Adrian walked through the Palace hallways. Knocking on the door he waited, before getting loud clearance for his entry. Sat at the desk was someone who was the definition of average. He had no noticeable features, with brown hair and eyes. "Sir Regent." John, the new spymaster of the Sultanate gave a soft bow, moving towards the comfy chairs in his office, offering the one opposite to Adrian.
Adrian didn't hold back taking a seat and pouring himself a glass of water from the jug readily available. "Please. There is no need to take such a polite tone with me. I am only standing in for his Highness." His voice was kind talking to the man. Adrian noticed the subtle relaxation of his shoulders and smiled under his mask.
"Of course. I'm new to the council so I'm not sure of how things ran before." John was soft-spoken. Adrian analysed him. It was his first meeting with him and he was yet to tell if it was all an act. Although he was glad Aswad was gone, being the one man he could never read, he hoped his assistant's analysis was right of the man in front of him and he was actually a fool.
"It's fine, you will get used to these things. Any troubles and you come to me, I will help." Adrian took a sip of his water. "I have just come to ask you about how far you have gotten with replacing Aswad's network. Obviously, you took his place with his successor's disappearance." Adrian played the act of his caring boss. He hoped the talk of work would reveal more about the man's personality in front of him.
John was all smiles ready to talk about his job. "It going well. I've been vetting the personnel of the Palace, approaching those who have clean records and numerous years of work. The palace has already suffered enough due to unreliable and disloyal workers. Once that is set, I'll begin the training of operatives who can be mobilised." Adrian noted the eagerness in his voice.
He knew of John's background. The son and heir of a western noble who had proven loyalties to the Sultan but was in an ailing house. They had worked with Aswad over the years on numerous things and must have been the reason for Nasr to choose him, hoping that some of his skill rubbed off on them. He had to thank Yusuf's sacrifice. No longer was skill being determined to pick council members, but loyalty.
"That's good. But you must remember, to be more subtle with these things. I have already got word of this. Your operatives must be hidden in plain sight. It doesn't help if all the workers know who they are." Adrian reprimanded John, getting him to drop his shoulders a little. Adrian was in disbelief at how easy he was to read. Either John had no clue how court politics worked, or he was dim. "Come to my office later. I will give you a list of workers who you could use. Approach them quietly."
His face lit up from Adrian's suggestion, getting a nod. Fiddling with his fingers he looked at Adrian. Adrian indicated for him to speak freely. "About Aswad's successor. Is it something I should look into for the Sultan?"
Adrian gave a light laugh. "It's fine. We already know that Yusuf was the traitor in the council. With his merchant network, it wouldn't be too hard for him to figure these things out and take care of it." Adrian got up, sitting next to John. He quietly spoke, "The merchant was a terrible traitor, but me, Nasr and the Royal guards cleared up his presence in the Palace. I see you want to make yourself useful, but Nasr may see this as you questioning his judgment. Let the dead rest."
His voice was sympathetic talking about it. Getting a nod from John the smile under his mask grew. No matter how incompetent he believed John to be, he couldn't have the man snooping around in the past. Any small clue could reveal him.
"There is something you can do, however," Adrian spoke getting his undivided attention. "Yusuf was in charge of the books of the Kingdom. He was good at it, but he also knew how to steal well. If you could find out where these funds went it would be great. There is only so much I can figure out from reading his logs." Getting a stern nod, Adrian patted the man's shoulder. "If that is the case I will see you soon. I have work to do."
John got up leading Adrian to the door. Once he was gone, John let out a deep sigh. He looked down at his hands that shivered slightly. "God I was nervous." He spoke quietly to himself, going back to work.
Alfred sat in a room in the castle they arrived at. A knocking on the door got his attention. "Enter." Coming in Chris gave a bow.
"A guest has arrived. One I think you should meet."
Alfred nodded, allowing him to be brought to him. Walking into the room, a hooded Halfdan lowered it, revealing his face. Chris closed the door behind him, keeping watching over the two, his hand never leaving his sword.
"I greet the King of the New World, I am Jarl Halfdan" Halfdan spoke politely giving a bow. He looked back up at Alfred, watching him with calm eyes.
"What is it Jarl? From what I know, we are at war right now." With a cold voice, he asked. Looking at the small man, he could see he was Like Esmond.
