[center][h1]The Saa’kaleed Abiat[/h1]
[h3]The abode of the Abiat representatives in Arkronia[/h3]
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The wind gently rustled the leaves of the gardens outside the window of the Abiat building. Earthy fragrances danced over the noses of the Saa’kaleed as many of the servants and helpers went about making the place fit for the Rea-Abi and his closest advisors, at least those that had been allowed to travel with him, whilst the clan of protectors had found stabling for their Basa and now organised shift and patrol patterns in the unknown building to ensure the safety of their leader. It was the standard procedures whenever the government of the Abiat moved to a location that was unknown and it left many feeling wildly uncomfortable. The Rea-Abi seemed in a far more jovial mood, however, and addressed those retainers not absorbed by other tasks with a pleasantly good humoured demeanor.

[color=007236]“I must say, for as much as I enjoy the heat of the Leed, the Arkronians certainly know how to pamper honoured guests. I might almost think we were here at the goodwill of our hosts, not as their supplicants.”[/color] There was polite smiling and chuckling approval all around as subtly everyone turned to see if the representative of the crown might offer any unhappiness at the backhanded compliment. [color=007236]“Nonetheless, this is most certainly a fine place for our nest to settle for the coming days and festivities. Please inform the Crown-Prince that I am most honoured by the state of our housing and look forward to the coming coronation.”[/color] A slight tip of the head, hardly the bow most present expected in deference to their leader, was offered in mute response.

[color=007236]“We have finally arrived, my sons, and despite the long and arduous journey it appears that for the foreseeable future we will enjoy a respite in the lapse of luxury to soothe our weary legs and our sore bottoms!”[/color] A rousing cheer of approval greeted the news. [color=007236] “We are to follow the rulings of the Arkronians as we conduct ourselves about the capital, there will be no reason for the Crown-Prince to doubt our good intentions, and if I hear of any amongst our number acting in a way to cast aspergers over the honest will of our mission then I will personally pull every tooth from his mouth until he babbles his sorrow like a newly born babe.”[/color] Less cheering followed the threat, though the lizardfolk appeared contented by the threat, whilst the Arkronian appeared somewhat taken aback at the distasteful barbarism. [color=007236] “Our hosts have provided an agent of the crown to act as our guide and handler whilst here, I expect you all to listen closely as they run us through the arrangements for the festivities and beyond.” [/color]

The well dressed man of grey, with the veneer of a broad smile, stepped up beside the Rea-Abi and patted him gently which drew a discontenting growl from one or two of those present. [color=0072bc]“Thank you, Rea-Abi, the Prince appreciates all of those loyal to the crown and your presence here to see his inauguration. We are the honoured ones, truly.”[/color] Aram Sallah nodded his head graciously and smiled wickedly when a few voices muttered Haka Marea. [color=0072bc]“Your Rea-Abi is right, however, it is time to go through the rules regarding how you must carry yourselves here in the capital. Whilst we respect your individuality as a people and the uniqueness of your culture, it will be doing no good for you to act well outside the norm in front of the other noble families. The power of the crown must be respected.”[/color] The Arkronian spoke cooly, with the primness and etiquette of someone trained in the art of diplomacy by an overlord, and with none of the tact of someone who had spent some time amongst the Saa’kaleed. At least back in the Leed the Crown Agent had learned how to best approach the emotive folk of the Leed.

As the rules regarding court of the Arkronians were lecturedm, and many pretended to pay close attention whilst desperately hoping attendants were actually keeping notes, the Rea-Abi sat patiently and smiled amicably as he went about the business of okaying the decisions of the house. Menus needed to be cleared, wardrobes were being selected, and the assortment of goods that would constitute the gifts for the crown had to be made final. All the while the words of the Yuravian representative continued to run through his mind. Deviance by devotion? Empowering a weak crown to create room for which to wiggle until the time was right to throw off the yoke of the Arkronian was a tempting ideal. It was passive and drew so little risk, it merely meant acting out loyally, but it also was the equivalent of doing nothing and that brought domestic issues of its own. He was an old lizard now, whilst not decrepit he still feared he would not live to see the sands of the Leed under the stewardship of the Saa’kaleed alone.

Furthermore, a number of the other clans that dominated other cities across the desert were vitriolic in their desire to see the Arkronians deposed. It was one of the reasons his court had grown so small as of late. Protest by absence was becoming common. Which was why the letter that was passed to him kept his attention far longer than any others. A Forgotten Tribe of humans ready to rebel? This was unexpected and deeply suspicious, were the scheming machinations of the Arkronians reaching new levels and producing threats to their own supremacy to draw in traitors? This required more investigation. Very well, he decided, the help would find themselves in receipt of a night off in thanks for their service in the journey. From their number he would find his agent.
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[center][h3]Aboard the Oasis, off the shores of Ikesh[/h3]
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If in the north the Rea-Abi enjoyed a warm breeze and the budding of new flowers, off the shores of Ikesh it was a veritable holiday. The waters remained calm at anchor so close to the harbour of one of the very few settlements that straddled the shore of the island. Brilliant light warmed the blood and made it necessary for the Grand Vizier to spend most of the days under the shade of a canopy that had been erected over the top of the barge’s deck and allowed meals to be eaten at perfect comfort. The little coin they had was slowly trickling into the coffers of the nearby village as Saa’kaleed traded for the necessary supplies to remain at their meeting place for as long as possible. Days had turned to weeks and by now it appeared that the Aegiren party would not be arriving to discuss the dealings over the island. 

