Ancient Prophecy (16 page)

“One food distribution company coming right up,” chuckled Larc. “There is one other item on my list for today that has not come up yet. The Emperor of Lanoir has died. Because he had sons by so many different wives, there is sure to be a power struggle down there. It is probably not germane to our talks about Sarac, but you should be aware of it.”

Lord Habas got up and started pacing around the room, lines of concern creasing his forehead. “No offense intended, King Byron,” he began, “but I seem to recall an old prophecy concerning a time when all of the great nations are ruled by false heirs. Not that you are anything but a just and able leader, but you were not in the line of succession. If Mitchel stole the election through trickery and deceit and Aurora manages to become Empress of Sordoa with Ali Kasim having an unfortunate accident, these events in Lanoir may require close watching.”

“No offense taken,” commented King Byron. “What do these prophesies foretell, wizard?”

“I do not remember,” answered the magician, “but it was not a happy foretelling. I recall it being a doomsday prophecy of some sort, like all life in the world ceasing to exist or something along those lines. I will look it up as soon as I return to my library.”

Ali Kasim was on top of the world. He was Emperor of the world’s greatest nation with the full support of his army, he was married to the most beautiful woman in the world who just happened to be very rich, and the people of his nation loved him and his wife.
What more could a man ask for
, he thought. He threw himself down on the large pile of cushions and laughed, his long white robe with gold trim splaying over the cushions. He had little thought these days of actually running the country. He was having too much fun spending his time with Miriam and matters of State were not that pressing. Certainly the commoners would understand his refusal to hear their petty grievances for a while.

He wondered what great adventure Miriam had planned for him today. She always had something planned. She made him so happy and not just in the usual ways that one might think of, but in unusual ways, as well. He had never spent much time outside the Royal Palace since assuming the Throne, but she had him out every day. She dragged him to the market several times a week and he actually enjoyed the outings. She even accepted invitations to visit commoners in their homes. The people, of course, loved her and now they loved him, as well. Even if they had nowhere to go, she would order the Royal Carriage readied and they would just ride around the city or the countryside, waving to people.

The barracks and the household guards also loved her. Ali Kasim thought that they actually bowed lower to her than they did to him, but he was sure that it was his imagination playing tricks on him. At least once a week the Royal Palace was host to a celebration with all of the important and influential people attending. The whole mood of the country had changed since she came into his life. The war with Targa had been a disaster and the people had never been in favor of it, but no one would ever have admitted that to the Sultan. After the war when Ali Kasim took over, people were apprehensive about how he would rule and how long he would last. Now the mood was one of constant jubilation with people shouting and cheering every time they saw him.

The Emperor got up and strode to the window. He gazed out over the Sordoan Sea and greedily sucked the warm salt air into his lungs, savoring the heady feeling of power and happiness. Already the harbor was busy, beating the sunrise to work. He watched the tiny fishing vessels heading out over the deepening blue waters. It never ceased to amaze him how their sails burst into flame everyday as the sun rose above the horizon.

He gazed southward at the long, ivory strand of sand that ran to the horizon. Perhaps he would get Miriam to go to the beach today. He was ripe for a little frolicking in the surf.

He smelled the aroma of roses seconds before he felt Miriam’s arms wrap around his shoulders. “Good morning, Emperor,” she giggled.

Ali Kasim turned around and embraced his love, smothering her with kisses. “Every morning is a good morning as long as you are by my side,” he sighed.

They lingered silently for several minutes observing the sunrise and finally, Miriam grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the door.

“Come on,” she teased, “let’s get down to breakfast and figure out what we are going to do today.”

The Emperor found himself whistling on his way to the garden where they had breakfast every morning. “Maybe we should go to the beach,” he chirped.

The Empress squeezed his hand lightly. “Umm, not a bad idea,” she toyed, “you probably just want everyone to see what great legs I have. Still, we haven’t been to the beach in a while. Oh, Ali, I have a great idea! Let’s have a romantic breakfast in the South Tower and watch the sun climb over the beach before we go.”

