town for discussions with his daughter and they could not be disturbed.
An hour later Ali Kasim showed up at the door to the mansion with his bodyguard. Borundi showed him in and explained that Stafa Rakech had, at last, left and Miriam was now available to speak with him. He ushered Ali Kasim into a study where Miriam sat crying.
The anger drained out of the Sultan as he tried to comfort Miriam. “What is the problem? Why are you crying so?”
“My father does not approve of my seeing you,” she blubbered. “He thinks that you lack the finesse of a true ruler and that you will be deposed before long.”
His anger rising again, the Sultan spoke. “How dare he speak against the Sultan of Sordoa? Who does your father think he is?”
Borundi stepped forward and addressed the Sultan. “If I may, Your Highness? Stafa Rakech is the richest man in the world, far richer than the entire nation of Sordoa. He has made Kings and Presidents and broken them, as well. I believe he has already chosen the next President of Cordonia, but I think he has little interest in the affairs of Sordoa. He is speaking as a father to his only daughter and heir. Please do not direct your anger of him toward my mistress. She suffers enough at his harsh words without the anger of someone Miriam cherishes being added to her misery.”
Ali Kasim flinched at the words from the normally silent attendant. He nodded to Borundi and rose. As he walked to the front door of the mansion, he whispered to Borundi. “I wish your Mistress to join me for dinner this evening. I will avoid adding to her grief if you will spare me a few moments of your time this afternoon before she arrives.”
Borundi agreed and the Sultan’s entourage left for the Royal Palace. Half an hour later Borundi showed up at the Royal Palace and was shown to the Sultan’s chamber.
“Your Highness wishes to speak with me?” bowed Borundi.
The Sultan waved Borundi to a chair. “I wish to know more of this Stafa Rakech. My intelligence bureau has failed to turn up anything of substance that this person even exists. “
“As it should be, Your Highness,” commented Borundi. “Stafa Rakech dislikes public appearances. In fact, he dislikes appearances of any type. Most of his business dealings are done through intermediaries and he is quick with punishment to those who betray his trust or fail in his endeavors. Unlike nations, he does not require a court or a public hearing before issuing an execution order. If I were to disclose too much, I would be forfeiting my life. However, because of your closeness to my Mistress, I will attempt to answer any of your questions that I may.”
“Can you arrange a meeting between Stafa Rakech and myself?” Ali Kasim asked.
“That would be impossible, Your Highness,” answered Borundi. “As I said, Stafa Rakech dislikes personal meetings. Besides, I believe my Mistress has already proposed such a meeting and he declined.”
“But why does he object to me seeing his daughter so much?” queried the Sultan. “I am a powerful ruler of one of the greatest nations of the world. Any other man would fear execution for refusing my invitation.”
“Stafa Rakech fears nothing, Your Highness,” replied Borundi. “It would cost a mere fraction of his wealth to raise an army of one hundred thousand men from every nation on the continent. I do not wish to be disrespectful to the Sultan, but it is not wise to even whisper ill intentions towards Stafa Rakech. As for why he objects to his daughter being seen in your company, that is simple. It is nothing personal to you, Your Highness. The title ‘Sultan’ carries the connotation of one with a harem and thus an office where women are held in low regard. If your title was, perhaps, ‘Emperor of Sordoa’ he would have much less dislike for the arrangement.”
The Sultan sat quietly for a while pondering Borundi’s words. He had adopted the title of Sultan because that was traditionally what the
An hour later Ali Kasim showed up at the door to the mansion with his bodyguard. Borundi showed him in and explained that Stafa Rakech had, at last, left and Miriam was now available to speak with him. He ushered Ali Kasim into a study where Miriam sat crying.
The anger drained out of the Sultan as he tried to comfort Miriam. “What is the problem? Why are you crying so?”
“My father does not approve of my seeing you,” she blubbered. “He thinks that you lack the finesse of a true ruler and that you will be deposed before long.”
His anger rising again, the Sultan spoke. “How dare he speak against the Sultan of Sordoa? Who does your father think he is?”
Borundi stepped forward and addressed the Sultan. “If I may, Your Highness? Stafa Rakech is the richest man in the world, far richer than the entire nation of Sordoa. He has made Kings and Presidents and broken them, as well. I believe he has already chosen the next President of Cordonia, but I think he has little interest in the affairs of Sordoa. He is speaking as a father to his only daughter and heir. Please do not direct your anger of him toward my mistress. She suffers enough at his harsh words without the anger of someone Miriam cherishes being added to her misery.”
Ali Kasim flinched at the words from the normally silent attendant. He nodded to Borundi and rose. As he walked to the front door of the mansion, he whispered to Borundi. “I wish your Mistress to join me for dinner this evening. I will avoid adding to her grief if you will spare me a few moments of your time this afternoon before she arrives.”
Borundi agreed and the Sultan’s entourage left for the Royal Palace. Half an hour later Borundi showed up at the Royal Palace and was shown to the Sultan’s chamber.
“Your Highness wishes to speak with me?” bowed Borundi.
The Sultan waved Borundi to a chair. “I wish to know more of this Stafa Rakech. My intelligence bureau has failed to turn up anything of substance that this person even exists. “
“As it should be, Your Highness,” commented Borundi. “Stafa Rakech dislikes public appearances. In fact, he dislikes appearances of any type. Most of his business dealings are done through intermediaries and he is quick with punishment to those who betray his trust or fail in his endeavors. Unlike nations, he does not require a court or a public hearing before issuing an execution order. If I were to disclose too much, I would be forfeiting my life. However, because of your closeness to my Mistress, I will attempt to answer any of your questions that I may.”
“Can you arrange a meeting between Stafa Rakech and myself?” Ali Kasim asked.
“That would be impossible, Your Highness,” answered Borundi. “As I said, Stafa Rakech dislikes personal meetings. Besides, I believe my Mistress has already proposed such a meeting and he declined.”
“But why does he object to me seeing his daughter so much?” queried the Sultan. “I am a powerful ruler of one of the greatest nations of the world. Any other man would fear execution for refusing my invitation.”
“Stafa Rakech fears nothing, Your Highness,” replied Borundi. “It would cost a mere fraction of his wealth to raise an army of one hundred thousand men from every nation on the continent. I do not wish to be disrespectful to the Sultan, but it is not wise to even whisper ill intentions towards Stafa Rakech. As for why he objects to his daughter being seen in your company, that is simple. It is nothing personal to you, Your Highness. The title ‘Sultan’ carries the connotation of one with a harem and thus an office where women are held in low regard. If your title was, perhaps, ‘Emperor of Sordoa’ he would have much less dislike for the arrangement.”
The Sultan sat quietly for a while pondering Borundi’s words. He had adopted the title of Sultan because that was traditionally what the
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