Rumi Calendar 1322A.H. (Gregorian Calendar 1906)
Altan pulled up his sword to block the latest hit from Yildiz. Then he twirled around and tried to cut into her right side only to have it blocked and have to quickly back-step to avoid another oncoming hit from his friend's sword. It never failed to surprise him how often Yildiz succeeded at shattering all his expectations on what a woman should be like. Thinking on the endless supply of suitors that ran away when she pulled her blade against them, he thought that he at least got out lucky. Then all thoughts vanished as he ducked to avoid another blow.
He then jumped up and tried to do a frontal, only to have her twirl away and then make a quick dash and slash for Altan's sword so that it was flung away from him and spun in the air before impaling itself to the hard ground. Yildiz then quickly charged so that her blade was barely an inch from her friend's neck.
"My win," proclaimed Yildiz before drawing her blade back into its sheath and flipping her long dark brown braided hair behind her.
"Means you owe me money," said Göker.
"Tsk," replied the aging Liwa Huseyin.
As if from nowhere Mostafa's head popped up in between them and said, "How many times do I have to tell you both that gambling is illegal in Islam?"
"Says the person who is here now because he lost a gamble," pitched in Yildiz.
"You're never going to let me forget that," responded Mostafa.
"What are friends for," replied Yildiz with a smile.
He shook his head and said, "Fine. We're all going to hell now. Happy?"
"Ecstatic," answered Yildiz.
"Are you two done acting like a married couple now," asked Altan.
"I wouldn't ever marry that," shouted the two in question while pointing at each other.
And as Yildiz and Mostafa started yelling at each other, Altan couldn't help but smile at these peaceful days. In a million years who would have thought he would gain not only allies, but friends that he could trust his life with. Life was good, but he knew that if he wanted the sultanate, these days would soon end.
"Cease your bickering," boomed the old general's voice and the two immediately stopped what was quickly becoming more of a wrestling match than an argument. Altan pondered which of the two would have one that fight. Physically Mostafa was stronger and there were few that could defeat him with or without a weapon, but Yildiz was much more quicker and flexible. It was a shame that Liwa Huseyin had stopped them before Altan could get his answer.
"Please do not make me separate you both like children," threatened Liwa Huseyin as he watched the both of them eyeing each other threateningly.
Both simultaneously broke their glares and faced straight ahead.
The general smiled, "Good. Now, Yildiz, what news is there?"
Yildiz sat in a comfortable position and said, "You've heard about the coronation of the new emperor in China, right?"
"Yes. My father will be gone for a while to watch the coronation and see what the Chinese are up to. Why," responded Altan.
"Well, there's news that he's really young. Only twenty-seven. Not only that, but immediately after taking the throne, he's been putting all these reforms in place. Well, it was odd that they even invited different countries because of their isolationist policies, but now the emperor is beginning to open up borders and invited everyone so that he could discuss trade agreements and the like. But these reforms are something else," replied Yildiz.
"What sort of reforms," asked Göker.
"My golden-haired friend, I'm glad you asked," started Yildiz and then she began ticking though her fingers while she continued, "He's outlawed the traditional foot-bindings as being too archaic, he's made it mandatory for all women in the major cities to attend school saying that his empire has no need for fools, and he's completely reorganized all his officials and high-ranking officers saying that he has no need for people who are incompetent."
"What an interesting man," commented Altan.
"I thought you'd like him. He's definitely someone you'll have to watch out for. The new emperor may be young, but he's by no means a fool. Also, how long until your father gets back," said Yildiz.
"It takes about 24 days to get from Istanbul to Beijing and coronation was four days ago so about twenty more days or so unless he decides to stay for a while," replied Altan.
Altan had long since given up trying to figure out how Yildiz and her father managed to get their information so fast. The only thing that mattered was that he had access to it so that if an opportunity ever presented itself, he could make his move to get his father's recognition and dispose of Rashid.
As he was thinking this, Yildiz let out an unladylike grin and said, "Excellent."
"Why don't I like that grin," asked Mostafa.
"Quiet because this one is going to really shock you guys...Have any of you ever heard of the Ottoman Liberty Society?"
All three men looked at each other in confusion.
"That's because they don't exist...yet," responded Yildiz.
"What do you mean by yet," asked Altan.
"In the year 1305, there was this big conspiracy among the students of different military and medical schools to overthrow Sultan Abdülhamid. Naturally, it was uncovered wherein some were executed and some fled," replied Yilidiz.
"He didn't ask for a history lesson," interjected Mostafa.
"I was getting to the good part. According to my father's network, while the sultan is away playing nice to the Chinese, these traitors are reconvening in Salonika, Greece for a more organized front against the sultanate," finished Yildiz.
"So a revolt," said Göker.
"And here I was thinking that things were too quiet around here," put in Mostafa.
"So what would you have us do, your highness," asked Liwa Huseyin.
"Liwa Huseyin, lend me your men. Tonight we leave for Greece," responded Altan.
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