The bright sun shone on the busy town of Diza in Mura. It was noon, an awful busy hour, and hundreds of people walked the narrow streets kicking up dried-up dust. The dust then smeared on the buildings, awarding them an old bearing.
In such an ancient-looking building, a middle-aged woman aggressively barged into a government bureau. Her frowned face coldly gazed at the government official leisurely seated in the office. "What is the meaning of this?" she raged at him, her voice full of uncontrollable anger.
"Meaning of what?" He gently blew out the smoke inhaled from his pipe, his legs crossed on the table.
"Don't feign ignorance. How will the king react if he learns what transpired?" She closed the door behind her, scared of being heard.
"How will he come to know?" The man leisurely asked. "Don't tell me you plan to…" he lifted his eyes, and an eerie gaze dropped on her.
At the sight of his pupils, the woman trembled in fear. "You know I cannot. I am to blame too if the king learns of it." She swallowed her saliva, thinking of her fate. "How will you cover the destruction of an entire village? Don't forget trees have ears, and birds can talk," she warned earnestly.
"Do not worry dear, no news will leak." The man calmly blew smoke out his nasal. "Unless someone tells him."
The woman looked confused. Why is this man so calm? Full of such thoughts, she couldn't help but ask. "Are you not scared of the King? How can you be so calm in this situation?"
A group of foreigners had annihilated an entire village in their jurisdiction. Not only were they aware of what transpired, but they also covered it up and received benefits from covering it. The King was a hot-tempered individual and couldn't handle disrespect. If he learned what transpired with the dogans, won't he go on a killing spree? Killing all the government officials in Diza for lack of respect. It was something King Bakar was capable of doing. Yet, the man before her appeared so calm. She could not hack it.
"Listen here, Lady. There are entities several times scarier than King Bakar." He said, his eyes closed. "If I had a choice, would I be sacrificing my countrymen?" He quietly asked.
The woman shook. King Bakar was a tyrant. Someone who ruled with blood, killing everything in his path. He united the Kingdom of Mura in blood, destroying all his enemies. He was someone not to make enemies with, the worst type of person. Yet, the man in front of her said there existed worse. That couldn't be true.
"May I know who they are?" She tilted her head forward.
"You will know with time." The man said uncaringly.
The woman noticed through his dismissive attitude that he wouldn't be disclosing any information. As such, she decided against trying.
"I have some work to do. Excuse my intrusion." Full of doubts, she exited the office.
.....
King Bakar had returned to Gazaiah two days prior, his journey to Ista concluded. The meeting with Tora had been fruitful, but now his attention turned fully to Mura's affairs. There were matters demanding his hand—borders to secure, ministers to hear, and the ever-present ambition of unifying the five kingdoms under his iron rule.
"Your Highness, an important letter from Ankh." A minister presented the letter to Bakar's counselor under the scrutiny of nineteen other ministers.
Twenty ministers from all across the kingdom gathered at the Royal Hall under the guise of the Royal conference. It was a gathering held by the King of Mura once every four months—one where all officials reported what transpired in their zone of administration.
The ministers used this opportunity to get close to the royal circle. To achieve such a goal, they perform their best and bring news pleasant to the King and his counsel. Getting close to the Royal palace brought recognition in the kingdom and chests of gold. Hence such an opportunity could not be missed by the ministers.
However, the closer one got to the King's counsel, the higher the eyes of jealousy they would attract. It has resulted in a high rate of ministers' deaths in the previous years.
Babidi, the minister who handed the letter to Bakar's closest Adviser, was well aware of this. Nonetheless, he couldn't miss this precious opportunity that came to him. The letter he had carried Ankh's Royal blood crest. Therefore it was sure to be an important letter. He never thought that bordering Ankh would present such an opportunity.
"Adviser Toure, what does the letter say?" The king asked out loud.
Adviser Toure, in front of everyone, unsealed the papyrus letter. He read it out loud, each word articulate and clear.
"Letter to the King of Mura, Bakar.
His Highness, Prince Kar of Ankh, requires assistance to regain his rightful sit on the golden throne of Ankh. Aware of Mura's incredible military prowess, the prince thought it right to request assistance.
Assistance provided will be rewarded with large numbers of Gold chests and an unbending alliance between both kingdoms.
The prince will await your favorite reply.
Castle of Andara."
Toure quietly sat back down at the end of his lecture. Contrary to Toure's calm demeanor, the ministers erupted in a discussion. Noise crawled around the Royal Hall from ear to ear. From his grand and imposing Iron throne, Bakar quietly gazed at the ministers.
Five minutes later, silence befell the hall. The ministers had finished discussing and were now gazing at the king, waiting for his words.
"Toure, What do you think of the letter?" King Bakar glanced at the quietly seated Toure.
"Hem! Hem!" Toure cleared his clothes. "It is magnificent news, your Highness. This letter increases our chances of unifying the five kingdoms. Aiding Ankh with our forces in their lands enables easier infiltration in their lands." He slowly scratched his grey beard. "We can annex Gold Land and Ankh if we plan everything effectively," he said proudly.
Half the ministers in the hall nodded in accordance. King Bakar's main goal was the unification of the five kingdoms under his reign. Doing so will mark him as one of the great kings of Nubia. As such, he planned an attack on Gold Land. Now that Ankh requested assistance, a great opportunity was presented to them. They could conquer two kingdoms in one swoop. Hence the radiance in Toure's voice.
The other half had stern faces. Some even shook their heads in denial of Toure's words.
"Who disagrees with Toure." Having noticed the stern looks on some faces, Bakar asked out loud.
"Me, sir!" A young lady in her twenties opposed.
"Oh!" Bakar looked at the refined lady with surprise. "Why are you against Toure's word, Fatima?"
She bowed her head. "As mentioned by Adviser Toure, we have Gold Land to attack. Diverging our attention to Ankh may lead to a lapse in judgment when facing Gold Land. Gold Land is our priority. Conquering it provides us with economic stability. Afterward, conquering other lands is easier." Her voice, that of a bird, bewitched all the men in the Hall. They quietly stared at her making her points.
"Fair!" the King nodded. "Anyone doesn't agree with these two?" He asked.
Rustle! Babidi's clothes rustled as he lifted his long thin fingers. He who had been in charge of the letter, felt more was needed to get him as close to the king's counsel as desired. This question from the king was a saving grace. He could prove his usefulness if his answer could satisfy his highness.
Two weeks ago when he received the letter, he spent his time deducing what might have been written. If he could have an incline on what was on it, he could search for potential solutions to present during the Royal conference.
Babidi was smart and meticulous. He came from a poor background and had to crawl to reach where he was now. He seized every opportunity that came his way and managed to reach his current position. Being such a man, how could he be satisfied with being a minister? His ambitions were larger than that.
After several days of research, Babidi had a theory about the letter he received from Ankh. The royal crest meant the letter was akin to a word from someone with royal blood. A king, the King's cousins, a prince, or young princes. Babidi knew the letter was not from King Takam as it would have been sent directly to King Bakar. Secondly, the letter came from Andara, a city governed by the king's brother. The meticulous and intelligent Babidi quickly caught what was going on and prepared effectively.
"I have an idea your Highness." He couldn't miss this chance.