Let's move on to internal affairs before making any decisions

"Have these talks of foreign affairs be noted for review at a later time", you commanded as the royal scribes who sat at the farthest part of the room able to hear the conversation clearly due to the architectural marvel of the room allowing the voices in near the the throne can be heard all across the room. "In the meantime let us delve into the internal matters of the kingdom, I'm sure there's plenty of problems that need addressing here at home, are there not?

"Yes your majesty, now that you mention it, this Year's Great Caravan heading towards Itheria will be stopping by here to rest, resupply, and make room for our caravan merchants to join them", Said Mabis Nal, jumping in before anyone else could grab your attention, much to the annoyance of Fashuum. "Provided they are on schedule, they will arrive within a few weeks, which gives us time to prepare to welcome them and properly send them off with our own escort within the kingdom's borders. As well as prepare the merchants here that are planning to join the caravan for expansionary trade service that only our empire could provide in the continent, so logistics and security will be crucial."

You nod your head in concession to the merchants point. The Great Caravan was as ancient tradition of the empire even before it was an empire, when the local pocket kingdoms gathered and traveled down that Rich Trade Route to compete against their rivals in foreign trade and commerce outside the dessert region. There was an unspoken truce where nowhere would threaten or sabotage the other while traveling on the same road. This interesting enough was among the first stepping stone to uniting the divided kingdoms into the unified empire that it is today, so it is as much an anniversary celebration as it is a business delivery. So making sure it arrives and leaves your new kingdoms borders safely and efficiently is a chief responsibility for all sultans whose kingdoms the Caravan visits, not to mention the profit from trade, commerce and deals made by their own respective merchants as part of the contribution to the caravan. As the merchants profit, so do their represented kingdoms within the empire, added all together the whole empire prospers.

Of course it's also one of the empires most vulnerable assets, as many had discovered. Over the centuries, the Great Caravan has had it's fair share of attacks by bandits, or mercenaries, and even pirates. So the Grand Sultan decreed that the Great Caravan would have a security detail at all times, starting from his own personal forces at the imperial capitol of Agrabah, where the Caravan begins. From there every Kingdom they stop and visit will add members of their own guard, some for the whole trip, while most only to escort them within their own kingdoms borders. This has proven quite effective at this point, more so now than ever since you yourself gained the friendship and loyalty of the majority of the Beastman tribes across dessert, many have taken it upon themselves to act as watchmen and scouts across the the whole Trade Route making it that much more effective in safeguarding the Caravan, it's people and valuable goods.

Seems rather fitting that this is one of the first big things in the Kingdom to test yourself with, and their are quite a few options you can handle it. You look across the court and gauge the court. The look of glee and excitement of Mabis Nal is not really surprising as representative of the common people and merchant guild, not to mention the one who brought it to your attention, while Fashuum was annoyed at losing your attention and to his personal and political rival no less, he took a few breaths to calm himself and gained a dangerous gleam in his one eye, no doubt planning some cunning means to use this new subject to gain favor and/or glory. Iaga was getting all misty eyes, no doubt lost in thought of all the wondrous and valuable things that is sure to be in the caravan, such as cloth, food, jewelry, and mechanical marvels never seen in anywhere else in the world (so far as the empire is concerned, considering they are not aware of any other country building and crafting anything like the machines and devices they make here). Uba had a look of nostalgia, no doubt from her previous times travelling in the caravan, not to steal anything as you recall but to prevent anything from being stolen mostly from those within, she made it part of her code that the Great Caravan was something she would never steal from, knowing that to steal from it would be robbing from all the people of the empire whether richer and most especially poorer, that was one of the greatest lessons she taught you in the streets and you have always admired her for it ever since, and are looking forward to doing her proud. Ginny didn't seem to care as much as she was about the foreign affairs and paying close attention to the possible queen candidates, no doubt thinking of meeting them and/or taking their form to entice you later sometime come bedtime, so she busies herself playing with Iaga's head plumage while the avian women is distracting in her avarice thoughts. Rajah, your captain of the guard, became even stiffer in his stance, yet his eyes conveyed excitement and eagerness, you suspect he's holding himself in check for the sake of professionalism and not speak himself out of term in front of you now that something just right withing his expertise is now the core of discussion. Vienna is looking more interested and curious towards you, wondering what your going do with this and figure you out, your speculate. Harud seems to be more wary of the merchant and the noble, fair enough you suppose. After all it's quiet clear that their aims and agendas are the exact opposite of the other, if this rivalry of their's escalates beyond this court it could lead to civil unrest, even civil war. Your going to have figure something out, but that was a discussion and decision to be had outside of court. In the meantime, back to the matter at hand.

"A valid point Director Nal, Amorabah has been known to be the shining beacon in the eyes of the empire in all things, including it's participation in the Great Caravan and this year should be no different", you say in as much as a regal voice as you can muster, still getting use to your role. "Would I be too presumptuous in assuming you yourself have worked out the logistics and Rajah the security for their arrival and departure?"

"Oh indeed your highness, the captain and I have made preparations in advance before your coming accession, the many of the merchants are ready and supplied, much of the city is preparing and eagerly awaiting to welcome them in celebration and the Captain has made all the necessary security arraignments, even Fashuum has convinced the nobles to supply their own personal security forces", The Head Merchant conceded, even if a bit grudgingly when mention the noble who chose to simply smile and nod.

"This is all true your highness", The Tiger man on your left said, as he bowed slightly in conformation but as he brought his head back up his eyes bore concern. "However I feel it is my duty to inform you that there is an... issue that should be addressed immediately."

"Yes I was getting to that", interjected Mabis Nal in a more subdued manner. "It seems I am not the only member among the merchants guild that has gotten a taste of ambition, profit, and glory. Such that they are planning to break off from the Caravan into a detour away from the trade route to do business in more harsher lands such as Undrek, make their way up the mountains near the Frostpeaks, and eventually rejoin the main caravan in Itheria."

Well now, that is a problem, splitting out of the main caravan is a risky move, as it divides the security detail and makes the both the larger caravan and the coming apart splinter all the more vulnerable. On another hand there's not much you can do to stop these merchants from trying, short of a direct order which they may or may not follow or brute force which is the last thing you would ever wish to resort to. Not to say you don't understand the motive behind this dangerous course of action, you understand the potential profits in trade relations in such places as Undrek and the Frostpeaks and all in between, which if done right could bridge an opening to an alliance, official or otherwise with, since those kingdoms are not as loyal or properly aided by the by their sovereign nation. Then again it isn't the motive that is the problem but rather the risk involve, other then endangering the whole caravan to attack and thinning the security force or risk the force abandoning them on thier own in some of the most inhospitable and treacherous area in all of Montania and that's only considering the land ouside the lands of Frostpeak mountains or the swamp lands of Undrek. That's just the terrain, never mind the band of bandits and fiends that no doubt plague the area and any wayward traveler. Then of course is the fact that their failure and loss would reflect poorly on you and your newfound rule, and your standing competance in the eyes of your father and the empire, and let's not forget your Rebel half-brother Ishmalis would use it a means to bolster his claims of him being the rightful ruler.

Needless to say, assuming these merchants are going through with this plan of theirs, your best course of action would be to support their decision and if anyone asks, tell them it was under your authority and protection and if the stars align you'll gain much for it all, hopefully to overcompensate the cost.

You look at Iaga, and sure enough she got her focus back and you can see the look in her eyes, and she looks at you and knows what your thinking with a devious and sly smile.

"I have a solution to this that should provide the benefit above the risk, but before I do is there any other issues internal issues that require my attention?", you asked.

Everyone but your friends looked at you with confusion as well as curiosity, so they responded.