Lamekis

by Charles de Fieux

  The story of Nasilaë

  Lindiagar, called the Great, Ruler of the Amphicleocles, the 77th King of this name, is the one who brought me into this world. According to custom he made the counting75 of all the male children born at the same time as me and they were brought to the palace of Kaiocles76 to be raised until I was old enough to be married.

  I spent my childhood in the temple according to custom77 and when I was 13 years old the High Priestess purified me of all the impurities of my birth in the rays of the sun, duly dismissed her minister,78 and delivered me to the assembly with certain signs79 that I was of age to convene the assembly of the palace of Kaiocles and choose a spouse.

  Even though I had been raised in the secrets of the temple and should have accepted the dictates of our religion and our laws when I was old enough, I began to feel a frightening aversion to the practice of two laws that were totally against my way of thinking: that of never being able to see my father seemed opposed to all natural sentiments—it was a policy that obviously came from accustoming the King, from an early age, to consider only his subjects as children. This seemed to me to be too cruel and going too far. The longer I was forbidden the honor of embracing a father whom I loved a lot, the more I desired to do so. The last years I spent in the temple brought me to the point that I was dying to get out so I could accomplish my secret goals: I was planning to find a way to fulfill my desire to see my father.

  The other law that my mind rebelled against did not offend me until I was told that I had to go to the temple of Kaiocles on the third day to choose a spouse. My young heart trembled at a custom that was so contrary to my lofty thoughts. What! (I told myself in secret) I’m going to make a blind choice of some despicable, loathsome blood to give an heir to such a noble father, my master and King! These thoughts grew so strong in my heart and bothered me so much that I got sick over and over again. The Karveder80 came twice a day on behalf of the King to find out how I was feeling. He had been told by the Lea-Minska81 about the awful melancholy I was sunk in since leaving the temple and the serious change in my health, so the Karveder respectfully asked me why I had changed and become so glum.

  As insistent as the minister was, I hesitated for a long time to confess the secrets of my heart. He was as clever as he was dedicated to my father and turned me every which way so that, of course, I finally confessed my desire to see my noble father face to face and my horror at being separated from him forever by marrying. It was only the first confession that mattered. Naturally I opened up to him and said that as long as I could remember I was tormented by this desire and that just the hope of satisfying this natural yearning had kept me alive until then, but on the eve of entering the fatal temple of Kaiocles my trembling soul was ready to vanish away. Getting carried away I stooped to the most pitiful prayers and ended up assuring the Karveder that if he did not get the King’s beloved permission to see him, I would fall into a ghastly grave long before him.

  The minister was surprised at my fit and at what he heard and did everything he could to calm me down, but to no avail. All my tears and my cruel situation touched him. He promised that he would tell the King everything and that he would do everything in his power to bend the King to my desire. His assurances comforted me and I awaited his return restless and excited.

  The Karveder did not come back before the end of the day and I did not know why he was so late. I was afraid that telling the King my secret had caused his disgrace and this doubt troubled me more than anything. A thousand dire thoughts ran through my mind. I was alone in my room with nothing else to think about and I fell headlong into sorrow and tears.

  I was so preoccupied with the thoughts rolling around in my mind that I did not notice how strange it was that I was left alone since the Karveder’s meeting. The Lea-Minska, who left when he arrived, according to custom, had not come back to my room. That was something that violated her duty because according to the law she was not supposed to leave me except under the circumstances just mentioned. But she soon showed up and the reasons she gave for her absence calmed me down.

  The shadows of the night were chasing away the daylight and the Lea-Minska and I had just finished the sacred duty that obliged us to pray at sunset when the Karveder showed up. I was anxiously waiting in my room.

  “Princess, wake up” he said on entering, “get yourself ready to welcome the King, your father. He has agreed to fulfill your desires. His Highness will be here in the middle of the night.”

  “What?” I cried out. “Can I be so lucky as to have such a dear visit?”

