Chapter 6: Jadid
A man in dark robes rode the back of a stallion into the city of
Istanbul. He was not Arabian, his complexion was lighter and his long
hair gray. Over one eye was a patch. The people stared at him as he
passed. Guards were alert to his presence, but none stopped him.
Workings diligently rebuilt the city all around him as rubble was
carted away.
After
a long ride he came to the gates of the palace and dismounted his
steed. A guard approached him, weapon ready.
“Who
approaches the Palace of Sultan Mehmed the Second?”
The
man smiled, “I am called Ambassador Jadid, I wish an audience with
your Sultan?”
The
guard was joined by several others. “No one sees the Sultan without
proper appointment. Your name does not mean anything to us. Who sent
you?”
“I
work for a small organization, I only wish to offer a gift to honor
the victor.”
The
guard pushed his spear into Jadid’s face, “Speak with a
magistrate, do not presume...”
Jadid
gave them a fierce look and said in a booming voice, “Take me to
the Sultan!”
Their
eyes glazed over and they stood back. The leader said, “At once.”
Jadid
removed a large bag from his horse, handed the stallion over to a
stablemaster, and then followed the bewitched guards into the palace.
Sultan
Mehmed had only just returned to his throne room when the news of a
visitor came to him. He called his guards and courtiers to meet this
stranger. Jadid was presented by the guards and he bowed in respect
to the throne.
“Who
is this?” Mehmed demanded.
The
guard said, “He calls himself Ambassador Jadid.”
“Jadid?”
The Sultan said and then gasped, “I have heard that name before.
You represent a small group of clerics who help negotiate peace and
settle disputes.”
“Yes,
my order has done this. Today, I just wish to honor you and show
support for your leadership of Constantinople.”
“Istanbul.”
“Right,
forgive me. Istanbul.”
“Ah,
then present your gift.”
Jadid
pulled a parchment out of his pack and presented it in proper
fashion. The Sultan took the parchment and opened it. He read it, “A
caravan of supplies is enroute from...Rome...”
“Yes,
that is where I am currently working. My order of clerics resides
there.”
“And
I see these supplies are for the people.”
“To
help in the rebuilding. We know how destructive this war has been. We
honor you by helping your people. Does this please you?”
Sultan
Mehmed looked around his courtiers for a second and then smiled, “I
accept this gift. It is most welcome at this time.”
“I
am honored by your graciousness.” Jadid bowed.
“Come,
you may stay here in the palace until you are ready to leave. Perhaps
you can assist some of my diplomats in preparing to speak with
leaders of the cities we have recently...acquired.”
Jadid
nodded, “Negotiation for peace is one of my primary skills, I would
be glad to assist.”
“Good,
good. A servant will show you to your quarters.”
Jadid
was joined by a young man who led him away from the room. He insisted
on carrying his own bag.
***
Jinn
waited in his room, still eating from that basket of fruits and nuts.
The look on his face was a mix of anger and fear. He would pop
another item in his mouth and chew while he stared at the door. After
several hours, and one empty basket, he finally stopped the constant
staring.
“Who
am I to be scared of anyone!” He declared and stood up.
Walking
over to the window again he looked out to the city that was now
bathed in moonlight. Gazing at the stars he began to search for ones
he had visited before. He recalled his days before his people came to
this world, the days of running and hiding. Out there, among the
stars, they were refugees from Legion. Their amazing power is not so
amazing to the advanced people they met. Legion no longer feared them
as they once did. A fire burned in his blood as he recalled those
times. Filthy and stinking, he crawled in the underbelly of
spaceports and dirty old cities. Here, he was a god among bugs.
“Quite
the view.” A new voice startled him.
Jinn
whipped around and found Jadid standing there, casually looking at
him. “How did you sneak up on me!”
“Just
like yourself, I have secrets that I keep about me.”
“I
should call the guards.” Jinn made a motion to go for the door.
“Really?
I am a guest here as well. What would you charge me with?”
Jinn
had a flush over his skin, he felt something different about this
person. He didn’t like him. So, he decided to scare him off. “I
am not one to toy with, little man.” He snapped his fingers and the
lamps all lit and blazed high.
“Nice
trick.” Jadid casually commented.
The
lamps settled down to normal as Jinn came closer to this man, “Just
as I thought. You aren’t like the others here, but I do not
recognize your face. Though, my own friends would not recognize me
for how I have changed.”
