Chapter Twenty
The month of Zali, 1685 A.T.V.
The king rode up with his grand procession to the grand palace and handed his red stallion off to an attendant. All the courtiers that had not traveled with him, the most important city officials of the land and all the palace servants were arrayed in the front courtyard and ready to administer to his new bride and her household. They all bowed low. It was a sea of finery but none so fine as his new queen. She was being carried from her magnificent barge to a chair under a ceremonial canopy of red and gold.
He strode up the steps and into his palace, intent on mischief and he kept Bakku close. Tiny beads of sweat formed on the royal messenger's brow. As soon as he reached the first hall he commanded the servants:
“Take my bride and her household to their quarters in the west wing. Send for the Lady Diti and for Shishak and Teman. There is a matter that must be attended to before the wedding tomorrow.” Bakku felt his knees grow weak but he revealed no emotion except a slight smile. The king strode up the dais and sat on his throne between his red stone lions. A servant handed him his scepter and he stabbed it against the dais. The sound rang through the hall like an ax ringing against stone.
“Bring them before me!” All who were present, hundreds together with his courtiers, the princes and lords of the land and his officials were silent, keenly watching for which faction at court had displeased him – and who would be uplifted and who would be brought low - as Shishak and Teman came before him. Teman's eyes were filled with fear, yet Shishak looked around with what the king thought was undisguised pride. Eliaz and other older priests and scribes were among the crowd in the court.
“Shishak, what is this that you have done in my name in that you have forged an edict of death against the people of the Golden Temple?” Shishak bowed low to the ground.
“Oh king, may you live even forever and ever, oh Great One! But I do not know of what you speak.” The king raised a brow and looked from him to Teman.
“You do not know?”
“Who has accused me of this thing?”
“You will not question me. You will answer. Did you give the command to execute certain followers at your temple?”
“No my king! Never did I do such a thing as that!”
“Did you not raise the tax at the temple?”
“ We did, with your permission, Your Greatness.”
“And did I give you permission to use my seal on this edict?” The king asked, taking out the letter and opening it.
“Herald, come forward.” The king commanded. Master Caina stepped forward and cleared his throat. Shishak's countenance changed at once from pride to fear.
“You informed me of this forged letter. How did you come to know of it? Repeat it for me again.”
“My king, Your Greatness. You sent me back to the city to tell forth of your coming and to ready the city. The city was in turmoil because of Lady Diti. Lady Diti positioned herself in the city square dressed in mourning and her women with her and they rose up such a cry that they had the city in an uproar. Some of the officials here can tell you it is the truth. They saw it for themselves.”
“And why did Lady Diti do this thing?”
“Because, as she said, she felt sorry for the people about to be killed over the tax. It was she that told me of the letter and it was she who gave it to me.”
“Bakku come forward and bring me the signet ring I gave to you.” It took all of Bakku's reserve to keep from trembling and he did as he was bid. The king snatched the ring and looked it over, then at the seal on the letter. He glared at Bakku. Bakku bowed to the ground.
“Why is my seal upon this letter? The seal that I gave to you?”
“I know not why, Your Greatness! I have had this ring all along upon my person. I know nothing of this letter, I swear to you, lord king!”
“Yet, here is the seal of this ring upon the letter. You are of the Ainash, Bakku and I gave you the ring. You will be held partially responsible for this. You are behind this as well.”
“No! I swear!” Cried Bakku. The king ignored him.
“Where is the eunuch in charge of the courtly women? Find him and throw him in the dungeon! Bring the Lady Diti before me.” Guards hurried from the room to find Ruz. Lady Diti was brought forward and she fell upon her face.
“Get up! Why have you done this? Is it to humiliate me in front of the queen and her family for which you have done this?” Lady Diti fell to the floor in front of the king again.
“No, my lord the king! Please do not do anything at all to Ruz for he heard my pleas to help the people and took pity on me. For you know that I am also one of the Aishanna-La and I could not see this done and do nothing in the sight of God! It is because these men here,” she pointed to Shishak and Teman, “who planned something wicked in your name. Did you create the edict that the Aishanna-La who cannot pay the new tax must go to the their deaths? They, with their wives and their little ones?”
“I have said that I did not.”
