The Wrath of the Unchained-Chapter 120 - Bound by Light

The meeting with the Portuguese emissaries was finally over. Now, Emperor Gelawdewos called a private council, gathering his nobles to officially introduce Khisa and settle the matter once and for all.

For months, the Emperor had been quietly consolidating power—replacing minor nobles with loyal men, sniffing out dissent, uprooting corruption like weeds in his garden. But the roots ran deep. His own brother remained unchecked, a puppet master still pulling strings in the dark. Soon, those strings would be cut permanently.

In the imperial meeting hall, the tension was thick as smoke.

"Why would you refuse the deal?" one noble burst out. "With Portuguese support, this war could be over! All it takes is a few damn slaves."

"Your Majesty, please rethink your position," another added. "Yes, protecting civilians is noble, but Abyssinia must survive. Sacrificing a few to save many—this is leadership."

"Yes!" another voice joined. "They’ll give their lives gladly, for the prosperity of our kingdom."

Murmurs of agreement rippled through the room, tinged with outrage and desperation.

"And who is this child, anyway?" a noble sneered, nodding toward Khisa. "Why was a boy speaking for the King during our talks with Portugal? Why are we allowing children to speak for our empire?"

The Emperor raised his hand. Silence followed.

"Finally, you shut up," Gelawdewos said coolly. "This is Prince Khisa, delegate of the Kingdom of Nuri. He has already done more for our survival than most of you in this room. I’ll explain that shortly.

"But first—let me make one thing clear. We rejected the Portuguese for our own survival. The deal they proposed? It only benefits them. They offer weapons, but they won’t fight. They sit safely on their ships while we bleed. And what do they ask in return? Control of our ports. Permission to build foreign military bases. Trade routes for our slaves and our gold. So I ask you—where does that leave us?"

The room quieted.

"You cry for aid, but have no foresight," the Emperor continued. "What happens after we win the war with their help? They will bleed us dry, and we’ll have no strength to resist. Our people sold, our lands leased out for coin, our sovereignty shattered. You think you are clever merchants, but you’re nothing more than pawns offering your kingdom up for pennies. And for what? Riches? What riches will remain when Portugal marches their army inland? When they take our people—the very hands who farm, build, and serve—and sell them off?"

He stood now, his voice rising.

"This is why we are mocked as barbarians. We betray our own for a pouch of coin. We bicker instead of build. But no more. Those Portuguese ships will never again dock in Abyssinia."

One of the nobles hesitated before speaking. "But... what if they join the Ottomans? Will we survive a three-pronged assault?"

"If they send the full force of their navy, we won’t," Khisa answered. "But they won’t. Portugal cares for profit, not principle. With the Ottomans, they gain little—restricted trade, contested control. They want dominance, not diplomacy. They’ll wait.

"And when this war is won—and it will be won—they will try again. But by then, we will be strong enough to push them from the Indian Ocean altogether."

The room stilled again.

"How sure are you?" a noble asked, squinting at the young prince.

"No plan is foolproof," Khisa admitted. "But this is the strategy I’d use in their position. Exploit your enemy’s greed and short-sightedness. Portugal is blinded by its hunger. Now is our time to act."

"Your Majesty," another noble pressed, "we still don’t understand his true motivation. If he’s a prince, what does he gain?"

"We are forming an alliance with the Kingdom of Nuri," Gelawdewos said. "A strategic and beneficial one."

"Please explain the terms."

The Emperor unfurled a parchment and began to read.

Treaty of Eternal Light: Terms of the Nuri-Abyssinia Alliance

I. Mutual Defense & Security

1. Collective Defense Pact: An attack on one shall be considered an attack on both. Joint forces will mobilize in mutual defense.

2. Military Support Clause: Nuri agrees to supply military aid (weapons, advisors, and tactical support) to Abyssinia for the next 10 years, renewable upon review.

3. Training Exchange: Abyssinian soldiers may train at Nuri’s military academies; Nuri may send its officers to study Abyssinian terrains and guerilla tactics.

4. Shared Intelligence Network: Establishment of a joint intelligence council for threat monitoring, espionage countermeasures, and early warning systems.

II. Economic and Infrastructure Support

5. Reconstruction Aid: Nuri will provide skilled labor, brick-making technology, and engineering expertise to assist Abyssinia’s rebuilding process.

6. Joint Development Projects: Both nations will co-fund large-scale infrastructure (roads, bridges, irrigation), with profits or benefits split equitably.

7. Resource Sharing Agreement: Abyssinia may grant controlled access to certain raw materials (metals, herbs, etc.), while Nuri grants access to finished goods (tools, weapons, bricks).

