Private Tales Security Detail

[Rasoul Ibn Shahin]

The sea breeze was a welcome change to the stale ink that seemed to permeate his every waking moment. Reports had taken most of his morning but this time, not all his day. A welcome suggestion had come for him to see the city and the changes that occurred. Rasoul was doubtful that much could have happened in six months but some fresh air would do him well. It would have been a precarious proposition during the onset of his rule. Too many would have been happy to see him dead. Power was very much a fickle thing. What Annuk had given him, could just as easily been taken away.

Seluca was calm for the time being and that was enough for the sultan. Half his advisors suggested he shutter himself in his own palace but the others saw that as weakness. Rasoul was not one to be dictated by the desires of others but even he knew that showing his face had value. More than that, he simply wished to see if his people were content.

It was near late afternoon after Rasoul had finished inspecting the sea walls. He now moved towards the center of town. The market was still bustling as the small retinue made its way into the center of the plaza.

"Well Khadja, what do you see? This is your city as much as mine. Has the stain of the oppressor been removed?" asked the Sultan of his escort, more noticeably, the captain of his guard.

Khadja El Hashim

 

[Khadja El Hashim]

The captain of the guard walked quietly slightly behind the sultan as they moved through the city. First, toward the seawalls and now heading into the center of the town toward the markets. She was of the opinion that him moving about the city and showing his face to his people, would help to solidify his position here. He'd won the war to remove the imposters, but there was still so much to be done. Lives made whole again after being oppressed for so long.

"I see a people rebuilding. Both their trust in their ruler and their homes. Neither will come easy and both will likely take longer than we would wish." She responded in her quiet way, while leaning against the glaive she carried.

Khadja was not one to hold back or sugar coat things. She respected Rasoul and what he'd worked for too much to lie to the man, much less her Sultan. Nor did she fear that he'd respond negatively to the truth. He'd given her this position because he trusted her and she'd accepted because she trusted him. She'd given up her life as a mercenary to follow him into this endeavor without truly knowing how it would go. While the mercenary life wasn't glamorous, it paid well and she was secure among the fighters who trusted in her martial skills.

Here, however, things were different. It wasn't just about fighting. There was much more involved. Sure, they'd had to win the fight against the imposters, but now that that was done, there was so much more work to do. Thankfully, all she was expected to do was to keep Rasoul safe and she took her position and it's duties seriously.

 

[Rasoul Ibn Shahin]

"Let us hope it is not too long." For both of their sake. He left the latter part unsaid. The trust of the people also meant the protection of the people. Those that guarded him, those that cooked his food, even those that dressed him; they were people of Seluca. Caution to the point of paranoia could only take one so far and Rasoul did not wish to live like that in any case. That was the road to ruin. "You and I know all too well that anything worthwhile does not come easy."

His Captain of the Guard had struggled to find her place in this world. There was a reason Rasoul had convinced the former mercenary to join his side. Seluca needed people like Khadja and she had answered the call. They were near the same age and yet their experiences had been altogether different. That was until they fought to reclaim their homeland from the Oppressor. Bonds forged through such a struggle were not easily severed. Appointed Khadja to her position was one of the easiest decisions Rasoul made upon taking his place as the Sultan.

The continue to proceed through the main market street more commonly known as Silk Row. Most offered the Sultan some form of deference while others were simply too busy plying their trade. Rasoul was content in knowing that trade was beginning to pick up in the city. Yet he knew this was all a far cry from what Seluca once offered. "What of the current state of the Guard?" He knew they had sorely lacked the right personnel in the early days of his rule. Rasoul was curious to know where they stood now, a year later.


Khadja El Hashim

 

[Khadja El Hashim]

The Guard Captain gave a solemn nod to her Sultan's assessment. Retaking their home had not been easy, but seeing it free had been worth it. The same would be the case when those people began to thrive again. Already their city was starting to recover. It was readily visible in the markets as they entered Silk Row. Trade was on the rise and the various exports available spoke mountains to the city's recovery. Trade meant prosperity and with Rasoul's intelligence and diplomacy, she was sure it would continue to grow.

The small woman turned to look at her Sultan. "We have more than a few dedicated soldiers who I trust with my life, and yours. Though there is still room for a few more." She answered honestly. Finding soldiers for his personal guard had been the hardest, as Khadja was not the most trusting individual especially when it came to protecting Rasoul. If she could have just been the only one to guard him, she would have. Sadly, she was incapable of functioning without sleep.

"The main castle guard is well structured and trustworthy as well." Not trustworthy enough that they were solely responsible for Rasoul's protection, but enough that they were guarding the palace at all. "The city guard is full, many were eager to fill the position. However, there have been some trouble among them as of late that I worry if more than a few joined thinking that they could use the power for their own personal gain or because they thought the position would be an easy one. I'm keeping a close watch on the reports sent by the Commanders of each platoon. I will, of course, alert you to any trouble if it is not something that we can handle ourselves." Khadja had full confidence in her abilities to contain the problem, even if it meant going out and making an example of the troublemakers. She was not above knocking the sense into people as much as knocking it out of them.

 

[Rasoul Ibn Shahin]

"There always is," replied Rasoul with a knowing smile. A sword that one could truly trust was invaluable for a man in his position. He was no great warrior or clever mage. A simple knife in the dark was all it took while he was sleeping. The Sultan very much had to entrust himself to the system and those around him. He did not begrudge his current predicament. Whether he died an ignominious death or not would mainly come down to his judgement of others. That was a fate Rasoul could accept. He trusted that Khadja would find the right individuals, though it may still take some time.

The Sultan was not overly surprised at the captain's report regarding the city guard. Seluca was hardly the first city where it may have been seen as an easy post. Things were not so simple however, as Seluca was in the process of rebuilding. Too much corruption in these early stages would hinder Rasoul's efforts greatly. Merchants were just starting to fill Silk Row again; they needed reassurance that they would be both protected and not extorted.

"I know how thorough you are in such matters. Even so, you must focus your efforts on the Twins. Too much rot has crept in from the sea," explained the Sultan with a sigh. He thought back to the meeting with his new vizier had revealed. Corruption had been abound, much originating from the port. Rasoul would not let it fester again. "If needed, supplement the watch with those of my personal guard..."

Khadja El Hashim

 

[Khadja El Hashim]

Her eyes scanned the crowds as they moved through the streets. Keeping a close eye on everyone there. Most people moved out of the way as they walked, bowing to the Sultan as he passed. No one seemed keen on trying their luck against Khajda, at least in the current moment. The armor making it clear to those around them just whom they would be facing. Being one of the Sultan's personal guard was more than just an honor position, something that had been shown in the retaking of the city and as the Captain of the Sultan's personal guard, she was becoming well known among the people.

"As you wish my lord." She agreed, though that would be a last resort. The Sultan's personal guard was still too short on numbers for her to want to fall back on that yet.

"We focus on trying to vet those who are in charge of the ports. Like the city guard, the positions have largely been given within families and friends of the noble houses. Both for personal gain and power. It will take much work to strip the positions from those who will not keep them for the honor of Seluca and the Sultan." She'd focused on the city guard first and it would be the guard that would police the port clerks. Now that they've begun to clean the guard to those whose loyalty was to the city and Sultan, she could start doing the same among those who ran the ports.

"We'll try to keep as many of them in the position as possible. Hopefully making moves against a few will bring the rest into line with our expectations." That was the hope at least. If it ended up being necessary, she'd remove all those in the positions in order to start anew.