hours with the Royal Palace guards in the barracks. Borundi excused himself after the first few days and spent his time building the Black Devils and the Servants of Sarac. Soon Ali Kasim and Miriam Rakech were seen all over town shopping or sightseeing. Wherever they went the people crowded around and gazed at the couple -- quite the opposite of their reaction when the Sultan traveled by himself.
While having dinner at the Royal Palace one evening, Ali Kasim remarked on this aberration. “Have you noticed how the people flock around when we travel outside the Palace walls?”
“Who could miss it?” Miriam asked. “Why do you find their behavior strange?”
“It is not the same when I travel outside by myself,” he replied. “The people shun me and hide from my gaze when I am alone.”
Miriam chuckled because she knew that Borundi was behind the gazing crowd. He had arranged for the Black Devils and Servants of Sarac to learn when the Empress was going for walks and the people congregated to see the woman who would herald the return of Sarac.
“Ali, you have much to learn about ruling a nation. You, as Sultan, are much to be feared by the people. You are the absolute ruler of Sordoa and your very word could dictate their death. As such, you do not appear to be human to them and people fear that which is different. When you travel with me, you become human and loved by the people. It appears to the masses that you are indeed one of them who has been chosen to lead this great nation and they are happy for you.”
Ali Kasim reflected on Miriam’s words for a while before continuing. “You mean all I have to do to be loved by my people is be seen in public with a woman? That is ludicrous. Whether I walk with a woman or alone my power is the same. Surely they must understand that.”
“It is not just being seen with a woman,” retorted Miriam, “but being seen with me that delights them so. The same type of crowd assembles wherever I go. They know that I am one of them who has had the blessings of the gods bestowed upon her. I am wealthy beyond imagination, yet I shop at their stalls and eat in their inns. While I travel with my small bodyguard they are not afraid of me. They know the bodyguard is for my protection and not dangerous to them. When you travel with me, that love and affection is extended to you.”
Miriam took a sip of her wine and delighted in seeing the puzzled look on the Sultan’s face. “If you were to travel in the company of one of your harem, the people would scorn you. They would see her as your slave and your actions would be flaunting the thought that you could own any of them. Why not try it tomorrow and see if I am correct?”
“I shall do that,” remarked the Sultan. “Arrive for dinner tomorrow evening and we shall discuss the results of my trip.”
Miriam hurried back to the mansion and informed Borundi of the Sultan’s plan. Borundi immediately spread the word that the Sultan was going to parade one of his harem through the town tomorrow and if anyone gazed upon her, she would be executed at nightfall.
The Sultan took his trip through the marketplace and people turned their backs as he approached. His fury grew as street after street emptied upon his arrival. He stopped in an inn for lunch and the workers fled out the back door leaving no one to serve him. He had his guards seize a woman off the street to question her actions and the crowd grew ugly and started shouting. Immediately, the Captain of the Guard informed the Sultan that they had to return to the Palace for his protection. The Sultan had only twenty guards and a crowd of several hundred had gathered down the street. Mystified, the Sultan agreed and the party returned to the Royal Palace.
Upon returning to the Palace, Ali Kasim sent a messenger to the mansion to summon Miriam. Borundi met the messenger at the door and informed him that Miriam could not attend the Sultan. He explained that Stafa Rakech was in
While having dinner at the Royal Palace one evening, Ali Kasim remarked on this aberration. “Have you noticed how the people flock around when we travel outside the Palace walls?”
“Who could miss it?” Miriam asked. “Why do you find their behavior strange?”
“It is not the same when I travel outside by myself,” he replied. “The people shun me and hide from my gaze when I am alone.”
Miriam chuckled because she knew that Borundi was behind the gazing crowd. He had arranged for the Black Devils and Servants of Sarac to learn when the Empress was going for walks and the people congregated to see the woman who would herald the return of Sarac.
“Ali, you have much to learn about ruling a nation. You, as Sultan, are much to be feared by the people. You are the absolute ruler of Sordoa and your very word could dictate their death. As such, you do not appear to be human to them and people fear that which is different. When you travel with me, you become human and loved by the people. It appears to the masses that you are indeed one of them who has been chosen to lead this great nation and they are happy for you.”
Ali Kasim reflected on Miriam’s words for a while before continuing. “You mean all I have to do to be loved by my people is be seen in public with a woman? That is ludicrous. Whether I walk with a woman or alone my power is the same. Surely they must understand that.”
“It is not just being seen with a woman,” retorted Miriam, “but being seen with me that delights them so. The same type of crowd assembles wherever I go. They know that I am one of them who has had the blessings of the gods bestowed upon her. I am wealthy beyond imagination, yet I shop at their stalls and eat in their inns. While I travel with my small bodyguard they are not afraid of me. They know the bodyguard is for my protection and not dangerous to them. When you travel with me, that love and affection is extended to you.”
Miriam took a sip of her wine and delighted in seeing the puzzled look on the Sultan’s face. “If you were to travel in the company of one of your harem, the people would scorn you. They would see her as your slave and your actions would be flaunting the thought that you could own any of them. Why not try it tomorrow and see if I am correct?”
“I shall do that,” remarked the Sultan. “Arrive for dinner tomorrow evening and we shall discuss the results of my trip.”
Miriam hurried back to the mansion and informed Borundi of the Sultan’s plan. Borundi immediately spread the word that the Sultan was going to parade one of his harem through the town tomorrow and if anyone gazed upon her, she would be executed at nightfall.
The Sultan took his trip through the marketplace and people turned their backs as he approached. His fury grew as street after street emptied upon his arrival. He stopped in an inn for lunch and the workers fled out the back door leaving no one to serve him. He had his guards seize a woman off the street to question her actions and the crowd grew ugly and started shouting. Immediately, the Captain of the Guard informed the Sultan that they had to return to the Palace for his protection. The Sultan had only twenty guards and a crowd of several hundred had gathered down the street. Mystified, the Sultan agreed and the party returned to the Royal Palace.
Upon returning to the Palace, Ali Kasim sent a messenger to the mansion to summon Miriam. Borundi met the messenger at the door and informed him that Miriam could not attend the Sultan. He explained that Stafa Rakech was in
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