  “Let’s talk more quietly,” the minister cut in. “We have to keep it very secret. You are obviously unaware, Princess, that this hoped-for favor will be the ruin of you and the end of the King’s reign if the High Priestess and the people get the slightest wind of it. The laws are strict and the grave threats against the King in case of an offense are so well engrained in the hearts of his subjects that any argument would be pointless if they really felt abused by him. That’s why the King hasn’t satisfied your wild impatience for so long. But forewarned like yourself, he badly wants to see his dear Princess who is so beloved by him. He has overcome all difficulties and found a sure way to meet with you without risking the crisis that might result. The Lindiagar and I have agreed that to avoid anything leaking out I have to go to the Priestess and if she becomes suspicious, to be sure that she can’t find out about or barge in on your meeting. I thought I should fill you in on all these things, Princess, to lift your spirits, which I naturally suspected were troubled.”

  After saying this the Karveder left to join the Priestess. About an hour later he came back and told me to prepare for the King’s visit, that nothing would interrupt the priceless happiness of being together and that he was going to inform him of what had been done so he would have no worries about what he wanted as badly as I did.

  I admit that it was almost too much for me to be on the verge of a blessing that I had desired for such a long time. Never had a Princess of the Amphicleocles been singled out for such an honor; and to this sweet thought was added the hope of being freed of the cruel law of choosing a spouse among the vile pretenders, a hope that my hatred of this custom made almost as dear as that of seeing the face of my noble father. Just the idea of these things relieved me so much that I barely felt the sickness caused by melancholy and grief. A troubled mind can devastate the body, but when it gets better it straightens out as easily as it was bent.

  The third hour of the night was sounded by the Bouch-chouk-chou,82 my room was purified and scented with fragrant disks and at the sound of the Great Prayer83 all the elementary spirits went back to their vortex and left room for the divine Intelligences to stay pure and holy. Dressed in a simple, golden yellow tunic I was ready to welcome my father and King. I was counting the minutes, the seconds and I was already getting worried when I heard a dull knock that made me quiver in the hope that it was the promised sight so long desired. But what did I see? The Karveder was standing there without the royal scarf, which was the sure sign of the King’s arrival.

  “Heavens,” I cried, shaking with fear, “what’s happened to the King? Where is he? Has he changed his mind? Could it be that he’s gone back on his word?”

  “No, Princess,” the minister replied, “you will see him. But what will happen to us because of his blind indulgence? Our secrets have been betrayed. The Lea-Minska either heard us or figured it out. The High Priestess knows about the King’s plan and through her channels the people have been stirred up; they’re screaming for your sacrifice according to the laws so as to appease Fulghane,84 who they say is angry. The people are afraid of the evils foretold and have surrounded the temple demanding the sacrifice. The great Lindiagar is trying in vain to calm them down, but nothing can break the old superstition. With this grave danger threatening your lives, the King sent me to tell you to follow me to safety to a secret room away from the rumblings of the mob.”

  “I will see him, then?” I wa
s filled with joy. “I’ll be lucky enough to embrace my noble father?”

  “Yes, Madame, but we don’t have any time to lose. Get a hold of yourself because in our present situation we can’t be too careful.”

  The risk I was running put me at the mercy of the Karveder’s sage advice. He led me through strange underground passages carrying a torch in one hand and helping me along with the other. After walking like this from one area of the palace to another, we climbed a secret staircase that he told me led to the King’s chamber. When we got there he went to the door of a closet and blew into the lock.85 The door opened right away. Then the Karveder motioned to me to enter. I was struck deep down at the sight of the great Lindiagar, who came up to greet me warmly. I barely had the strength to embrace his knees.

