrian looked up into Yusuf's eyes, trying to read them.
"I have already been ordered to stop all trade north by our Lord, and you wish for me to go behind his back. Whilst I do move for the people, it is not out of the kindness of my heart. I'm not a Samaritan; it's just that the more that live, the greater my business. Telling me to do this is just asking for me to put my head closer to the chopping block." Yusuf turned him down bluntly. "And besides, to give food to our enemies. That will only prolong the war you fool."
"It will see that the North remains alive, after the war." His voice was low as he looked down to the floor, "If Nasr has his way, the North will starve. Not just the men, but women and children. Any hope to defend the North will be lost, and the realm is free for conquest. I'm asking you to sell your goods and collect information. If it works, we can have a quick end to a war but also keep the north alive."
"It just doesn't make sense to me. You say one thing, but it contradicts what you truly want." Yusuf began to walk away. Adrian, seeing his leaving, called out, stopping the man in his tracks.
"You will do this." His voice was cold as he stood up and walked closer to Yusuf. "Don't think I don't know about your little venture down south. If the Sultan were to hear of its continued existence, well, you may just end up like me." Yusuf's lip twitched. He looked at Adrian in annoyance.
"For such a small man, you make big threats." Yusuf took a step closer, towering over Adrian. His voice was flat, but the undertone of disgust was apparent. "You could ask Aswad for all this, but you chose me. Why, because you think you can blackmail me? Make me your errand boy after the war? This was your true goal?"
"Of course not, my friend." Adrian shook his head and put a shocked expression on, acting betrayed, "Sure, Aswad has his network, but the North is going to be on guard against spies. Merchants, however, can get a lot of information just by telling us what they sell. What the enemy buys is a good indicator of what is to happen."
"Have you taken a second to think? I am the head of the largest merchant guild in the Sultanate, which is why I hold my place on the council. Do you think our enemy doesn't know this? I have done business with the Prince's Grandfather, you fool." His voice was angry as he responded. It was basically broadcasting to the world his involvement if he followed along.
"Don't worry. A merchant ramping up business during a state of war is normal. The Sultan inquires about it, just saying it's a bunch of rogue merchants trying to make some coin should be fine. The North will be desperate. If the crown cuts off its grain supply, your merchants will become its lifeline. With the Grand Prince's raiding likely to increase, they will have no choice but to buy food, not asking who sells it to them. Prince Harun has been on the battlefield. He understands the importance of a well-fed army. Besides, I'm sure you already planned to sell to them anyway."
Adrian argued his case. Yusuf took a seat. Looking out the window, his mind raced. Greed began to cloud it as he pictured the gold he would get from the war. It was true he had wanted to sell to the enemy in disguise ,and now he had been given a cover to do it.
Adrian could see Yusuf about to cave in. "I will bring it up with Nasr. Tell him about this little plan so it protects you. If he asks you to do something that will harm your business, I will make sure it doesn't come to be." Yusuf looked at the short man. With a gentle nod, he spoke.
"A merchant's reach within an enemy camp is not as strong as you think." Yusuf, getting ready to leave, paused, "One more thing." Grabbing the mask on Adrian's face, he ripped it off, throwing it out the window, his eyes cold. "Don't threaten me again, Adrian. We all have skeletons; if you want yours hidden, then don't bring mine up."
The man stormed out of the council room, leaving Adrian sitting alone, holding his face, his eyes sharp. Yet his lips curled up in a smile. Pulling a piece of paper from the table, he wrote a small note on it. Whistling a carrier bird over, he tied the note to it, throwing it back out the window.
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A bird flew through the window. Harun grabbed the note off its leg. With a smile, he walked over towards his Grandfather. "The council is split. Our man on the inside has convinced the Merchant to join our cause."
Ali sat, his head resting on his hand. "The caravans have been coming for the past month, selling supplies. I assumed he was just making a profit, but it was strange as he was risking his life. The Merchant I know isn't someone to move with such risk without much benefit."
"A promise has to be made. After I take the throne, all he asks is a tax relief." Ali looked up at his Grandson. He tried to talk in protest but was quickly stopped. "We must, Grandfather. The raids from the Grand Prince will get harsher when war begins, and my Brother won't send food to make it up. You have gold stockpiled for times like this."
"I don't like it. A Royal tax relief is a big thing. But more than that, The Merchant is slippery. Don't trust him, Grandson. When you take the throne, get rid of him. Your father became reliant on him during the war, those years back, but he has somehow managed to stick around." His voice was full of distrust. Grabbing a cigar to his right, he began to smoke, waving Harun off, "Leave me for a while. I need to think over this."
"Of course." Harun politely nodded, leaving Ali alone in the room. Walking down the corridor to his room, Zahra sat waiting for him, reading a book. Coming up behind her, he closed it, taking a seat on his bed. "I've told you this, but you can't hang around my room like this. Rumours are a deadly thing, sister."
Waving him off, she smiled. "Anyone who disrespects our relationship with those rumours may as well spit on our lord's relationship with Gaia. Anyway, you look happy." Moving on to the topic, she looked at her brother's face.
Breaking into a wide smile he spoke. "Our brother's council is fractured and he is too stupid to see it." Laughing happily he fell back on his bed. "When I take the throne back, I must clean up that council. I know he is the false Sultan but to betray him so easily is still a scary thing."
Zahra took a seat next to her brother. "I'm sure my place has already been decided then." She said with a teasing tone. Harun chuckled, nodding.
"Of course. I need an advisor that I can trust. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. A war has to be won first."