Ahmed ibn-Faruk
Ahmed ibn-Faruk (born 1616, death unknown) was a Babkhi officer of the Leonid Guard who rose from the ranks of the Leonid Guard to command the garrison on Zy-Rodun. Once regarded as one of the most loyal officers in the service of Kaiseress Noor, his career ended in infamy after he secretly released Adam Anushiruwân from his restraints prior to the latter's murder of the Kaiseress on Ura'Bos on 15.IV.1650.
Early life
Ahmed ibn-Faruk was born in 1616 into a Babkhi family in Alalehzamin. Little is known of his early life, although contemporary accounts describe him as physically imposing and gifted with exceptional strength. He entered the Leonid Guard while still a young man and quickly gained a reputation for discipline, reliability, and personal courage.
Service under Noor
By 1635 Ahmed had been assigned to the personal protection of Queen Noor, then Queen of Goldshire and consort of King Noah of Elwynn. He regarded his sovereign with profound admiration and developed an intensely personal, though entirely unspoken, devotion towards her. Ahmed struggled to reconcile his youthful attraction to the Queen with the reverence he believed her office demanded, eventually suppressing his feelings in favour of absolute professional loyalty.
During the crisis surrounding the exposure of Dr Abdullah al-Zaraqi and his network within the Tokaray al-Osmani Hospital in 1635, Ahmed formed part of the Leonid Guard detachment assigned to Noor's protection. Although ordered away from her immediate presence during the operation, Noor is recorded as having expressed disappointment that her "Ahmed" was not accompanying her when she departed under the protection of the Fleur de Lys-Longships Guard, suggesting that she had come to regard the young guardsman as one of her most trusted protectors, and, indeed favourites.
Ahmed remained in the Leonid Guard during the following years and continued to advance steadily through the officer corps. By 1638 AN he had attained the rank of Major and commanded the Leonid garrison stationed on Zy-Rodun, where he successfully directed the defence of the island during Exercise Mulcher, a major military exercise intended to evaluate the readiness of Shirerithian forces against a simulated amphibious invasion.
Ura'Bos and the murder of Noor
Following the outbreak of the Civil War in Goldshire, Ahmed left the main Leonid formations and was eventually assigned to the remote prison installation on Ura'Bos, where Adam Anushiruwân was held in confinement.
On 15.IV.1650, shortly before Noor's visit to inform Adam of his death sentence, Ahmed secretly released the prisoner from his restraints and supplied him with a concealed knife. According to later testimony, Adam had promised Ahmed rapid promotion and high office should he cooperate, while simultaneously threatening him with severe consequences should he refuse. Ahmed afterwards remained outside the meeting chamber while Adam murdered his mother.
Later accounts portray Ahmed as deeply conflicted over his actions. He was observed weeping while standing guard outside the room, fully aware that he had betrayed both his sovereign and the woman to whom he had devoted much of his adult life.
The exact circumstances of Ahmed's own fate remain uncertain.
