Asmireen
©2024 by Jonathan Scott
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Chapter 26 - Purple Apathy
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Yoken's Wisdom
2.12 The babies, the broken, and the old, if they be fine then all be fine. If they not be fine, then you all be greedy, and it be good if you be afraid.
"Not her. Too fat." he said.
There was then a small pause.
"Yeah. Look at her. Of course I want her." he said laughing.
"What? And all I have to do is leave this Nahli thing alone?" he said again.
"Nah. She's cute, but I'll tell you what. You take her. It's a royal present, ok?".
A young blond haired man sat sideways in a throne dressed in robes that were of such wealth and fortune that they mocked him and the obvious baseness of his own countenance. All about him were the splendors of a royal house and the powers of a royal station. He loved the idea that the entire country would do anything for him now if he so commanded. He loved that the country was now his to play with as he so wished. He held the golden scepter of office in his hand and twirled it as though it were a toy. He then stood and walked over to a long line of beautiful peasant women, some of whom were still very young.
"Yup. Her too." said the boy mechanically. The boy was fond of faces, although, his pleasure was primarily brought about by other features. Routinely, the boy glanced at the faces of the women and girls in line. Afterward though, after each glance, would come the careful study of other portions of their bodies. The women, having no other financial alternatives, simply stood there, like pigs being judged at a county fair. This boy, who was not yet mature enough to even be called a man, was the king.
The King's first counselor, also a youth, walked along the line of women that would each be paid, if chosen, five gold pieces for their services. He stood by each woman or girl, one by one, as the king chose the women in whom he was interested. For those who were especially talented, there was also the possibility of receiving permanent employment as a palace courtesan. This honor would come with a yearly salary of twenty platinums, as well as a servant's room and board. For those whom the king found especial favor with, there was even the hope of becoming a full fledged concubine, complete with a yearly salary of one hundred platinums, three personal attendants and accommodations in the palace itself. None though dared to hope of marriage. The lofty station of queen was always reserved, historically, for a woman that, usually, the King had never even met, but who could perform some special service for the kingdom, either in politics, or in image.
An old man stood next to the throne of the King and showed absolute patience, if not sheer delight, in each and every interruption.
"Sire, yes, you will receive one hundred thousand platinum pieces as I mentioned if you promise to allow Nahli to continue their proselytizing." said the old man, who had once been, until recently, the first counselor to the previous king.
"Wow. Look at her. How magnificent. Pay her double and schedule her for this afternoon."
The young lady in whom the king had found so much favor clapped her hands together, giggled, and ran off behind a curtain.
"A hundred thousand! Did you hear that George? That alone would keep me in women and wine for a thousand years. George! Take another one! It's on me!" said the fool.
"Does my offer please you sire?"
"You bet it does."
"Sire, then perhaps you would be interested in hearing another?"
"Sure, why not?" said the boy who once again sat in his throne sideways and began to lick the frosting off of a pastry taken from a nearby table in the most immature of ways.
"Well, I am authorized to give you one hundred thousand for a pledge of alliance. On the other hand though, I am authorized to promise you one million for a royal sanction." said the old man with a huge smile.
"ONE MILLION PLATINUM PIECES?"
"With that much money I could be a king..." said the boy who immediately recognized his own mistake and began laughing far too heartily, as did his best buddy George. The old man laughed as well, so as to not look out of place. This new king was, by far, much more accommodating than the old one.
"What's a 'sanction?'" asked the boy.
"Well, it would mean that Nahli would become the official state religion of Eastbrook."
"What does that mean?"
The old man looked at the boy and could not control his pleasure any further. He began to laugh at the king out of sheer joy. It was just so easy to do what this old man had set out to do that the old man laughed out of pure relief. The previous king had been so inflexible. This one though seemed completely willing and content to agree with each and every suggestion placed before him.
The boy, seeing the laughter of the old man and not understanding its cause began to laugh along, as did his first counselor, which of course made the old man laugh even harder.
"It would mean that everyone in Eastbrook would be required to become a member of Nahli, yourself included, sire." said the old man still laughing.
