Esomond sat at his private table. He drank his drink watching the entrance waiting. It didn't take long before someone walked in. Taking a seat opposite him, the man pulled his hood down.
"It's good to see you today," Esmond said politely before calling Violet over. "Get him a drink." She gave a deep bow leaving the two alone.
"It has been six months and the war still hasn't begun. It's getting worrying." The man spoke in a sombre voice.
"Has anything new happened, however? If tensions continue to grow then it's fine." Esmond's voice was still calm. He had been waiting for the war between the Safrid brothers for a while now and knew that patience was key.
"Nothing new. The Northern lords fully support Harun now and have gathered by his side at his grandfather's castle. The only reason they don't march south is because they want to stockpile more grain. Nasr on the other hand is waiting for all his vassals to heed his summons. His hold on the Sultanate is shaky."
"It doesn't make sense. Prince Haurn has been on the battlefield, he should know to strike the enemy when they are weak." Esmond grabbed his chin, his mind racing trying to figure out what the cause was. No matter how he thought though, he wasn't a warrior, he didn't understand the battlefield.
It was this that made him remember his strengths. With a smile spreading on his lips he looked back up at the man. "Hypothetically, if something happened to either Harun or Nasr, would they march early."
The man exhaled leaning back on his chair. "You can't kill either. It will end the war before it begins." Esmond waved off the notion, indicating that it wasn't his plan. "Target one of Nasr's kids, a useful one. Make it seem like Harun wants to stop an alliance being forged, or fake an assassination attempt on him. For Harun, as you know go for his sister or his Grandfather. I suggest his Grandfather. You want Harun to march south, kill his sister, you want the North to march south, then it's Ali."
Taking a deep breath, Esmond weighed his options. His finger tapped on the table as he tried to understand what was the best choice. Violet walked back into the private booth holding a drink. She placed it on the table and stood waiting for Esmond's next order. The man looked up at her before looking at Esmond wondering why he wasn't doing anything.
"The North is too far for any operation to be viable. Nasr however, has sent away his best counter to espionage on a worthless mission to take the boy." Looking up at Violet he sized her up. "How close do you think she could get to a target?"
The man didn't bother asking why, understanding now that she was one of Esmond's operatives. "She's pretty enough to work in the Palace, and it should be easy enough to fake any credentials she needs. It really just depends on the target and her skill. Her getting close to Nasr though is impossible. You need one of the council members or his personal guard for that."
"Not Nasr. His eldest daughter. She is only five and won't be heavily guarded, unlike his son. Violet can be in and out within a day if she knows the target location." Speaking with confidence, the man looked between the two with an analytic gaze before giving a nod of agreement.
"Does the King know about this?" Looking back to Esmond he stared deep into his eyes.
"He does not need to dirty his hands with these things, it's why I'm here. But if you're worried that he won't make a move, don't worry, our King is an opportunist you see." He said before chuckling to himself.
"If you can promise that he makes a move then it's fine." Standing up he pulled his hood back over his face. "Time to go." Looking at Violet she quickly went to the back room to change before following the man to his carriage. Esmond quickly followed after heading in the opposite direction, towards the Palace.
Violet looked up at the Sultan's Palace. It had been years since she had last been here. Memories of her time as a dancer came rushing back. She steeled herself before entering the Palace. She knew her target. Handing her identification to one of the guards she walked through the front gate undisturbed.
The halls were how she remembered them. Walking through the hallways, she passed many maids, some giving her weird looks not recognising her. Violet didn't buckle. She was trained to not fumble under pressure. Quickly turning into a washroom, she picked up a bundle of clean sheets, slipping a knife in between them.
'fourth room on the east wing.' She quietly mumbled to herself remembering her target, setting off. With a faint smile that all the maids were forced to wear, she moved quickly. Passing by everyone like a shadow, fading from memory.
It didn't take long for her to stand outside the room. Gently knocking on the door, an old woman opened it. Placing a finger over her lip she urged Violete to be quiet. "The Princess has fallen asleep. What is so important?"
"New sheets for tomorrow." In a hushed voice, she spoke showing the sheets to the old nanny. She gave a quick look at them nodding. Pointing towards a table she ordered Violet to put them down and quickly leave.
Walking pass her she placed the sheets, sneakily taking the knife out of them. The nanny retook her seat next to the bed, watching the sleeping child. Violet walked to the door, before silently creeping towards the old women.
It was a skill she learnt from Esmond and she couldn't be more thankful for it, making her job much easier. In a swift motion, she covered the old lady's mouth, plunging the knife into her heart. Pulling it out the old woman's eyes looked up in disbelief and fear, but soon died, not understanding what happened.
