Lost Assassins

A Hiding Beauty

Shahtakh Sultanate

At peak of the noon, at the time of prayer, the shrine was still barren. All the administration offices were shut closed, hallways were empty, and gardens were abandoned by nobles. Feels like all the fort was at a halt, no living soul around except for the guards on duty at the corridors, gates and battlements, the servants and slaves were into their daily routines, overlooking their surroundings. Even the harem feels lifeless. No active activity anywhere to be seen except that Sultanate flag, at the top barbicans at all the seven entry gates of the fort, dancing and flapped with the wind, feeling the power it holds and proudly just showing off. In all silence except at the court of the sultan.

The Sultan Bakhtiyar Khadja bin al Murad, sitting at his velvet cushioned cosy throne, top of few stairs, overlooking the courtroom Atop him shone pure gold umbrella canopy. He could view the whole court from there and his bodyguards just round up behind him. He was wearing a grass green sherwani, along with blood red thread work running all over and broad golden flowerlike work around edges competing for the design craft of jewellery, some precious stones around the cuff and a cherry red velvet cloak covering his half side. A green and golden coloured velvet turban like a crown atop his head with a white bird's feather at front stuck with embedded pink diamond, of the size of a tambourine. He was listening intently to all the minister, at least try to, his grim expression and tired eyes were indicating otherwise.

A chaotic environment at the court at the moment, ministers and nobles shouting deliberately, even abusing, trying to hold on for the sake of argument. Everyone was eager and determined, to raise their point, all the ministers arguing, divided over the issues, practically just shitting all over the discipline and order of the courtroom. If the situations were normal, this would never happen. Upholding the dignity of the court is a major duty.

The subcontinent is shaking from the weight of all its kingdoms, treaties were barely holding and allies were turning their back. A couple of centuries-old order and peace is now losing its ground. The whole south is a lost cause and now in the war of three kings, the west is carved into a new kingdom by a rebel, the Suryavanshi Empire is still divided, Sultan Bakhtyar himself had faced few uprising mutinies planned within the kingdom.

But the immediate meeting is caused by recent incidents. Across the Gulf of west, pirates attacks have been multiplied recently, affecting the trade and pilgrimage, and Suryavanshi is also spreading drastically around the Delhi Sultanate, even occupying few of the kachchh. A recent attack at the military check post by Suryavanshi army has raised the concerned.

The sultan stands up from his throne and as he gazed around suddenly all the arguments halted there, and silence spread around. All of them, staring at Sultan in absolute tranquillity, waiting for his words. Sultan kindled his beard as he gazed hard on the whole court, as he was taking whim of people's mind and sits back at his throne and spoke in boldly,
"I have decided, our current situation demand sacrifice in the name of decision. Right now, no soft decisions can save our kingdom, never. We are now tested by our Lord All Mighty, he wants to test our ambition and our will. For all our people, and their future, I have decided to form an alliance.
"A military and trade alliance with Maharaj Surajmal of Amer Kingdom, sharing our taxes and resources together. In a week, I will be going to the Ajmer and there is a sacred alliance for the welfare of our Empire will be sealed off. "

The whole court again burst into the murmuring, looking at each other's faces, began to wonder.

"My lord, pardon this intrusion of yours this loyal, but its an unholy alliance. It'll be unfair to your people." said the Ulema-e-Khaas, the Head Priest.

"My lord, sharing our wealth and trade with an unholy land is blasphemy." said another priest in anger.

"Your people and nobles will never accept this treaty with those infidels. "
a minister joined.