One Profitable Meeting

Inside the conference room, two men sat in their respective corners with a small party of armed guards in their shadows. Word of the attacks turned the space into a silent war zone. Anything could happen yet there was nothing that could be done. So the two remained silent.

Ghanim had his eyes glued to a book flipping sporadically through the pages. Several scraps filled with notes, numbers, and currency symbols littered his space. His eyes were weighted down with bags picked up from an over alerted night. With a pen in hand, heavy scribbling cut through the heavy air despite the occasional look from Artarushu.

For Artarushu, he rested his hands over his mouth, clasped. His eyes drifted around the room, not letting a single movement escape. So when he eventually came across Ghanim, he struggled to move on. There was no pattern to the man's pointless scribbling. However, he did not the one to inject words into the atmosphere first. So brief glares were the only tool in his arsenal to signal his disappointment.

Ghanim lowered his book to ease his heavy eyes up at the two newcomers to the meeting. Achaemenes familiar and pleasant sight to see. Had the events of late not been so dire, the man would have gladly left the company of his own shadow to shake hands with him. The best he could do was give the man a small smile. That formality would erase away with the introduction of that woman. Who she was did not matter.

"Zubaidah Mansur, Zubaidah Mansur..." The man picked up his pen and tapped it on the table feinting ignorance of the name. In truth he had been briefed on this woman about a dozen times now. It was impressive how quickly she had grown to influence her Ash Company. It was unfortunate that such praise did not bring one to the top. "I recall reading a scroll or two with that name."

"Nonsense Ghanim, games are for private meetings. Let us speak more openly today. Its not everyday the three of us come together, especially for something more... interesting." Artarushu had put on his smile well before Achaemenes came into sight. "Lady Mansur, I must apologize in advance. I'm sure you are aware of our situation. Some find it harder to take on anything new when your gambling blood not coin."

Ghanim shot a glare at Artarushu. "Games or not, I fail to see how you or Achaemenes could be so joyful over this. Now would be the perfect chance for something to happen. With an outsider in the mix, I really do hope see some sanity in this." The man's breathing quickened but a female assistant rested her hand on his shoulder before placing a silver tray with matching cup and plate of grapes with cheese cubes. "But yes, let's get to the point Lady of Ash Company."

With a sip of his cup, he snapped his fingers and 3 more trays with matching arrangements made their way to the other parties. "I won't waste our time with games. Expansion never hurts the prepared. Unlike Artarushu, I am always prepared. However, I fail to see what the Ash company has that either of us three doesn't in regards to our tax and thief issue. Had you not rode here with Achaemenes, I would have seen you out here and now."

Artarushu clapped at the end of Ghanim's little speech. "Wonderfully said. Except the parts that weren't but this isn't about envious you are of my growth. I personally love the idea, but Ghanim is right. I can get ideas from those in the slums dirt cheap. Details are the main course here my lady. Though I do enjoy dessert first. What are these incentives?"

The two representatives watched Zubaidah with polar opposite expressions. Ghanim wore a disassociated, dismissive mask while Artarushu’s smile just continued to grow off his face. Despite her essay of a speech, the idea was simple. Build up other roads through underutilized cities, develop the areas to create proper structure, and defend these routes which would have a much lower difficulty of managing. Sure it probably would work. Ghanim had scribed several numbers on a scrap of paper but he was not sold yet.
“Do you have documentation supporting these ideas? Studies? Surveys? Names?”

An assistant stepped forward to the leader of the Ash Company to collect whatever the woman was willing to give. Should the woman hand over what Ghanim requested, he would begin reviewing the works with a much more amused expression. Should the woman decline to share, his mask would evolve into something more disapproving.

Artarushu would be amused either way but if a copy was made available to him, he would pass it back to one of his own assistants in the back. “This is all so fascinating. But, I’m afraid I don’t do charity work.”
“Of course Artarushu but it's easy to coup back such cost.”
“That’s only if you can find someone with the right mind.”
“Minds can be built with enough coin.”
“I still have some reservations.”
“There are two points here… Care to make a wager?”
“Let's wait till I hear this incentive.”

The reveal of the Hashashin changed everything. Ghanim’s slammed his hands on the table dropping his pen and riling up his entourage. He quickly raised his hand, signaling his people to stand down while sharing the grin of a young boy meeting his favorite arthur. Stars glittered from his face as he felt for his pen which would be shortly passed to him by an assistant. “I fear I have no better reason to refute this idea on the grounds of security. How much are you paying them? Are they for hire? I'm sure I can find room in my budget to keep one or two on my personal staff.”

Artarushu on the other hand dropped his smile. “I doubt it was money that won The Ash Company the support of a fairy tale.” The man stood up watching as his other stumbled back into his chair. Ghanim became flustered by Artarushu's truth but Artarushu didn’t smile. [Something Achaemenes could pick up on]

“This alone should guarantee your plan’s success… I’m glad I allowed this meeting to happen.” The man would then snap his fingers and a thick smoke would erupt from the darkness behind him. Ghanim’s people would be quickly swallowed and incapacitated them while the man was stuck rubbing his eyes. “Artarushu. Please… tell me this is one of your games.”