Otheris and the Serpents of Qhudrus by Richard Shekari Page B

start spreading silly rumours about you again dear!” she
pleaded.
    “Okay aunt
Zeenah!” he said as he stood up and walked out of his room, “off I
go!”
    Otheris met the
guards outside and tried to keep up with them as they walked to the
third palace, but he was too weak so he spoke to one of the guards
to please run fast and have food be made ready for him at the
palace.
    On their
arrival, he met most of the village folk standing and some men
seated near the king.
    “Aha! Otheris!
You have earned a place amongst men, my friend. Here!” said the
king to Otheris as he pointed his finger at the seat next to
him.
    Otheris walked
through the crowds, “I am hungry my liege!” he said.
    “Oh no,”
exclaimed the king, “if the great village of Moughdug lacked no
food, it would be an insult for its king to have half of what it
owned in the storehouse my friend,” he laughed, “what would you
like to eat?” asked the king as he smiled gleefully at Otheris.
    “Anything with
bread would be fine your majesty!” replied Otheris.
    “I like you!”
said the king, “Ha-ha! Bring him the finest of the wines and make
sure the finest of the soup and meat is brought along with the
loaf.” ordered the king as he tapped Otheris, “You know, when I was
your age my father taught me a lot of things. He even taught me how
to woo a woman my friend,” he laughed, “my father, before he died
advised me to try and make every village under my rule look like
the capital, and do you know what I did?” he smiled, “well, I built
a palace in all the seven villages, just like this one! This way I
can spend time with my people and understand them better and of
course, this requires I spend about a year or so in every village I
visit,” he tapped Otheris on the shoulder, “now, you! I see that
you have hidden gifts which will be of benefit to these villages,
and my entire kingdom as a whole,” he lowered his hand and pulled
out a small crown from underneath his throne and said, “could you
believe I have crowns like this one under all my thrones, in all
the seven villages under this kingdom? With all that I have known
and with all the wives and concubines I have, my friend, not a
single male child!?” he simpered, “however, I believe I need not
worry anymore,” as he returned the crown where he pulled it
from.
    Three maids
walked in with trays.
    “Ah! You! Bring
the table here!” ordered the king as one of the guards quickly
brought a small table and kept it before the king and Otheris. The
maids placed some bread, a bowl of soup, roasted turkey and a jar
filled with wine on the table.
    “Today you eat
with your king! Today this kingdom celebrates and honours you
Otheris son of Delial! Eat!” said the king as he pushed the table
in front of Otheris, “I shall soon organise a feast in your honour
my friend!”
    Otheris cut a
piece of bread from the loaf and dipped into the soup before him
and then he swallowed it.
    “Ha-Ha! I can
see you are a man of action my friend! I like you!” added the king,
“Okay! Everybody out!” he clapped, “Karim, you stay!” pointed at
one of the well-built men among his guards.
    “I like his
beard!” referred Otheris to the one called Karim as he turned to
the king, “I really would love to have a beard like that!”
    “It’s easy
Otheris, grow it!” answered the king laughing.
    The guards, the
maids and all the men walked out silently leaving only Otheris and
the king.
    “I will not
waste your time my friend. We both know how precious time is, don’t
we? Now, you have proven wrong all the village folk after all these
years and you have gladdened my heart. But I am not happy about a
few things; one, I don’t like the way these witches wrapped their
chains around the feet of these young men in my kingdom, amongst
other things! Otheris, I need to ask you for a favour, just one!”
the king said, “You look like a young man who has got too much to
do! Ah! Too little