  “Cleannes,”86 he said, lifting me up and putting his hand on my head,87 “don’t worry. It won’t do any good for the High Priestess to try to ruin you. I am not the slave of my people’s shouting or their blindness. I worship the great Fulghane, but reason has taught me to tell the difference between the laws that come from divine wisdom and those that were born of the ministers’ politics. Up to now I have done the best I could to walk in the ways of virtue and I don’t think I deserve this horrible punishment of ordering the death of my own daughter. This is not the first time I’ve glimpsed the secret plans of the High Priestess. I never condescended much to her ideas and always firmly opposed her schemes and now she’s trying to make me sorry for this. Her plot and intrigues look like they have the upper hand, but I have clever, infallible ways to stop her. For the moment, Cleannes, we have to let the mob rumble and shield you from the initial frenzy of rebellion. However far the rebels might go, they will not be so reckless as to profane the sanctuary of my palace. Nevertheless, Karveder, do as I say. As soon as the Bouch-chouk-chou has announced the general assembly and the temple is open, run and tell me.”

  The minister left then and none too soon. The privilege of breathing before the King, which was one of his favors, did not apply while the King addressed him, which made the sovereigns very concise in giving orders.

  When I was alone with the King, my good father abandoned his tiring image of grandeur. He took a torch and brought it close to my face to examine my features. He looked pleased at what he saw and kissed me. I reacted gently and affectionately, like any loving daughter who knows how valuable such a thing is. The King sat me next to him and spoke intimately about how hard it had been for him not to see me. I took the opportunity to confess my worry that the present troubles would make him regret his decision. He reassured me, but at the same time could not help complaining bitterly about the aggravations of the crown, especially when a Monarch was thoughtful enough to make it his duty to fulfill his functions scrupulously. His bad mood even made him envy the condition of an ordinary subject.

  “At least,” he said, “an individual can enjoy himself and is not a slave to appearances and abuse. When he is guided by reason he can act accordingly and being respectful he can enjoy truth. Isn’t it dreadful,” the Lindiagar continued, “that a King has to suffer the wicked customs and caprices whereby they marry off his children? How many kinds of warped ideas have come from these unequal unions? What! Because our ancestors handed down to us bad laws that are far from common sense, we have to be ridiculous enough to respect and preserve them? How can we still reasonably reconcile the fact that he who is bound to be master of this empire will have a father who is a subject born to obey88 and who owes his elevation and eminence only to his pretty, bewitching eyes. Could antiquity persuade me, then, that the Sovereign’s saliva has the power and virtue to ennoble a subject and purify him of his baseness?89 Is this kind of King any different than the least of his subjects? Hasn’t experience proven the opposite, that a prince’s bodily and mental impairments are the same as any other man? Time and time again I’ve revolted against these shameful fanatics. Time and time again, hoping to open the eyes of these blind people, I’ve tried to understand the sacred, esteemed opinions of those who carry the vote, but, Princess, these people whose higher education should enlighten them, are so pigheaded that they are ruled by their preconceptions and the crowd’s weakness consecrates these eccentric customs. Do what it may, reason cannot penetrate the shadows of ignorance. It’s like they enjoy the darkness and are ashamed to clear away the clouds of pride, sloth and feebleness.”

  I won’t tell you everything that my father’s wisdom and learning had to say on the subject, but his final thoughts were to encourage me to share mine with him. Naturally I trusted him and confessed. He was surprised to learn that at my age I had already shaken off the veils of prejudice. He was especially happy when I told him of my opposition to the marriage custom that I was bound to be sacrificed to. How I spoke about this matter surprised and touched him.

  “Oh my daughter,” he kissed me again, “the gods be praised! I see my blood in your enlightened soul and also the Heavens’ gift promised so long ago. May these same Heavens make the signs you give me conform to the great prophecy.90 Everything seems to point to you alone, Oh great Vilkonhis,91 whom I worship and who, by a miracle, showed yourself to me and made me see how ridiculous these false gods are. Accomplish your work and enlighten a heart that seems to be worthy to be consecrated by you. If it can be done, let this Princess be the chosen one whom you promised so long ago. If it cost the life of her father to fulfill the divine decrees, I resign myself completely. Let my death bring happiness to my daughter and my people—I am worth nothing on such important occasions.”

