Biding their time
Part 1
Burtasy, Volga Bulgaria
July 19th, 1075
2:00 PM
The Sultan Khalid bin Ja'afar was travelling to Burtasy to inspect the recently constructed Royal Post; in his party were Chancellor Alp Arslan, the great scribe, now chronicler for Khalid, Al-Fadl and several guards. The troupe had trekked the long road system recently constructed stopping at various small villages along the road all now more prosperous then before but finally the gates of the fortress near Burtasy was in sight. Alp Arslan rode ahead of his master and spoke with the guard on duty then returned to Khalid. The Chancellor lowered his head and looked back at the man.
"My…my Lord, the guard is well…sire the man is intoxicated! As drunk as the Rus barbarians!" The chancellor spoke invigorated.
Without speaking a word, Khalid kicked his horse and took off towards the gate master, enraged, ready to destroy him. Upon reaching the visibly drunk man, the Sultan dismounted the horse and marched up to the offender.
"What is your name, Soldier?" The man just stared. "Tell me. I AM YOUR SULTAN!!" Kol'n roared inches from the scared man's face.
"My name is Yusuf bin al-Hawari…my Lord." The guard said in a very slurred style almost unintelligible to any but himself.
Khalid turned to his guards and motioned for them to take the man's place at the gates. Yusuf stumbled away into the city and off down a long street disappearing. Alp Arslan, Al - Fadl and the Sultan all set off through the streets of the city looking for the commander, a man called Abu 'Abd al - Malik; he had been stationed in the city for many months after converting when Khalid first entered the city several years ago. Finally the royal post was in sight, it was a tall white tower with the Dulo family crest proudly embossed just above the door entrance; upon reaching the gate the men dismounted from their horses tying them up outside.
Opening the door to the tower Alp Arslan stepped in first and greeted a portly man sitting down just inside dressed in light armor with black robes over them. Before the man sat a large bottle of honey wine half empty and two others lay completely empty on the floor beside him. When the Sultan entered, the man straightened himself and came to as much attention as he could in his inebriated state. Khalid has visibly enraged as he stood before the man, causing him to slap the man's face and retract his hand for a punch.
"I demanded to know the meaning of this! You are Muslims! Followers of Allah! And I see you drunk?! What explanation do you have for yourself? " Sultan Khalid's face had become very red and he had placed one hand on his sword waiting for the man's answer.
"al - Fayyad told us it was O.K. to drink mead and honey wine. Who you like some, my Lord?" Abu 'Abd al - Malik said slowly trying not to mess up any words.
Khalid angrily seized the drunk and pulled him over the table slamming him to the ground. "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! Wait for us outside the door." Khalid said tossing the commander from the room and slamming the large wooden door behind him. The Sultan looked around the room in anger before opening his mouth to speak to the two other men in the room.
"What is this? These people were never pious Muslims but to be drinking like this? And al - Fayyad, I appointed that man. He was an upright and true follower of Muhammad. I must correct this at once, no Muslim in my lands will be defying the word of Allah!" Khalid said enraged and confused.
Alp Arslan raised an eyebrow and leaned into his Sultan before speaking. "This could work in our favor if we spread this reform throughout the country, it could work to increase conversions but might alienate us slightly from the rest of the Muslim world. Which doesn't mean much for us in the long run, they will still trade here regardless, my Lord."
The Sultan stroked his beard and then narrowed his eyes keenly. "Make it so and al - Fadl, do not record this conversation."
[Secretly he did record it but hid this moment until after his death in 1113.]
Royal post in Burtasy. Constructed c. 1075
Part 1
Burtasy, Volga Bulgaria
July 19th, 1075
2:00 PM
The Sultan Khalid bin Ja'afar was travelling to Burtasy to inspect the recently constructed Royal Post; in his party were Chancellor Alp Arslan, the great scribe, now chronicler for Khalid, Al-Fadl and several guards. The troupe had trekked the long road system recently constructed stopping at various small villages along the road all now more prosperous then before but finally the gates of the fortress near Burtasy was in sight. Alp Arslan rode ahead of his master and spoke with the guard on duty then returned to Khalid. The Chancellor lowered his head and looked back at the man.
"My…my Lord, the guard is well…sire the man is intoxicated! As drunk as the Rus barbarians!" The chancellor spoke invigorated.
Without speaking a word, Khalid kicked his horse and took off towards the gate master, enraged, ready to destroy him. Upon reaching the visibly drunk man, the Sultan dismounted the horse and marched up to the offender.
"What is your name, Soldier?" The man just stared. "Tell me. I AM YOUR SULTAN!!" Kol'n roared inches from the scared man's face.
"My name is Yusuf bin al-Hawari…my Lord." The guard said in a very slurred style almost unintelligible to any but himself.
Khalid turned to his guards and motioned for them to take the man's place at the gates. Yusuf stumbled away into the city and off down a long street disappearing. Alp Arslan, Al - Fadl and the Sultan all set off through the streets of the city looking for the commander, a man called Abu 'Abd al - Malik; he had been stationed in the city for many months after converting when Khalid first entered the city several years ago. Finally the royal post was in sight, it was a tall white tower with the Dulo family crest proudly embossed just above the door entrance; upon reaching the gate the men dismounted from their horses tying them up outside.
Opening the door to the tower Alp Arslan stepped in first and greeted a portly man sitting down just inside dressed in light armor with black robes over them. Before the man sat a large bottle of honey wine half empty and two others lay completely empty on the floor beside him. When the Sultan entered, the man straightened himself and came to as much attention as he could in his inebriated state. Khalid has visibly enraged as he stood before the man, causing him to slap the man's face and retract his hand for a punch.
"I demanded to know the meaning of this! You are Muslims! Followers of Allah! And I see you drunk?! What explanation do you have for yourself? " Sultan Khalid's face had become very red and he had placed one hand on his sword waiting for the man's answer.
"al - Fayyad told us it was O.K. to drink mead and honey wine. Who you like some, my Lord?" Abu 'Abd al - Malik said slowly trying not to mess up any words.
Khalid angrily seized the drunk and pulled him over the table slamming him to the ground. "GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE! Wait for us outside the door." Khalid said tossing the commander from the room and slamming the large wooden door behind him. The Sultan looked around the room in anger before opening his mouth to speak to the two other men in the room.
"What is this? These people were never pious Muslims but to be drinking like this? And al - Fayyad, I appointed that man. He was an upright and true follower of Muhammad. I must correct this at once, no Muslim in my lands will be defying the word of Allah!" Khalid said enraged and confused.
Alp Arslan raised an eyebrow and leaned into his Sultan before speaking. "This could work in our favor if we spread this reform throughout the country, it could work to increase conversions but might alienate us slightly from the rest of the Muslim world. Which doesn't mean much for us in the long run, they will still trade here regardless, my Lord."
The Sultan stroked his beard and then narrowed his eyes keenly. "Make it so and al - Fadl, do not record this conversation."
[Secretly he did record it but hid this moment until after his death in 1113.]
Royal post in Burtasy. Constructed c. 1075
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