"I would have to?"
"Yes, sire."
"And for that, I would get a million platinum pieces?"
"Yes sire. I can give you the money within a week of the pronouncement." said the old man wiping a tear from his eye.
"What's the catch?" said the boy looking seriously at the old man.
"What do you mean sire?"
"Why would this church be willing to pay me so much for this?"
"They do it because they care so much about the spiritual welfare of Eastbrook." said the old man who knew that he was lying.
"But, they are already here. Why do they need a sanction? Almost everyone is already Nahli anyway. Why do they need everyone to become a member?"
The old man thought for a second to decide on the exact lie that he would relate.
"They care deeply sire. You see they know all about the pain that the church of Papa Voice has been placing on Eastbrook through the years."
"Think of how it used to be before Nahli. All of the sickness. All of the work. Papa Voice never intervened. He had his people work themselves to the bone everyday. He never gave them anything. He simply took their tithes and left them to their misery. Nahli wishes to relieve the world of these thieves."
"Oh."
"And you see, the members of Papa Voice's church, they can be quite fanatical. Even in their misery they are driven to obedience. I am always amazed to see the depths of their suicidal devotion. It seems obvious that this devotion could only exist through brain washing or perhaps even by magical manipulation. Were Nahli to be given a royal sanction, they would then be able to force these poor afflicted fanatical members back to mental health. Nahli even feels that they could possibly put an end to Papa Voice's terrible religion altogether. It is a worthy goal sire." said the old man who praised himself secretly for his ability to improvise.
"So, I get a million platinum AND I get to be known as the king who put an end to Papa Voice's church? I get both?" beamed the boy with a look of pride.
"Yes sire." said the old man who was amazed at the absolute perfection of his lie.
"It will be my pleasure. I'll make the announcement tomorrow. Please tell your contacts to have my money ready very soon. I will require the first five hundred thousand tomorrow morning, or I will do nothing."
"Yes sire. Of course."
Jake stood. He had been sleeping. But then, the sleep had been interrupted by the dream of his family and the word "SAME." The dream had been so seemingly real though. It was unlike any dream that he had ever had. Most dreams have a surrealistic rubbery quality to them. This dream though hadn't. It felt very real. In fact, it felt much more like a memory from very long ago than merely a dream.
Jake sat and wondered. Just then, Hannah walked in.
"Good morning Jake." said Hannah.
"Come on in, I made pancakes and sausages." she continued.
Jake looked at her briefly and then made a decision about something of absolute importance.
"I'm not hungry." he said, realizing that indeed he wasn't. He remembered the pieces of toast and glass of milk. Jake knew that the dream had not been a dream at all, his stomach told him so.
"Hannah, did you think about what I said yesterday about Asmodeus and Asmireen?"
"Not really Jake. I'm sorry. I've been quite busy."
"Hannah, I'm not sure, but I think it's the truth."
Hannah paused and became worried. She looked at Jake carefully in his eyes and began to try to judge whether or not her young nephew was insane, joking, or truly sincere.
"What makes you say that Jake?"
She began to look at Jake as though she believed there was something wrong with him.
"I think I just had a vision."
"A what?"
Jake looked down as if he was embarrassed and began to consider telling his aunt that he had only been kidding.
Hannah then changed her stance and appeared to be thinking.
"Tell me Jake. It's ok. I know you're honest."
Jake then sat back down on his bed and began to explain to Hannah all about his experience. He told her about having seen Saja. He told her about having seen them all. He then went on to explain about his previous dream where he had been racing Gideon down the long pebbly path with the dragon chasing him from behind. He explained about his compulsion with the word 'Asmireen.' He then explained about how the compulsion disappeared once he finally found the answer.
"Why you Jake?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean, why would Papa Voice choose you? There's millions of people around here. Why you?"
"I don't know."
Hannah and Jake both sat there on the edge of the bed thinking.
"So, what do you think you're supposed to do with this information?" asked Hannah.
"I think I'm supposed to tell someone about it. Someone important maybe. I think I also have to get Marie to throw her gift away." he said.