Whilst this had been an incredibly pleasing break from life in the capital, Faisal Hassan had lived with the specter of the future hanging over him like a cloud. His instructions had been reliant on the possibility to diplomatically find some solution to their impasse that would make a quiet and simple assumption of control over the island and the straits. Now, that seemed impossible with the failure of the other side to appear to have those discussions. That left him with the choice of settling to ignore the subject and report he had been unable to even pursue his task, or being more confrontational when playing his hand. Was this island worth fighting over? Certainly many of the coastal clans thought so. It was their distant cousins who now shared the settlements on Ikesh with other human colonists from the Aegire and formed a semi-independent state made toothless by the posturing of the divorced parent states.

The treaties with Arkronia had made all nascent seafarers across the continent, but even so the Abiat was remarkably ill developed by that standard. Once the Basa were landed control would be guaranteed, but if they made some move and the Aegire managed to intercept them at sea it would likely be a slaughter that he would never recover from in the eyes of the court. There had to be another way that didn’t bring them to outright war, but that would make the intentions of the Abiat quite clear. On the way back to the Abiat he might have more time to think about it, unless…

[color=c4df9b]“Captain! Prepare us to sail, and make for the port. I intend to land on Ikesh.”[/color] The outburst caused the ship to fall silent and all looked at him astonished, according to custom no official of his stature could land. [color=c4df9b] “Are we deaf aboard this vessel? I said to land! I intend to go ashore, Hashim?”[/color] The Grand Vizier turned looking for his closest agent. [color=c4df9b]“You said there is a group on the island who support annexation by the Abiat, correct?”[/color] The slight form of the lizard nodded his head reservedly.

[color=00746b] “Yes, Grand Vizier, but they are a minority. And another group support protectorate status from the Aegire. Most seem content to await for a peaceful solution and to accept what may come. Though, a unilateral occupation would likely polarize the people and radicalise both groups. What do you intend to achieve by landing?”[/color]

[color=c4df9b]“We are going to stay with some of our friends for a while, enjoy the cooler weather out here in the straits and try some local cuisine. We will observe and be present, though I want that to be clear before I set foot on the land. When we dock you will go to the houses of our supporters and find us accomodation, then I will disembark and make immediately for the house you have found. I am sure the Aegire will hear news of this soon enough, but it will take too long for the message to reach them before we have comfortably settled in and made contact with everyone who is sympathetic with the cause. Meanwhile a letter will be dispatched informing those remaining in the Abiat to prepare a punitive group. If the Aegire attempts to storm the island then our lives may be lost, but we can seek restitution from the crown, let us turn up the heat of these debates without resorting to an invasion. If the Aegire still fail to respond then the continent will know they no longer keep their claim to the straits and we can freely move in.”[/color]

[color=00746b] “You play with fire, Grand Vizier, what if the crown holds us accountable for this breach of tradition?”[/color]

[color=c4df9b]“By the time they can send anything to respond to us, we will have fermented the support we need. The crown are only good if this comes to a conflict, because their fleet will not be stopped. A diplomatic faux pas? I’m willing to take the risk we’ll be asked to evacuate at worst, and by then we will have achieved everything we need to.”[/color] Even as the Vizier planned the chain of the anchor was being ratcheted up and the prow of the ship was turning to face the small harbour of the seaside village. Soon the Abiat would have one of their highest ranking officials on the lands of Ikesh again, it was a gamble that could very well go wrong, but if the Grand Vizier was right then there was every chance he could maneuver around the Aegire.
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[@Trinais]
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[center][h3]The Bacchus Brew Tavern[/h3]
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There was a rasping cheer as the crowd of lizards pushed their way into the Tavern, jangling with the extra coin provided by the Rea-Abi for the evening’s entertainment. It had been an unexpected boon when he had generously given them all the night off as a reward for the journey and funded a debauched journey to the drinking holes of the Arkronian capital. Many had never left the palace, however, let alone the country and so the city was a total mystery. Thankfully Ksar Abdulh had journeyed here before and directed them to the Bacchus Brew Tavern, somewhere he quoted as the best place to drink away all the worries in the world. He hadn’t explained that it was a place dominated by the human servants of the Arkronians though, and the lizards were loathed to part as a group, even feeling more unwelcome than before as they caught the glares of the few patrons of the place. Even so, Ksar convinced them to stay, paying for a round first out of his own pocket.

This wasn’t the only place the lizardfolk were visiting, but it was one Ksar had convinced a crowd to go to. He hoped given the spread of his people this night that agents following them might be divided and he’d be able to meet with whomever the contact was without drawing the attention of the crown. [color=7bcdc8]“The largest drink you have, please. For us, the forgotten tribe.”[/color] He hissed to the man behind the counter, paying for his drink and the round with a purse. Taking the flagon provided he nodded as the man pointed to a small alcove in the back of the tavern. It was the third drinking house they’d visited and Ksar pulled up his hood and made his way to the alcove, confident his fellow lizards would be caught up in drink and the haze of the drinks they had had to even notice his slipping away.
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[@Milkman]