“I have learned that these men have lied and made the edict themselves and to have this done in the arena for your wedding celebration. You were not here to stop them and there was no one raising a cry for them. Many are in the arena prisons now awaiting their fates because they are poor and have no money. Their children will be sold into slavery. I had no power to do anything at all so I sat in the square and mourned and wept for them for they are my people. This is why I have done this. Please, my lord king, do with me as you will.” She cried and bowed low before the king. The king rubbed his chin in thought.
“Who told you this thing, my lady?”
“Oh king! If I told you before all these people who it was that told me of the forged letter, that one might be in fear for their life for Shishak and Teman and others in league with them may seek to kill that one.”
“My lord king,” said Shishak, whose face was drained of all color, “it is Eliaz who has done this thing!”
“And why should Eliaz do this?” Asked the king sitting back and appraising him.
“It is he who keeps a seal, one that looks like yours in his desk. I saw him with it. I thought you gave it to him but I saw it. You will find it there if you search for it.” The king looked at Eliaz who had the stiff look of shock on his face.
“Your Greatness, this is a lie! Never would I commit such a treasonous act against the king! Shishak and Teman lie against me!” The king turned to look for the arena master.
“You are in charge for the games for the wedding festivities. You are packed in this controversy. What do you have to say?” Amat cleared his throat.
“Shishak and Teman are right. It was Eliaz who gave me money to jail those who did not pay the tax.” Lady Diti and Eliaz gasped.
“He is lying! I went to confront him on this matter, oh king! My guards can attest to this! He did not deny that it was Shishak and Teman who did this thing!”
“I see. You, my lady, I shall not punish for I believe you did in your heart what was right for these people. Yet, I will not tolerate your inciting the people's passions. What you have done is dangerous and the next time you are involved in such a thing I will have you whipped. And I will have the name from you later. However, I am looking at this letter and it is not in my hand and though it would seem to be my seal,” he gave Bakku a sharp look, “I did not write this letter nor did I even think to have something like this done to the people. Someone else has signed my name here. I do remember that Shishak and Teman and others from the temple came to me demanding a higher tax at the temple and I did approve it and now I see there are many who cannot or will not pay it. I do not know for sure who is lying but this letter is a lie. But we have refined people at court now. So I shall settle the matter in this way, to please the gods and to bring honor to Hec, above all else, though I should have every one of you executed immediately. You, Amat, must choose a man among those jailed who did not pay the tax to fight in the games. Make sure he is strong and co
urageous. He must fight against a great and terrible beast. Choose a powerful beast or I will have you impaled. This man will champion the Ainash priests here at court.” He then turned his attention upon all the priests and scribes who were gathered at the court. “If this man wins, you shall all live. But if he loses, Amat, Shishak, Teman and Eliaz and all those who came to me requesting the new tax shall be impaled!” Eliaz nearly fainted. Lady Diti came to him and caught him before he fell. Bakku remained in his groveling position with his face to the floor and did not stir.
“Eliaz is innocent. . .”
“There are no innocent priests in Jhis, my lady. He will die like the rest!”
“You Greatness, I beg to make one more request?” She begged.
“What is it?” He was becoming irritated.
“If this champion wins, I request that you lower the tax.”
“I shall think on it. And remember, my lady, the matter here is not sentiment for your people or for anyone else! It is authority. My authority which has been challenged by deception. You also challenged it by your public weeping in the square. Do not ever do it again! Guards! Find Ruz and bring him out and whip him. If he ever allows any of my wives to leave this palace without my consent next time he must be put to death! Take these men with Amat to the dungeons of the arena. See that my orders are carried out, exactly!” A mass of guards corralled the priests, now stricken with fear, and marched them out of the throne room. Eliaz, being very old and frail finally had to be lifted and carried out. The king's eyes flickered over Bakku who remained bowed. Diti also noted that a man, dressed in the rich silver finery of an Egian king looked on the affair with cruel, smirking approval. It was chieftain Tenan. The crowds silence was broken and there was much commotion and whispering among the vassals and officials gathered. Lady Diti followed at a distance, her heart pained for Eliaz. She did not know what else to do. Perhaps this time, since Amat's own life now hung in the balance she could actually find a way to work with him. She went to her own quarters feeling drained and afraid. Never did she hate the priests of the Golden Temple before like she hated them now!
Schisms Page 20