Fickle

Chapter 49

The distant chatter of court whispers had reached Hanifah in her secluded exile. For weeks, she had carefully manipulated the channels still loyal to her, ensuring a steady flow of intelligence on Daura’s political climate and, most importantly, Othman and Mustapha's countermeasures.

Her plans had been built on careful precision, but cracks were beginning to show. The Crown Prince’s alliances were tightening, and her remaining loyalists were under increasing scrutiny. Othman and Mustapha’s strategic response had cut off key resources she needed to maintain her grip.

One evening, Hanifah sat in the dimly lit drawing room of her temporary quarters when one of her most trusted informants, Bashir, arrived. His face bore signs of urgency, his usually calm demeanor disrupted by the news he carried.

"Hanifah," he began cautiously, "Othman has uncovered the financial channels supporting your operatives. Several accounts have been frozen, and General Mustapha’s men are interrogating key figures in Daura."

Her hands tightened into fists, but she maintained a calm exterior. "And what of the council? Is there dissent within?"

Bashir hesitated. "The council remains united under the Crown Prince. His speech has galvanized both the people and the council’s faith in him. They believe in his reforms."

Hanifah’s jaw clenched. The game was slipping out of her control, and she knew that further missteps could lead to total collapse.

Determined to stay ahead, Hanifah called for an emergency meeting with her closest loyalists. She outlined a new strategy, one that relied on exploiting Abdullah’s greatest vulnerabilities—his divided focus between Daura and his family.

"If we can create chaos in the Crown Prince’s absence, his reforms will falter," she declared. "Strike where he cannot defend, and let the council question his ability to lead."

Her orders were sharp and unyielding:

Infiltrate the bureaucracy to delay the implementation of reforms.

Discredit General Mustapha with fabricated evidence of corruption.

Spread rumors questioning Abdullah’s commitment to Daura, painting his time in Minnesota as a betrayal of his people.

Within days, Hanifah’s new plan was set into motion. Anonymous letters accusing General Mustapha of misusing military funds began circulating within the council chambers. Loyal bureaucrats dragged their feet on critical reform measures, citing logistical delays. Meanwhile, whispers about the Crown Prince’s "abandonment" of Daura began seeping into the populace.

The tension was palpable. Though subtle, the sabotage began sowing seeds of doubt among the lower tiers of governance, forcing Othman and Mustapha to double their efforts.

What Hanifah hadn’t accounted for was the resilience of Ruqayyah, her former confidante turned double agent. Ruqayyah’s loyalty to Othman remained steadfast, and she carefully monitored Hanifah’s communication network.

Ruqayyah intercepted a key message destined for one of Hanifah’s operatives within the palace. The message outlined a plan to disrupt an upcoming trade negotiation critical to Daura’s economy. She immediately relayed this to Othman.

"This is her gambit," Othman remarked as he studied the intercepted letter. "She’s trying to destabilize Abdullah’s leadership by targeting the kingdom’s lifelines. We must act swiftly."

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Back in exile, Hanifah received reports of her efforts being thwarted at every turn. Bashir returned with another grim update: