Qutb Shahi Palace, Golconda, Golconda Sultanate.
The halls of the Sultan's palace were filled with opulence. Rich carpets draped the floor while vivid tapestries decorated the walls. The palace was located in the middle of the citadel fort of Golconda, so no enemy could breach it easily, thus keeping the occupants safe.
The Sultan himself was attending the court today. He was seated on a large cushioned bed, which itself was located on an elevated platform. The seat was stuffed with the softest feathers they could find, and the covers were made of the finest of muslins.
Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk Shah was smoking marijuana known locally as Ganja, from a Hookah pipe, while getting a massage from one of his concubines. On the court floor, several female dancers performed various dances to entertain the court.
Instruments were being played, to assist the dancers, who wore revealing clothes to please the audience. These dancers came from various origins, from captured local women to Christian Slaves purchased from the Ottoman Empire. They performed to please the court and were often used as prostitutes when they were not performing.
While the centre of the hall was occupied with the performances, the sidelines were filled with men. Some were gawking at the performers while others were there to meet the sultan or network with influential people.
Sultan Quli himself allowed these people time for such activities. He knows how useful such activities are as he used to do the same during the Bahmani Sultanate.
Sultan Qutb is a Turkoman, originally from the city of Hamadan in Persia. His great-great-grandfather was the Turkoman ruler Qara Yusaf of the Qara Qoyunlu Dynasty. But as Timuruds invaded their homelands, they lost everything, reduced to Horse traders.
Qutb himself was a Horse trader, and for that reason, he came from Persia to Deccan India, Bahmani Sultanate. There he proved his mettle, becoming one of the Sultanate's influential generals. When the Bahmani fell, he occupied the Golconda fort and declared independence. That was more than 30 years.
Now he lived a long life, conquering lands, burning temples, killing infidels defiling their women, etc. He now spends most of his time, wasting away in court, enjoying his slow court days, and having his pick of women.
That was the reason why, he was annoyed when the performance ended. He liked the new lead dancer, and will for sure spend some quality time with her. Whether the other party wanted it or not, he did not care.
The dancers packed up and left the room, while the people on the sidelines shuffled, to get better arrangements. The court continued as various topics came up to be discussed.
Karim Beg, the prime minister of his court came forward after various things had been discussed for some time. The man usually stays quiet and lets others go first to have better leverage on things.
"Ah Karim, my friend. What is it that you want to discuss? Don't tell me this is about the girl I sent you last week. She may be young, but she is experienced. I showed her the ropes myself." The Sultan boasted while the rest of the court cheered for him as if he said some profound poetry and not a vulgar joke.
"No problems in that respected Sultan. I have news to share about one of our pesky neighbours." Karim answered.
"Is this about that brat Rudra again? After the purges he did in his little kingdom, Didn't someone say that it was going to descend into civil war? Is that the news?"
"No, my Sultan. Something just happened that further confirms the fragility of Dharanikota. Some are saying that a Portuguese fleet sailed into their main port in Machilipatnam, and fired with cannons. Yet, their king has yet to respond with any significant action. This only proves their weakness."
"Their 'King' is still wet behind the ears, my sultan. Sure, he chopped a few heads when he rose to the throne, but just as any other infidel, he cannot bear the burden of the throne." quipped another court member.
"What are you recommending Karim?" Qutb asked his minister. He knew when to be serious, and when to joke around.
"Father, if I may." His elder son Qutbuddin, interjected. "This kingdom had dared to stand up to us in the was 10 years ago. If it were not for our magnanimity, it would have been erased from the map. So, I suggest we invade it, and take back what is rightfully ours from those infidels."
"Are you sure this is not because most of your loyalists are stationed from Rajamundry fort, which is near the kingdom, brother? If so, that means you want to be the one to get all the riches from there." the Sultan's second son, Jamsheed asked, raising the obvious question that was on everyone else's mind.
In the last war, Qutbuddin, along with his other brother Husayn, were the ones leading the assault on the Dharanikota Kingdom. They were successfully able to capture the Godavari delta but were stopped at Eluru Fort in Dharanikota, which was reconstructed before the war.
After the war ended, Qutbuddin managed to get most of the conquered land under his personal control, after getting approval from their father, the Sultan. Sadly, Husayn died in the war, and his share was swallowed up by the eldest.
Jamsheed, being the cunning one, was always quick to point that out. He was not the best of anything, but he knew how to create conflict, to get what he wanted.
"Jamsheed is right, Qutbuddin, Father. We cannot go into this war blindly. There is news that an alliance is being formed between Bidar and Ahmednagar Sultanates. If we are bogged down in a war with Dharanikota, they will take that advantage to attack us." Ibrahim, another prince of the Sultanate supplied.
Ibrahim was the youngest one at 20 but was also the most knowledgeable. The Sultan had children with several people throughout the years, the oldest one was in his forties, while the youngest was only twenty.
"Bidar? Amir Barid has some nerve in creating an alliance against me. Especially after what happened the last time!" Sultan who was listening in on the conversation that was happening between his children in the middle of the court floor, interjected.
"It seems that my dear older brother had forgotten father. You participated in that war 20 years ago, right brother? Why are you still so focused on Dharanikota, when the loss in the war against Vijayanagara, caused your father to be humiliated? You were right there when elder sister Maryam was forced to marry that infidel king." Jamsheed pointed out, adding fuel to the fire.
The marriage of the Sultan's daughter, with the Vijayanagara emperor was always a sour spot for Sultan Qutb. It was not because he cared for the girl, who was 14 when she married an infidel in his forties, but because of the potential loss of his reputation. What would the world think? It was a humiliation for him in front of his court and other Sultans.
He was glad when the daughter was killed. He sent assassins to kill her and the children she had and they were successful in killing his daughter, and grandson, who was the crown prince of Vijayanagara. If only his granddaughter who is still alive, were to die somehow…
"What do you know, Jamsheed? Don't forget that you are born to a concubine. Your balls hadn't dropped, when I fought that war! You dare lecture me when you couldn't conquer that kingdom, even after the River crossing was secured in Macherla, in the last war?" Qutbuddin challenged his younger brother, whom he hated. Jamsheed had a cunning mind, and he couldn't trust the man.
"Enough! I will no longer tolerate quarrels between my children, especially in court. Qutbuddin, since you are so eager to go against Dharanikota, you will now be stationed in Rajahmundry Fort. You are not to engage in any hostilities with the kingdom. It's foolish King will tear it apart soon enough, and we will be there to sweep in when that happens." the Sultan ordered.
"As you command, my sultan," Qutbuddin bowed to his father, acknowledging the orders.
"Karim, you will work with Ibrahim to gather more information about this alliance. The two sultanates are tough opponents by themselves, and even more so, when they are allied."
The two people bowed, also acknowledging the orders.
"Jamsheed, you will take command of the Western army. Train them to your wishes. If a war were to occur, it would take place after the next harvest season. That means you have five months to prepare. Make me proud."
That was it. That was all Jamsheed wanted. He successfully provoked his older brother enough to make him say something that would anger their father. That will keep him away for a year, at least. He also fed enough misleading info to his youngest brother and the prime minister to make them believe that, the already close bidar and Ahmednagar are allying.
As their Sultanate will now prepare for a battle against the alliance, those two will not have a choice but to ally. It was a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Sure, his older brother may attack the Dharanikota kingdom against his father's wishes, but he will inform them of it, to cause losses to his brother. They will surely be conquered, but it will prove to be a challenge for his brother, as the rest of the armies will be with Jamsheed. fighting with the armies of the yet-to-be-formed alliance.
Attacking that small kingdom, what is the worst that could happen?