Once this toast was complete, Jimnee raised her mug high into the air, and added with a smile in Pavelian, “And we can’t forget to mention the really delicious Pavelian foods!”
Returning the smile, Brishava raised her own goblet and replied, “Thank you, Jimnee. Our home is your home. Have whatever you want—eat whatever you want.”
The smile upon Jimnee’s face disappeared, just before she informed seriously, “My husband and I’ve already talked things over with our Valakanese comrades. We have all decided that we would like the city of Valakan to begin trade with the Sharia Empire, as soon as possible! After all, we have many things that would interest you, as you have many things that interest us. Is this okay?”
Brishava enthusiastically replied, “Of course!”
Yaush said something in Valakanese to Jimnee.
Even though Baltor and Brishava had been nodding their heads affirmatively and heartily, Jimnee still interpreted, “Yaush also said that he and his buddies have already begun the process of transforming the dragon’s head into a wall-mounted plaque. He said it’ll take several more weeks of time to complete it, especially how big it is, but once they’re done, we’ll all need to head back home…okay? So far, they have had to keep Baltor’s swords in them, otherwise it starts to grow back.”
In Valakanese, Baltor answered with a nonchalant wave of the hand, “No problem. I can teleport you guys back home whenever you’re ready, and we can handsomely pay for the taxidermist services.”
With a wave of his mug-holding hand, Yaush said in Pavelian, “Ah, it gift…from us to you…my friend! After all, you—all of you—saved our nation of Valakan. Thank you!”
“And thank you,” Baltor responded back in the same language. A few in the group responded similarly, but most nodded their heads and smiled.
A few seconds later, Jimnee delivered a quick bow just before she said, “If you’ll please excuse my husband and myself, we need to talk privately to my brother-in-law, Barquoth. It’s literally been a decade since these two brothers have last talked!”
Surprisingly, Baltor rose out of his throne, walked over to Jimnee, and gave her a hug. While in the tight embrace, he said, “By the way, before you two go, I must compliment you on how well how well you speak Pavelian, Jimnee!”
“Thank you, Sultan Baltor Elysian,” Jimnee answered with a very proud smile. “Your wife is a great teacher…no matter what it is she teaches.”
Baltor gave Jimnee a quick kiss on the left cheek, just before he released the embrace, and then turned to face Yaush. Both friends clasped each other warmly, though Yaush was careful not to crush his little friend.
During this lengthy hug that turned even lengthier, as the rest of this group couldn’t help but join in the hug, it had become as solid as a small mountain! Even though the remainder of the population would have gladly joined in, none did because they could clearly sense that this was an “exclusive group hug.”
Once this mountain had finally broken up into individual rocks, about a minute later, the men began to exchange back, shoulder, arm, and even hand clasps with each other, while the women exchanged hugs and/or kisses with both genders.
Nearly a minute later, Yaush and Jimnee delivered one final farewell wave of the hand to the group, and then they walked over to Barquoth’s location in the coliseum, which was at the far left side, where sat, stood, ate, or drank most of the Vispano Knights.
Once these three—Yaush, Jimnee, and Barquoth—had finally reacquainted themselves, about ten minutes after having left the throne area, they filled up their mugs with ale, before exiting the coliseum and stepping out into the desert.
While gazing up at the thousands of stars in the night sky, as only one quarter moon was present, the three talked well through the night. As for everyone else, much more drinking and celebrating transpired until well after sunrise.
Baltor and Brishava departed, making their merry way back to the palace, at two in the morning, by route of one of the royal carriages.
Back in their royal bedroom, the two had their own “private victory celebration” that lasted until dawn’s first light.
CHAPTER XXI
Only minutes before sunrise, Baltor was only now lying comfortably in bed, for the very first time that night. Even though he had stuffed quite a few soft pillows under his back and head for support, he still used his hands to clasp and support the back of his head even further, so that he could better look down at his wife. Equally silent and comfortable, Brishava’s head continued to lie on top of his belly, as her eyes deeply stared into his.
That is, until she could no longer hold herself back as she squealed aloud, “I love you so much, baby doll! You have no idea on how bad I missed you while you were gone, and now, you’re back, and I’m so, so, so happy! Make sure you dream of me after you fall asleep.”
“I love you too, my Breeze! And I wi—”
At that moment, his eyes instantly closed, while his hands, arms, body, neck, and head slowly dropped onto the pillows—already he was deep in slumber, as the sun had just risen.
For about the next twenty minutes or so, she contentedly stayed where she was without looking away for even a second. Once this timeframe had passed, however, she sat up in bed.
She next reached for the silky bathrobe that had been earlier tossed to the far end of the bed, donned it, and then slipped both feet into her pair of plush slippers resting upon the marble floor.
After she had risen to her feet, she pulled the silky bed sheets all the way up his neckline, and then she began to walk toward the double doors. Only once she had begun to near this entryway did she call out, “Guards, open the doors for me. Thank you.”
Simultaneously, the exterior guards opened their respective doors, and then they—one male and one female—bowed their heads for a second; once their heads had risen, they observed that their Sultaness had already exited the room, and so each closed their door. There were four additional guards standing in the hallway.
Once Brishava had reached the very middle of the hallway, she crisply turned to the right, and continued to walk down the hallway to her personal dressing room, along with her entourage.
Two rooms to the left, which took about a minute of walking, she stood in front of the closed double doors that led into this room, which had another pair of guards, so she crisply turned left, and walked toward the entryway.
Five seconds later, after the palace guards stationed here had opened these double doors and bowed, she entered alone—once inside the room, those same two guards closed the doors.
Inside this bathing/dressing room made entirely of black and white marble and bearing the dimensions of thirty-foot length by fifty-foot width by twenty-five-foot height, there was a ten-foot squared bathing pool in the room’s center, which heated waters continuously pushed out steam.
Hanging on the wall on the far side of the pool was a large, ovular-shaped mirror. To her left, there was an entryway that was large enough for a large portable closet on wheels to traverse through, and which entrance led into another smaller room filled with tons of her boots and shoes, outfits and dresses, hats, scarves, jewelry—what she referred to as her “royal goodies.”
To her right, there stood not only a large portable closet on wheels, yet her six handmaidens currently in a bowing position, ready to perform all their morning missions—lotion, dress, groom, apply her make-up, and finally, don the crown upon their Sultaness.
Because of Brishava’s earlier-delivered requests to her handmaidens the night before, these handmaidens had already selected very comfortable, yet snazzy, traveling attire: a pair of silvery boots, golden breeches, and a silvery shirt that was partially concealed by a silky cape with gold-and-silver stripes.
Once the handmaidens had completed with this mission, an hour later, the lead girl that had jet-black hair and dark-brown eyes said, “We believe that we are done, my Sultaness. What do you think?”
Brishava, who continued to gaze at herself
for yet another minute, especially at her hair to ensure that there were no loose or chaotic strands in her pulled-back-above-the-crown ponytail, finally said with a chipper smile, “Wonderful, Lara!”
Lara responded, “Thank you, my Sultaness.”
“Thank you very much, girls—perfect as always!”
“Thank you, my Sultaness,” all the handmaidens responded back.
A few seconds later, Brishava’s smile slowly faded as she began to brief, “Tonight at seven o’clock, I shall be back here and ready to be prepared for bed, as I didn’t get any sleep at all last night.”
Even though she didn’t intend to pause at this point in her briefing, the handmaidens interrupted by giggling like little girls—in turn, Brishava began to giggle back as her mind began to reminisce, but only for a few seconds.
Once those seconds had passed, Brishava lightly cleared her throat, in order to regain a control of both her laughter and mind, just before she concluded this conversation by asking, “Please have my favorite set of black silky pajamas ready for me tonight?”