“That sounds like a great idea,” he agreed. “Just how romantic a breakfast did you have in mind?”

“You animal!” she purred. “We will have to get rid of the guard, though. It won’t be very romantic with three of us up there.”

Ali Kasim laughed. “Don’t you worry about that. We’ll send him for the breakfast trays.”

“Come on,” she laughed. “Let’s skip like children. Give me your hand.”

“Miriam,” he murmured, “not in front of the guards.”

“Oh, stop being afraid of what they think,” she chided. “You are the Emperor and you can behave anyway you want. Besides, I want to skip.”

The Emperor and Empress of Sordoa skipped in their flowing white robes across the courtyard to the South Tower like a couple of school children. The guards did not laugh but smiled rather fondly as they passed. They raced up the tower steps and informed the guard that they would be having breakfast in the tower. Ali Kasim sent him for the breakfast trays and whispered that he should take a long time getting back. The guard smiled on his way down the steps. It pleased the entire household staff to see their rulers so happy.

“I still find it hard to believe that I’m married to the Emperor of Sordoa,” she whispered. “Look out and everything that you see is at your command.”

Ali Kasim followed her gaze and looked out over the city of Trekum. She always found ways to inspire greatness in him, he thought.

“Ali,” she cooed, “sit up on the crenel. I want to gaze at my Emperor with his city laid out behind him.”

Like a schoolboy in love, the Emperor hopped up on the crenel and posed for his wife. Miriam smiled brightly as her wedding band slipped off of her finger and dropped to the floor.

“Perhaps I should have that refitted,” she murmured.

Miriam bent down to retrieve the ring. With an amazing burst of strength, she grabbed the Emperor’s feet and pushed them up and back over the crenel. Ali Kasim’s scream lasted all of the way to the ground and was silenced by a resounding thud. The Empress started screaming at the top of her lungs. The entire Palace stood shocked. Some men ran over to the Emperor’s still body, while others raced up the tower steps. When they arrived at the top they found the Empress curled in a ball on the floor crying hysterically. Their questions about what happened went unanswered by the grieving widow. Not until the guards had carried the hysterical woman down to the courtyard full of soldiers and servants was Miriam able to utter a single word. The Empress crawled to her husband’s still form on her hands and knees, shunning attempts of help from the guards.

“I begged him not to,” she cried loudly as she held Al Kasim’s head in her lap, her tears flowing down her face and dripping on the courtyard pavement. “Oh, gods, why did he have to act so childishly? He didn’t have to impress me with his school boy displays.”

Miriam’s maidservant tried to ease her away from the Emperor’s body and the Empress violently shrugged her off. “Oh, gods,” she screamed, “I want him back. Can’t somebody do something?”

The Royal Physician directed two of the guards to take the Empress to her room and Miriam allowed them to drag her away from her deceased husband.

For two days, Miriam stayed in her room without talking to anyone. She refused to eat and the Royal Physician became concerned for her health. The entire country was in mourning and flowers and holy objects arrived by the thousands as the people grieved not only for their fallen Emperor, but for their new Empress, as well. Word spread quickly that the Empress had taken the loss so severely that she might never fully recover. People started talking about who would succeed the Emperor and fights broke out between the Empress’ supporters and those who didn’t believe that a woman could lead the country.

The burial was on the third day and thousands gathered to watch the procession. Miriam got out of bed and dressed herself in a simple black dress. She placed her golden crown on her head and marched into the courtyard. The Palace was alive with whispers and people pointing as she walked over to the coffin and demanded that the lid be removed. For several moments she leaned over the coffin and cried.

Miriam curtly, but politely, refused all offers of help. Finally, she rose and ordered the coffin raised by the bearers. She stood between the bearers on her husband’s left side and grasped his hand and then ordered the procession to proceed. With her head held erect, she marched the entire route holding the Emperor’s hand. When they reached the burial vault she ordered the casket lowered. Miriam turned and ordered the Honor Guard to salute with raised swords. She walked over and lifted the Emperor’s sword and crown and placed them in the coffin. She knelt, once again, alongside the casket and gently removed her wedding band and placed it in Ali Kasim’s hands, leaning over to kiss him one last time.

