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**Ten Years Earlier...**"Open the gates!" came the call, and the gatekeepers responded, pulling the massive doors apart to welcome the returning convoy.
The fortified palace soon filled with the sights and sounds of soldiers, some carrying the banners of Amruthsthaan and Amarabad, others bearing the wounds of battle.
The air was thick with the scent of blood and the heavy weight of conflict.
Among the soldiers of Amruthsthaan was Mahir, his sharp eyes taking in the scene with a sense of urgency.
As the injured king was taken to the infirmary, Mahir's eyes fell on Queen Numaira who rushed after the king, her face a mix of fear and anguish.
He silently observed the scene from afar and later, needing a moment to collect his thoughts, Mahir went to the mosque behind the courtyard.
He washed his face and sat down to rest, but a distant chatter from a nearby window caught his attention. It came from the guest chamber near the mosque.
Intrigued, he approached the window, straining to hear the conversation inside.
"This battle was costly, Sheikh Hakim" murmured Rafid, King Afzal's advisor.
"The king won't survive his injuries. His cousins Zaheer Khan and Saifuddin Mirza are planning to hold a secret council meeting after his death. They're scheming to take the throne and will need your support to do so," Rafid confided.
"How can outsiders be given the throne? I heard the queen is carrying a child, a possible heir," said Hakim, the delegate from Al-Kuthban, his voice laced with curiosity.
"We don't know if she is carrying a son. Even if it is a son, who will rule until he comes of age? Certainly not a woman," Rafid replied grimly.
"How does this benefit us?" asked Hakim.
"Saifuddin Mirza and the Nawab of Badalpur are powerful men. They can provide substantial support for your military campaigns and economic development. But you will have to attend the meeting to learn more," Rafid advised.
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T.O.L.D : A Tale Of Light and Darkness
Fantasy🥇RANKED #1 in "Hidden Secrets" Category (17.07.2024)🥇 The mystical continent of Nooristana teeters on the brink of war. As the enemy forces prepare to attack, Queen Numaira of Amruthsthaan stands alone between peace and chaos, anxiously awaiting r...