"I have come to ask if the deal is still available. The captive, Bo, you had before came to me about it before our Queen caught wind and killed him." Halfdan asked, analysing the young man in front of him.
"Why? The deal can easily be made, but why?"
Halfdan rubbed the back of his hand. "I wish to survive." His voice was powerful speaking. "The meeting the other day opened my eyes about this war. It's unwinnable for us. I scavenged through those forts to find a map of your Kingdom and when I did I realised, we haven't seen a fraction of your Kingdom. Your words, weren't a bluff, just the honest facts. If we go to war, I'm likely to die."
Alfred was taken aback by his words but didn't fully trust them. Halfdan reminded him of Esmond too much. If he didn't know Esmond personally he would never trust the man near him. It was much the same with Halfdan. "And what do I get in return?" Despite his misgiving, he was willing to entertain the idea. If he was truthful with his betrayal then it was a massive help. He remembered what Bo said about Halfdan being an opportunist.
"Whilst I can't give you the Queen's head, I can give you a part of the army. But it comes with conditions." Halfdan took a seat opposite Aflred now. He didn't ask getting a shot of sharp eye to the back of his head from Chris. "First, the death of all leaders. I am the sole negotiator. Second, the promise of land you offered. Third, the promise of respected titles alongside them." Halfdan gave his offer.
Alfred's eyes went dim for a second. Halfdan was more ambitious than he thought, willing to slaughter his fellow countrymen for this. "And you will take Sol as your Lord. You and your people. You will fight in my wars and take me as your King." Halfdan was hesitant but nodded. He didn't care about forcing his people to take a new God, it was necessary. It was the other things that he was hesitant about.
Alfred caught his slight hesitance. "I will think about it. As you already know, I can destroy your invasion, but I need people to replace those lost. It is the only reason why I am bothering with this conversation at all." Alfred waved him away. Halfdan took no offence to this.
"I will be in touch again, but I hope you know I'm taking a risk being here." Halfdan bowed leaving the room.
"Have someone follow him." Alfred gave the order to Chris. Giving a bow he left, leaving Alfred alone. If Halfdan was honest about his request and truly wished to survive he would find him again no matter the cost.
Halfdan rode. He knew that Alfred would place someone to follow him and although he couldn't see them, he was sure they existed. Riding into his camp, he let his horse rest, before finding Helga's tent. The woman was sat inside, looking at a gold coin of the Kingdom.
"Well?" She asked hearing the man walk in.
"He's distrustful."
"It's expected. A snake-like you walking in would have anyone on edge." With a matter-of-fact tone, she brushed him off. "Do you think the plan will work, however?"
Halfdan thought. "To get him out of his camp will be hard. To get him alone with you is even harder. But it may be possible." Halfdan stopped, getting her attention. She urged him to continue now that she was at full attention. "I simply need to build trust, but we also need to create internal conflict within the camp between me and you. His scouts will always be watching. If something happens between me and you, it will reinforce my need for survival."
"Eventually I'll make it seem too dangerous to go out far from the camp, forcing him to an isolated region near us. An isolated house or tent will work. All you must do is use the herbs given by the Ancient one on him and he will come at you like a beast in heat." Helga nodded at his explanation. Although it was isolating a good advisor, the plan to secure a place within the Kingdom legitimately without having to kill the king was better.
That being said Helga was confused about one thing. "What do you want from all this? I know you have ambition, but you don't wish to marry me and take a place next to me. You're not like Knut who does what he does to keep a grip on his weakening power. So what is it?" She had been curious about it. He wasn't a pious man nor was he a king trying to hold power nor did he wish to marry up.
"I told you before. I will carve out a dynasty for myself. You becoming the King's wife will allow me to achieve great power here and back home. All I ask is when you have children with him, one of those marries my own. Creating a dynasty is one thing, but to marry someone of both yours and his blood will mean that my descendants have the blood of old from our people and the blood of someone blessed in the new world. I may not believe in these things but the masses are different." Halfdan spoke.
For once he felt himself being honest about his desires. He knew Helga would never follow his plans if he wasn't honest at least once about himself. He watched her. Her face tightening and loosening.
"If we have more than one child, I will marry them to yours. But if I only can have one, don't expect me to marry off to you. As for power, I'll make sure you see it, letting it pass to your children." Helga gave her an ultimatum. Halfdan smiled. It was enough for him.
"Then let us begin."