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Ottoman Empire.
Constantinople.
Said walked past the guards who were bowing their heads in salute on both sides with a gloomy expression, then turned to glance back at the Topkapi Palace, feeling increasingly desolate.
Just now, the Sultan had appointed him as a special envoy to "inspect" Tunisia.
A few years ago, this would have been a coveted position that many envied—typically, fringe provinces like Tunisia would treat the Sultan's envoy well and give him a substantial amount of "travel expenses" upon departure.
However, this mission was doomed to be devoid of such benefits.
The empire was facing a critical situation in Ochakov. That Potemkin from Russia had a large army pressing hard, and the important fortress on the northern shore of the Black Sea could fall at any time.