Standing once again, she ordered the casket sealed and lead the bearers into the vault. Miriam proudly led the procession back to the Royal Palace and stood at the top of the steps to address the mourning crowd.

“Citizens of Sordoa,” she shouted, “together we mourn the passing of one of Sordoa’s great leaders. I know my husband would have been proud of the spirit the Sordoan people have shown today. I have had my time of personal mourning although I shall feel the loss greatly for the rest of my life. Our great nation, however, requires a longer period of mourning for such a great man. I proclaim that the nation of Sordoa shall mourn for yet another three days. Let no business be conducted during this period of grief so that we may reflect on our loss together. I shall issue no writs nor accept the call for any grievances until the fourth day. May the gods bless us all in our time of mourning.”

Miriam turned and walked into the Royal Palace, knowing the country was now united under the leadership of their first Empress, for there was not a person in the crowd who would dare issue an ill word against the Empress after her performance today.

Alex sat with his back against the outside of the cottage, chewing absent-mindedly on a piece of grass and watching the birds cavort over the rushes alongside the lake. Prince Tergota walked purposely along the shore and headed to Alex’s cottage and sat down beside Alex.

“You look troubled, my friend,” the dwarf Prince began. “Is Jenneva still feeling poorly?”

Alex gave a weak attempt at a smile and nodded. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. Podil is in there with her, but I don’t think that an elf magician is what she needs. She needs a good healer.”

“Don’t be too sure,” reassured Prince Tergota. “The elf magicians know a great deal about healing. Your own shoulder should tell you that much.”

Alex threw the piece of grass down and pushed himself to his feet. “I guess you’re right. I just worry about her. I don’t know what I would do without her, Tergota. I probably should have stopped her from pouring over Podil’s books. She spent too much time trying to learn their magic and not enough time enjoying the outdoors.”

Prince Tergota stifled a laugh and Alex shot him a searing glare. “Sorry, Alex,” apologized Prince Tergota. “I know this is not the type of honeymoon you would have liked but, then, not too many honeymoons last this long, either. Have you given any thought about returning to Targa?”

Alex looked around for listening ears before answering. “Yes, I have. I’m not sure that I can believe that Alutar is going to spot us if we make one more Junction crossing. I know King Solva is serious when he talks about forbidding us, but I don’t plan on spending my life here, no matter how beautiful it is.”

“Good,” replied Prince Tergota, “because I am looking forward to seeing home again.”

The door to the cottage opened and the elf magician came out and walked over to Alex.

“What is it, Podil?” Alex asked anxiously. “Is she going to be all right?”

Podil smiled and put his hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Yes, Alex, both of them will be all right.”

“Both of them?” puzzled Alex. “What do you mean both of them? I’m talking about Jenneva, not anybody else.”

Prince Tergota made no attempt to hide his laughter this time. “Alex, I can see you’re busy. We’ll talk later, Dad.”

“Dad?” murmured Alex before the comment fully registered. Suddenly, his eyes widened and his face reddened. “Do you mean she’s going to have a baby?” shouted Alex. “Are you sure?”

Podil just smiled and Alex didn’t wait for an answer. He leaped up the three steps to the cottage and barged through the door. Jenneva sat in bed, propped up with three pillows and smiled as Alex came running into the room. She stretched out her arms to him and Alex slid to a halt. He bent down and embraced her so lightly that she hardly felt him. Jenneva reached up and pulled him onto the bed and hugged him.

“I am not going to break,” she laughed. “I can’t believe that I am so far along. Podil says that I am due about the same time as Callie and she was starting to show when we left.”

“Are you sure you are going to be all right?” Alex questioned. “I thought you were sick from all the studying you have been doing.”

“Studying has never made me sick,” she giggled. “I would think that I would have been sick earlier, though, but I am glad I was not. Actually, I feel great now.”

“What are we going to call him?” queried Alex.