Even though three of the six handmaidens were still occasionally giggling, the other three that were more serious and mature immediately responded, “Yes, my Sultaness.”
Not even a second later, the older three crisply looked over at the younger three to calm their laughter and to respond—those younger three said almost at the same time, “Yes, my Sultaness.”
Still smiling, Brishava performed a ninety-degree pivot to the left, saying with a final smile, “That will be all, girls—have a lovely day!”
“Yes, my Sultaness,” they all said, just before they bowed.
Brishava walked the straight line toward the door. Ten seconds before her arrival, she called out, “Guards, please open the doors.”
A second later, the exterior guards opened them simultaneously, and then they bowed—the same four guards stood nearby.
After Brishava had exited the room, the door was closed. Once she had reached the middle of the hallway, she pivoted ninety-degrees to the left—the two guards at the door closed them and the other four guards followed her as she made her way to the royal dining hall.
Nearly a minute and a half later, once the group had all arrived at this set of double doors, the pair of exterior guards stationed there opened them simultaneously, and then they bowed as their Sultaness passed.
Brishava alone entered the royal dining hall, and the doors were closed right behind her. Already had her eyes observed and noted that besides the two-posted interior guards, which had risen from their bowing position, there were seven other occupants.
Currently, everyone was happily socializing with each other over at the couches—Calitta, Cheo, Chelsea, Travail, Barquoth, Yaush, and Jimnee.
“Good morning, my friends,” Brishava greeted to everyone with a very chipper tone as she lightly clapped her hands together one time.
In turn, half of the group replied back with an equally-chipper “good morning,” while the other half respectfully added the two words to either the front, or the back, of his or her reply, “my Sultaness.”
Still looking all around, Brishava asked with a laugh, “Anyone suffering from a hangover from too much alcohol at last night’s celebration?”
Most in the group shook their head negatively—after Jimnee had interpreted to Yaush, he raised his hand high into the air.
Brishava replied with another light laugh, “Me too, Yaush. Ready to eat guys? Saho mao yar?”
Everyone nodded affirmatively, especially Yaush.
After eating a delicious, intercontinental breakfast that was cooked up by a team of expert chefs, Brishava spent just about the entire day giving “the extended tour” of Pavelus to her friends.
They traveled via two horse-drawn royal carriages with a driver and a rider, as well a company-sized element of guards all riding horseback—half rode in front and the other half rode behind the carriages. Even though Chelsea and Jimnee had long ago been given the tour, they were more than happy to come along for the ride and enjoy the many sites a second time.
Of course, everyone was delighted and amazed to see everything that they did with twelve scheduled stops along the way, including an hour lunch at a five-star restaurant—stops containing historic statues, monuments, museums, and buildings dating back seven centuries, per Brishava who delivered the city’s presentation like a “professional tour guide.”
A little after six p.m., they arrived back in the palace courtyard—after everyone had exited the carriages, and stood around in a loose group, Brishava asked everyone in both of languages, “So, what do you all think of Pavelus? Did I do a good job in cleaning up and helping the poor neighborhoods, especially the ones around the docks?”
A wide range of very positive responses came flooding back from everyone, ranging from the words “amazing” to “spectacular!”
“Thank you so much,” Brishava said with a proud smile. After cocking her head toward the palace, she suggested, “Well, guys… Want to play some board games in the recreation room until it’s dinnertime?”
After Jimnee had interpreted to Yaush, everyone answered affirmatively—that is what they did for the next couple of hours, having “a good ole time.”
That evening, after the sun had set, Baltor woke up from sleep. Upon opening his eyes, he saw that there was a note resting upon his chest.
After picking up the note, he read:
‘Good evening, Baltor, my love of loves!
Dinner with Queen Calitta, King Cheo, Ambassador Chelsea, Ruling-General Stormea, Commanding-Knight Travail, all our Commanding-Generals, even Commander Barquoth, Yaush, and Jimnee will be at nine p.m. in the royal dining hall.