Resting the body on the chair so she wouldn't fall her attention turned to the child in the bed. She was sleeping peacefully which made Violet feel better as she wouldn't have to suffer. In a quick motion, like the nanny, she covered her mouth and plunged the knife into her heart. Before she could fully wake and register what happened the light in the young girl's eyes faded.
Throwing the knife to the side she wiped her hands on the new bedsheets. Escaping the room she tried to leave quickly but bumped into someone she didn't see. Looking down a small man in a silver mask looked up at her.
Adrian gave a sniff in the air as if he smelt something he shouldn't. Violet couldn't move. Her heart froze as she wondered how to escape the situation. She couldn't kill the man in such an open place, but she knew he could smell the blood on her hands.
Adrian looked at the panic in her eyes and smiled. "The Palace must have become infested with rats. It starting to stink." Stepping to the side he indicated for her to pass. Violet, confused, just looked at him. His eyes turn sharp and his voice cold, "Go. Get rid of them."
Violet didn't understand what happened but she nodded and bowed, quickly walking off as fast as she could. Adrian looked at the Princess's door, shaking his head.
The sun rose the next day and the Palace went into lockdown. Nasr called his council, veins popping out his head as he looked at every one of them with bloodshot eyes.
"HOW CAN MY DAUGHTER DIE IN MY OWN HOUSE?" His voice screamed throughout the council room, stiffing the back of everyone present. They all knew one wrong word and they would die. His eyes fell on Yusuf. Walking behind him his hand slammed on his shoulders as he quietly spoke, "You and your merchants. Did they bring my brother's assassins? He pay you in your beloved gold to bloody my home."
Moving on, he stood behind Adrian, doing the same. "Or was it you, and your schemes? Aswad left under your plan and this happens. Still holding a grudge against my father?" His voice was venomous as he spoke. Adrian felt the sweat on his back but could tell everyone present was the same.
Finally, his eyes landed on Mansa, "Or was it you? My brother paid you and your guards to slip through and PLUNGE A DAGGER IN HER HEART?" His voice boomed again as he took his seat slamming his fist into the table. The council didn't dare even breath as they waited for Nasr to speak. The man breathed heavily as he looked at the map displaying the Sultanate.
"It doesn't really matter who used the knife does it?" Standing up he walked towards the map, stabbing his ceremonial dagger into Ali's castle. "All we need to do is kill the man who gave the order." His words coated in bloodlust he turned back to the council. "Forget schemes and plans" His voice was mocking as she looked at Adrian who sunk in his chair, "We go to war. Yusuf, I don't give a fuck about your plan anymore. No merchants north. Starve them like the dogs they are."
"Your Grace the troops haven...." Mansa tried to speak up being silenced by a hard glare from Nasr.
"Then speed it up. Those traitorous bastards have looked down on me since my coronation. No more. Spread the word of my brother's murder. They call me Kinslayer when I'm innocent and yet he murders a five-year-old child in her bed and they call him the rightful Sultan. I want the realm to scream for his blood so when the time comes, I can string him up with his whore sister's on the front gates." His words were poisonous yet no one blamed him. They just nodded tactfully bowing towards him.
Walking towards the door, he stopped and turned. "And find the killer Mansa. No more mistakes or I will melt that amour into your skin." Not even bothering to wait for a reply he left slamming the door behind him. The three were silent not daring to move.
It lasted for five minutes before Yusuf looked at Adrian his eyes fierce. "Where is Aswad? It was your plan, he must have kept in contact." His mind was so clouded in fear, that he pushed the comment about the merchants being his plan to the back of his mind.
Adrian looked down at his lap, shaking his head. "He has gone silent. But that is not the main issue. We don't have his operatives to deal with this issue." Adrian looked at Mansa with desperate eyes. "Please tell me you have something?"
"Maybe. But I don't know. A maid came and went within an hour of arrival, but that was the only thing of note last night." Mansa placed his head in his hands shaking his head. He knew it was a huge failure for something like this to happen and not even being able to find the cause was worse.
"Does it matter? Gather all the maids and have them point out the one who looks most similar. Place the blame on them and let His Grace have his way."
"And condemn an innocent woman to her death?" His voice was full of disgust at Adrian's suggestion. Burning holes into the man's head he stared with predatory eyes, wishing to to split him in half.
"Either you do this. Or we have Our Grace leading a war fueled by his rage. And we don't escape unscathed. You, me, Yusuf and anyone else who displeased him put on the chopping block." Adrian stood up leaving. "Make your choice but if you do nothing I will. If you don't want to condemn an innocent woman make it someone who isn't, but I'm not dying for your men's mistake." Walking out Yusuf soon followed leaving Mansa alone.