ruler of Sordoa was called, but he was not from the traditional line of leadership, anyway. Whether it pleased Stafa Rakech or not, the move to the title of Emperor might be a wise decision. It would, after all, stop the attempts of traditionalists from crying about the break in the Sultan’s lineage. He also had little use for his harem these days and he could always reinstate it later if he desired.
“You offer good advice, Borundi,” the Sultan offered. “I shall immediately change my title to Emperor and dismiss my harem.”
The Sultan rang a bell and called for his Advisors. He issued his orders and declared that runners go out to inform the nation that Emperor Ali Kasim now ruled Sordoa and that the nation would henceforth be called the Empire of Sordoa.
“Thank you for your advice, Borundi,” stated the Emperor. “Perhaps now Stafa Rakech will think more highly of me seeing his daughter.”
“I do hope so, Your Highness,” said Borundi. “I beg leave of my Mistress for this evening, though. I think it would be wise for her to have a day to recover from her father’s visit. May I tell her that you wish her company tomorrow at lunch?”
Ali Kasim was disappointed, but he saw the wisdom of Borundi’s advice. “Very well,” he conceded, “tomorrow for lunch, then. Let her know that my decisions were for her benefit.”
Borundi nodded and returned to the mansion. Borundi informed Miriam of the conversation and events that occurred at the Royal Palace.
Miriam laughed and said,” I think the time is now right, Borundi. We do work well together. Arrange for an especially large crowd of well-wishers tomorrow. I will arrange for a stroll through the marketplace.”
The next afternoon the Emperor and Miriam strolled through the marketplace. The people welcomed them like conquering heroes. Flowers were thrown before their feet and people bowed as they passed. Ali Kasim’s spirits had never been higher. When they returned to the Royal Palace, the Emperor ordered a lavish luncheon and entertainers for the afternoon. Ali Kasim felt like everything was going his way until he noticed the glum look on Miriam’s face.
“What is the problem, Miriam?” he inquired. “This is a day of great celebration and you appear as if you had just lost a dear friend.”
Miriam leaned over and kissed Ali Kasim. “I have, in fact, just lost a dear friend.”
The Emperor looked over and saw Borundi standing next to Miriam, a sad look upon his face. Borundi obviously had just delivered some disheartening news. “What news disturbs you?” the Emperor quizzed.
Miriam started to sob. After a few moments, she wiped her tears and embraced Ali Kasim. “My father sends word that I am to be wed to the next President of Cordonia, right after the elections.”
Ali Kasim hurled his goblet at the performers and the room fell silent. With a wave of his hand he dismissed the entertainers from the room. He took a moment to compose himself before he spoke. “Why has he done this? How could he have even arranged it on such short notice? Surely, he hasn’t even had time to reach Cordonia since he left here.”
Miriam broke down in tears and Borundi stepped up to the Emperor. “Your Highness, I fear that my advice to you may have been too late. I think her father was debating this move when he was here in Trekum and just made his mind up on the way to Cordonia. He fears that Miriam’s appearances with you will spoil her chance for her marriage to the President of Cordonia. I believe the potential groom has been pressuring for this wedding for some time. It would, of course, ensure him vast sums of wealth as Stafa Rakech is in extremely poor health and it is feared that he will not live much longer.”
Ali Kasim’s mind whirled with the plusses and minuses of losing Miriam or keeping her despite her father’s wishes. Finally, he realized that he could marry Miriam now and wait for her father to die. If he changed his mind later, he
“You offer good advice, Borundi,” the Sultan offered. “I shall immediately change my title to Emperor and dismiss my harem.”
The Sultan rang a bell and called for his Advisors. He issued his orders and declared that runners go out to inform the nation that Emperor Ali Kasim now ruled Sordoa and that the nation would henceforth be called the Empire of Sordoa.
“Thank you for your advice, Borundi,” stated the Emperor. “Perhaps now Stafa Rakech will think more highly of me seeing his daughter.”
“I do hope so, Your Highness,” said Borundi. “I beg leave of my Mistress for this evening, though. I think it would be wise for her to have a day to recover from her father’s visit. May I tell her that you wish her company tomorrow at lunch?”
Ali Kasim was disappointed, but he saw the wisdom of Borundi’s advice. “Very well,” he conceded, “tomorrow for lunch, then. Let her know that my decisions were for her benefit.”
Borundi nodded and returned to the mansion. Borundi informed Miriam of the conversation and events that occurred at the Royal Palace.
Miriam laughed and said,” I think the time is now right, Borundi. We do work well together. Arrange for an especially large crowd of well-wishers tomorrow. I will arrange for a stroll through the marketplace.”
The next afternoon the Emperor and Miriam strolled through the marketplace. The people welcomed them like conquering heroes. Flowers were thrown before their feet and people bowed as they passed. Ali Kasim’s spirits had never been higher. When they returned to the Royal Palace, the Emperor ordered a lavish luncheon and entertainers for the afternoon. Ali Kasim felt like everything was going his way until he noticed the glum look on Miriam’s face.
“What is the problem, Miriam?” he inquired. “This is a day of great celebration and you appear as if you had just lost a dear friend.”
Miriam leaned over and kissed Ali Kasim. “I have, in fact, just lost a dear friend.”
The Emperor looked over and saw Borundi standing next to Miriam, a sad look upon his face. Borundi obviously had just delivered some disheartening news. “What news disturbs you?” the Emperor quizzed.
Miriam started to sob. After a few moments, she wiped her tears and embraced Ali Kasim. “My father sends word that I am to be wed to the next President of Cordonia, right after the elections.”
Ali Kasim hurled his goblet at the performers and the room fell silent. With a wave of his hand he dismissed the entertainers from the room. He took a moment to compose himself before he spoke. “Why has he done this? How could he have even arranged it on such short notice? Surely, he hasn’t even had time to reach Cordonia since he left here.”
Miriam broke down in tears and Borundi stepped up to the Emperor. “Your Highness, I fear that my advice to you may have been too late. I think her father was debating this move when he was here in Trekum and just made his mind up on the way to Cordonia. He fears that Miriam’s appearances with you will spoil her chance for her marriage to the President of Cordonia. I believe the potential groom has been pressuring for this wedding for some time. It would, of course, ensure him vast sums of wealth as Stafa Rakech is in extremely poor health and it is feared that he will not live much longer.”
Ali Kasim’s mind whirled with the plusses and minuses of losing Miriam or keeping her despite her father’s wishes. Finally, he realized that he could marry Miriam now and wait for her father to die. If he changed his mind later, he
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