“I
know who you are, Jinn. I have been watching you.”
“Oh,
you have.” Jinn flicked his hand up and Jadid was lifted from the
ground.
Jadid
calmly, but firmly said in that booming voice, “Release me!”
Unable
to resist that command, Jinn let him go. He stumbled back and held
his head, “What...what did you do to me?”
“That
is not your concern. You should be more worried about why I am here.
Lord Dragon and Lady Phoenix are not pleased with you.”
Jinn
scoffed, “So, they sent you. My own people are coming to check on
me. I have not violated any of the rules they set out for us. We are
to help these pitiful humans and that is what I am doing.”
“From
the shadows. The order was to give them minor guidance, not overthrow
entire empires for them.”
“I
didn’t overthrow anyone. I merely helped the inevitable.” Jinn
stated, “This Ottoman Empire was going to conquer the Byzantines
eventually, I just...helped it along.”
“You
can’t play games with words. It is obvious what you’ve been up
to.”
Jinn
sat down on his throne of pillows and said, “How did you even know
what I’ve been up to?”
Jadid
left the room for a moment and returned with a shepherd's staff, “I
found this, fifty years ago. I tracked it back to you.”
“The
little shepherd boy.”
“Yes.
I sensed magic in this and knew it was not of this world.”
Jinn
raged, “It was his! Not yours to take!”
Jadid
shook his head, “Your actions have consequences. Inspired by his
prowess as a fighter, that boy grew up and became a warrior for the
Ottoman Empire. He died in battle. His family were killed when the
Byzantines raided their village. This was left in the rubble of their
lives.”
“I
am not responsible for his choices.” Jinn said, though his tone had
grown grim.”
Jadid
continued, “It did not take me long to locate you. I reported you
to Lord Dragon and he asked me to provide him updates.”
“Spying
on me. Typical.” Jinn scoffed, “I know I bent the rules back
home, but I have been doing everything according to their rules here.
And, don’t lecture me about hiding in the shadows. Lord Dragon and
Lady Phoenix are worshiped as gods over their part of this world. You
can’t tell me that is what they wanted from us?”
Jadid
nodded, “I have had my concern about that as well. However, Lord
Dragon and Lady Phoenix have offered wisdom and guidance at times of
need. Otherwise, they have let the humans take care of themselves.
You, on the other hand, have situated yourself in the presence of a
ruler. You are as much a ruler of this Empire as the Sultan himself.
Lord Dragon is not pleased with this.”
“What
does he know? The Ottomans have done pretty good on their own.”
“Really.
So, it wasn’t you who threw the ruling family of this Ottoman
Empire into chaos when you didn’t like the son chosen to take the
throne?”
“That
was just a little interference. They needed a shaking up, that’s
all.”
Jadid
gestured out the window, “What about sending the black plague to
this city?”
“Okay,
so I decided to weaken them a little. They were gaining too much
strength, my plans for conquest...”
“Your
plans?”
Jinn
realized what he had said, “The Sultan's plans. They are mine as
well, I am his advisor on military matters.”
“Jinn.
I am not here to remove you from this place or to take away anything.
Lord Dragon would want me to bring you back to him for a few lessons
on how to behave around humans. But, Lady Phoenix convinced him to
let me tell you that you are being watched. Your actions will be
taken into account. Step back now and let history write itself. Do
you understand?”
Jinn
nodded, “I think so. I am being given yet another chance.” He
spent a long moment thinking about this. “Fine, under one
condition.”
“What
is that?”
“Don’t
watch so closely. I don’t want to feel that I need to look over my
shoulder at all times. I deserve some freedom.”
“I
will keep an eye on this empire, but I will agree to step back a
little. Just know that wrong behavior will be punished. This is not
your world, it is the humans, you are here as their guest.”
“Tell
the Lord and Lady I will behave.”
“That
is all they ask.” Jadid bowed and turned to leave.
“Wait.”
Jinn stopped him, “You haven’t told me who you are?”
“My
name is Jadid.”
“Jadid
is an Arabic word, that is an interesting name even among these
people. And, you don’t appear to be one of them.”
“Well,
my name here is Jadid, it means the same thing as the name I am
called where I am from.”
“And,
what is that?”
He
smiled and turned to leave, “They call me Nova.”
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