III. Trade and Commerce freёnovelkiss.com

8. Trade Route Protection Pact: Both kingdoms pledge to safeguard each other’s caravans and merchants.

9. Tariff Fairness Accord: Agreed tariffs shall not exceed 5% on essential goods traded between the two nations.

10. Shared Markets Initiative: Special cross-border marketplaces will be established and taxed jointly, with equal business opportunities for both citizens.

IV. Political and Diplomatic Unity

11. Non-Aggression Clause: Neither nation shall take up arms or support conflict against the other, directly or indirectly.

12. Alliance Council: A joint council shall convene annually to review the state of the alliance, settle disputes, and make strategic plans.

13. Cultural Exchange Mission: Regular festivals, scholar exchanges, and artistic collaboration to foster unity between the people.

V. Long-Term Strategic Cooperation

14. Joint Technological Advancement Pact: Innovations in agriculture, medicine, weaponry, or architecture shall be shared to strengthen both realms.

15. Naval Ambitions Clause: If either nation establishes a naval presence, Abyssinia will provide port access in Red Sea-adjacent areas; Nuri will help build ships or fleets.

16. Emergency Clause: In times of famine, disease, or disaster, both nations pledge to share surplus supplies and medical aid within their capacity.

VI. Succession and Continuity

17. Heir Oath Pact: Future rulers of both nations shall reaffirm this treaty upon coronation.

18. Neutral Arbiter Protocol: If serious disputes arise, a neutral third kingdom respected by both shall act as arbitrator.

VII. Term & Reaffirmation

19. Duration: The alliance shall stand for 200 years, subject to review every 25 years by both ruling councils.

20. Sacred Binding: The treaty shall be sealed under oath before the gods and ancestors, and breaking it will bring dishonor and divine consequences.

VIII. Economic Integration and Currency Unification

21. Unified Currency Accord:

Nuri and Abyssinia agree to adopt a shared currency, the Nuru Solari meaning Light of the sun —to be used in all official trade, taxation, and cross-border transactions.

22. Joint Monetary Council (JMC):

A council composed of equal representatives from both kingdoms shall oversee the production, regulation, and value stability of the Nuru Solari. Decisions shall require a two-thirds majority to ensure fairness and mutual consent.

23. Currency Transition Period:

A transitional period of 5 years will be granted for both nations to phase out their current currencies and adopt the Solari, with Nuri providing logistical and technical support during the minting and distribution processes.

24. Minting & Reserve Agreement:

The first mint will be established in Nuri for security and speed; a second mint will be built in Abyssinia within 10 years. Gold, silver, and grain reserves from both kingdoms will back the Nuru Solari, with regular audits to maintain trust.

25. Anti-Counterfeit & Stability Measures:

Both kingdoms shall establish a Currency Protection Bureau to combat forgery, stabilize inflation, and coordinate responses to economic crises affecting the Solari. Forgery will be considered a crime against both crowns. The Currency Protection Bureau will preserve the purity of the currency and uphold trust in its value.

26. Design and emblem mandate:

The Nuru Solari shall bear the crest of both kingdoms, Nuri’s rising sun and and Abyssinian’s sacred tree on either face. Along the edge shall be inscribed the words: "Bound by Light, One in purpose."

As he recited the terms—military aid, joint trade routes, shared intelligence—discontent rippled through the hall again.

"I find these terms very favorable," Gelawdewos said. "Especially since we have little to offer right now. This deal, once signed, takes effect immediately."

He paused, scanning the faces around him.

"Before you voice more protests, consider this: Prince Khisa has saved hundreds—thousands—since he arrived. He’s rebuilt our navy in Assab. Because of him, our army could redirect its strength inland. Two major slave camps were destroyed thanks to his intel and strategy. The weapons we now hold? Stolen from Ottoman vessels by Khisa himself. Just yesterday, Nuri sent a shipment of improved weapons and a squad of elite soldiers to bolster our eastern front.

"So before you reject this alliance, give me a list of your own accomplishments. If any rival what Khisa has done—then I will consider alternative paths."

The silence that followed was bitter.

Many nobles clenched their teeth, humiliated. They had nothing. Most had only ever lined their own pockets, hiding behind old bloodlines and privilege.

One noble bowed stiffly. "I trust your judgement, Your Majesty."

The others followed, muttering reluctant agreements.

The alliance document was signed. One copy for Khisa. One for Emperor Gelawdewos.

A new dawn was rising.

This was the beginning of something powerful.

Not just an alliance—

But a promise.