Love you, Brishava.’
Baltor got out of bed, standing to his feet. He then walked into the pool, bathed, dried himself off, put on his drawers, and then commanded, “Assistants.”
The six assistants entered from the walk-in closet; the last two pushed the portable closet on wheels. Once they arrived, they bowed, and then opened the closet.
They dressed him into his royal attire of the day—consisting of a red, furled long-sleeve shirt that had thick silver thread embroidered along all the seams, a pair of black breeches, and a pair of shiny black-and-red-striped boots.
Once dressed, the assistants manicured Baltor’s fingernails, and then they put on his pinky rings and royal emblem ring. Upon completion of these tasks, they next combed his hair and put it into a ponytail with his favorite gold hoop holding it together, put on a little eyeliner around his eyes, and put his crown upon his head.
Upon completion of these tasks, they performed one final check to make sure everything about their Sultan looked “perfect,” and as they found this to be the case, they bowed—the lead assistant immediately asked, “Well, my Sultan?”
“Excellent as always. Thank you, gentlemen. See you tonight after the festivities are over.”
“Thank you, my Sultan,” they said before they rose from their bow and left the room.
For a few minutes longer, Baltor gazed at himself before he headed for the exit while calling out, “Guards—open the doors.”
They did—with the four guards posted outside in tow, he and they made their way to the dining hall; and once there, the two guards posted there opened the doors and bowed. Baltor entered.
Comfortably sitting round this large round mahogany table, already set for dinner, were all of his guests, as well his wife.
As Baltor drew near the table, he gestured with his hands for them to remain seated, while greeting with a very warm smile, “Good evening to you all!” He then repeated his statement in Valakanese.
“Good evening, Sultan Baltor,” all greeted back with warm smiles upon their faces.
As soon as Baltor had taken his seat and clapped his hands twice, dozens of servants immediately came into the room, each bearing a large tray of food or drinks. They then began the process of politely offering whatever they possessed to each of the gues
ts. The guests, in turn, took what he or she wanted.
Soon after the course of eating dinner had begun, Calitta began, “Sultan Baltor, I must say that I have thoroughly enjoyed myself today, as Sultaness Brishava gave me such a wonderful tour of your beautiful city!”
Baltor replied with an appreciative nod and smile, “Thank you very much, Queen Calitta. You know that you are most welcome to come back anytime!”
“I would love to stay longer,” Calitta sang, “but I have much business at home that needs tending to. Though I am a queen, and our country is now at peace thanks to you all, it’s that time of the month when bills have to be paid.”
“I see,” Baltor said thoughtfully. “Well if you ever need the Sharia Empire’s help with anything, feel free to ask.”
“Again, thank you, Sultan Baltor,” Calitta said with a very pleased smile upon her face. She then picked her fork up off the table with her left hand, poked it into another piece of lemon-peppery seasoned shark filet on her plate, and took another delicious bite.
“You are most welcome, Queen Calitta,” Baltor replied with a very sincere nod to his head. Still holding his fork, he plucked it into a piece of melon on his plate, which had been seasoned with his red spice, and used his teeth to slide off the piece off the fork and into his mouth. Delicious!
For most of dinner, everyone continued to eat in silence—until about ten minutes later, Travail finally set his fork on his plate as he could eat no more, swallowed the last of the spicy rice still in his mouth, and then said, “Sultan Baltor, I have an important question. What is your plan for the Vispano Forces?”
Looking right over, Baltor answered, “I will be sending you guys back home within the next several days. However, I would like at least a company-sized element of the Vispano Knights to volunteer to come back with me right away, so that we can start a new branch here in Pavelus. I really like your ‘knightly code’ of honor and ethics, just so you know.”
“That is a most excellent idea, my Sultan!” Travail replied with a surprised-yet-appreciative nod. After all, now their Order would be spreading to another major city, something he had not considered as a possibility.
BOOK II OF III: The Reign of the Sultan Page 37