"They're going to think you're crazy, you know."
"I know. I don't want to do it. I wish I didn't have to." said Jake.
"You don't have to."
"Yeah, I know."
"Then why do it?"
"Maybe because I'm supposed to."
"You don't have to Jake."
"Yeah, I know. It seems important though." said Jake who then stood up and walked out of the room.
Zeb and Adam towered before Jake. They both looked down on the small young frail human being and, as he spoke, looked back and forth at each other often.
"Kid. We'll help you. What do you need?" said Adam who looked at Jake with a full face of fury. Jake would have been startled if he didn't know Adam and also know that Adam wore a face full of fury routinely. Jake wondered what Adam looked like as he did normal things in life, such as eating breakfast, or washing his clothes. Jake wondered if, when Adam went to the bathroom, if the bathroom was frightened.
Jake looked up into the faces of these two giants. He wondered what his life would have been like had these two not intervened. Somewhere inside of him though he knew the answer to the question. He knew that he would have died. He could not help but feel uniquely grateful to them.
"Why do you two help me so much? I'm nobody." said Jake.
Zeb looked back at Adam and then both smiled and looked down at Jake.
"What? You don't want our help?" asked Adam.
"Yeah. But, I just don't understand why you do it."
Adam looked at Zeb and smiled. Jake knew that they were both not telling him something important. They knew exactly why they helped him. They just wouldn't say.
"Oh. Just don't worry about that." said Zeb.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Adam.
That afternoon, Jake stood before Master Williams and related his tale as he stood between Zeb and Adam.
That afternoon, two hours later, Jake stood before Master Bremin in the magic guild and related his tale as he stood between Zeb and Adam with Master Williams standing behind him.
That afternoon, just as the afternoon stopped being the afternoon, Jake stood before Sir Thomas, the fourth counselor to the previous king, and related his tale as he stood between Zeb and Adam with Master Bremin and Master Williams standing behind him.
That evening, just as the sun went down, Jake stood before the new king of Eastbrook and related his tale as he stood between Zeb and Adam with Master Bremin, Sir Thomas and Master Williams standing behind him.
"Yeah. I'm like really sorry about it, but yeah, I don't think I can help you." said the new king smiling. The new king sat upon his throne. About him were a dozen kingsguards as well as four mages. Behind the king stood his seventeen year old first counselor and an old man, Sir Allan, who had, just this day, been designated as his second counselor.
"Sire, I believe that this boy is telling the truth." said Sir Thomas.
"Everyone knew your opinion before you even entered the room Sir Thomas." said Sir Allen.
Sir Thomas looked at the new king as he lazily sat upon his throne and the pimply faced youth behind him, and felt a blast of fear run through his body as though he were being electrocuted. The kingdom, in its time of greatest need of great leadership, was being tossed about like a ball between two children who laughed with each heave.
"Sire, I am a mage. I am well known in this world. I should not need to prove to you my might nor my integrity. I have cast spell after spell at this boy to test his honesty, and I know, with an absolute certainty that he is telling the truth. We are all in danger." said Master Bremin.
"Yeah. I can't be sure of that." said the king who now sat cross-legged upon the throne with one leg extended, bouncing it up and down.
"Why?" asked Master Bremin barely tolerating the careless behavior of this king.
The new king had a hard time listening to anyone. He had a hard time thinking about anything. Within his mind, the phrase "one million platinum" echoed with such an intensity that nothing else, not even common sense could penetrate.
"He's just a boy. And he's a fanatic as well. And you all seem to believe him. What does that tell me about you? I'm sorry. You just all seem far too suspicious to me." said the king.
Master Williams then hobbled forward, his might and anger betraying his illusion of frailty.
"You don't trust Master Bremin? You don't trust Sir Thomas? Who do you trust sire?" asked Master Williams with a voice that was low and polite but, if one was listening carefully, was also laced with a threat of absolute intended violence. Master Bremin carefully laid a hand on Master Williams shoulder hoping to somehow calm him. This was a time for perfect logic and perfect manners. Master Williams glanced once quickly at the hand upon his shoulder, but only briefly. He then quickly directed his gaze back towards the king.