  I loved the King, my father, too much not to be troubled deep down in my heart by his last words. I urged him to tell me what he meant and if I had to be so unlucky as to bring these happy days to an end.

  “Don’t be alarmed, my daughter,” he replied, “a divine hand has counted them and nothing can slow them down or extend them. Even though it’s true that you play a part in the end I talked about, just thinking about the positive things that will come of it is enough to fill me with joy. Cleannes, stop crying. It’s not right. We’re not made to fight against the Heavens and we have to accept both its presents and its plagues. Isn’t it a great honor that it wants to use us as an instrument of its glory? No, we shouldn’t wonder that such happiness is earned through trials and tribulations. The heavenly spirit inspires me, but the reward that waits for both of us is magnificent, it is above anything the human mind can imagine.” The King saw me wrapped in this enigma and continued, “Princess, let’s leave it at that. Truth just spoke through my mouth, but I cannot yet explain it to you.”

  In spite of his advice, which I took as an order, I was still, maybe, about to ask more when I heard an awful noise. The Lindiagar did not look worried. He put his finger to his lips and motioned me to follow him. After leading me into a secret room and before leaving me there alone, he told me not to worry or be frightened because his presence alone would clear away the clouds of rebellion. But as much as I trusted him, his words could not reassure me.

  I threw myself around my father’s knees and begged him to let me come so that we could at least face the danger together. He frowned, looked hard at me and told me sternly that his kindness should not make me forget that he was my father and my King and as such he wanted me to obey. Those were his final words; he closed the door and left. For the rest of the day I was anxious and afraid. I heard muffled sounds telling me the rebellion was still going on and I prayed to the Heavens for my father’s safety—he had become even dearer to me since I met him. His kindness and gentleness came back to my troubled mind and made me scared that at any minute they would announce his death and then I would fall prey to the rebels. Not knowing is cruel, especially when there is no way to delude yourself.

  I spent the night in this awful state even though I heard no more noises and the change should have convinced me that the troubles were over. I was starting to despair when the Karveder suddenly showed up.

  “Princess,” he told me, “dry your tears. The King, your
father, has triumphed. With his profound wisdom he has broken through the dark clouds covering up the schemes of the High Priestess. At this very moment she is being punished for her detestable designs. In front of the altars and the people Sovereign tore off the lying mask she used to seduce them. The event is too important and too indicative of the Monarch’s wisdom to be left untold. As a faithful witness, I will give you an accurate account.”

  After saying this, the minister brought me into the King’s chamber where he sat me down and sat himself at my feet and related to me the following:

  The King and the High Priestess

  During the time that the King was with you, Princess, the Council of Seven92 gathered in the temple of Fulghane. The High Priestess, who alone had the right to convene them, had done so. She appeared before them at the foot of the statue, dressed in dark and gloomy clothes, which she wore during public catastrophes. Beating her chest she exposed the evils that the state was about to suffer because of the transgression of the laws and she painted a frightening picture straight away into the holy transports of the furious oracles. Her face changed, convulsed, her rabid eyes popped out of her head and seemed to weep blood and tears. She foamed at the mouth as Fulghane himself spoke through her, “Councilors, you are the venerable columns of this empire and its strongest support. Hear me! The foundations of this state are shaking and ready to crumble. The huge mass of the universe is breaking apart and only the touch of my mercy sustains it. I have commanded in vain; I am not obeyed. My altars are not stained with the blood of the guilty Princess. You scorn my laws. Her father has stolen her away from Fulghane. And why is Fulghane waiting to reduce you criminals to ashes? The sanctity of his ministers is all that holds him back. But if the sacred fire is not fed with the blood of the guilty before the end of the day, all the Amphicleocles will perish!”