The new king sat upon his throne uncomfortably. His circumstances had placed him in a very serious position. His youthful stupidity though had kept him mostly unaware of how serious it truly was. Most people have enough humility where these moments in life can be navigated safely, but this new king, having none, found himself walking a very dangerous road only partially aware of the danger in it. The new king sat before the greatest fighter of the land, the greatest mage of the land, and two giant twenty year veteran professors of the fighter's guild and, to the bewilderment of all, felt an inclination towards being disrespectful to them. He would never know how utterly foolish he was being.
"I trust myself and I trust my counselors." said the king defiantly with a smug mocking smile.
"You trust this man!?!?" asked Master Williams as he angrily pointed at Sir Allen, the King's new second counselor.
"Yeah. He seems fine." said the new king in absolute mind-stunning naivety.
"HE SEEMS FINE? HE SEEMS FINE!?!? SO YOU MADE HIM YOUR SECOND COUNSELOR, BEHIND THIS OTHER INFANT?" screamed Master Williams as he pointed at Sir George.
"MASTER WILLIAMS! CALM YOURSELF!" cried Sir Thomas.
Master Williams was in full rage and the kingsguard, all of whom had been his students, or the students of other professors under him, began to shake. They did not know what to do were this meeting to turn violent. The king's foolishness was as obvious as the wisdom of the three fighters that confronted him. The king was wrong and only the king seemed to be aware of it.
Master Williams grabbed the king by his robes and held him high in the air.
"DO YOUR JOB, DOG!" screamed Master Williams.
"WILLIAMS!!! NO!!!" cried Master Bremin.
The tiny body of the king squirmed in the mighty hands of the fighter. The kingly robes, which were of far too great a size for this boy flowed all about him magnifying the fact that this boy was in far too responsible of a position than he was capable of.
The kingsguards to each side of the king reacted immediately, as did the four mages. Each of the mages began preparing spell after spell to cast at the group which was now physically harassing their king. With each spell, Master Bremin simply waved his hand, magically slapping the face of each mage, thereby interrupting their concentration and breaking their spell.
Zeb and Adam threw themselves into the battle, unarmed and unarmored. They stood at either side of Master Williams knocking the tiny kingsguards helter skelter each and every time they lunged. Sir Thomas simply stood in the background holding his head wondering how the mighty palace of Eastbrook could fall into such chaos in only two days. Jake shook by his side.
"STAND BACK YOU FOOLS!" screamed Adam.
"THE KING IS NOT IN DANGER!" screamed Zeb.
"THERE IS NO TIME LIKE THE PRESENT TO TEACH THIS BRAT THE SERIOUSNESS OF HIS OFFICE!" screamed Master Williams.
The guards began to look back and forth at each other still uncertain what to do. They all were aware of the king's stupidity. They were all aware of the honesty and integrity of Master Bremin, Zeb and Adam. They had all worked with them for years learning their craft. But, they were now under oath to protect a fool and to aid him in being foolish. Each of them felt very uncertain about what they were doing and without their knowing it, their attacks began to slow down almost to the point where they ceased altogether.
The king looked at his guards and a foolish rage filled his heart.
"DEFEND ME OR I WILL HAVE YOU HANGED!" screamed the king still fully unaware of his own mortality. He then spit in the face of Master Williams defiantly.
Master Williams, as the spittle ran down his face, began to scream and lose the tiny remaining portion of his self-control that still remained. The greatest fighter in the land punched the young king across his face sending a stream of blood and broken teeth flying across the room. The kingsguards, bound by duty, all resumed their attacks. There was nothing else to do.
Seeing the seriousness in the eyes of the kingsguards, Zeb and Adam, rather than attacking to merely defend, sadly began to change their attacks, doing huge massive crushing blows to the guards. With each blow, a guard would fall and not get up afterward.
Zeb and Adam then glanced at the door which was now opening to reveal a stream of kingsguards that began to enter the room. Zeb and Adam each knew that they could not hold off the attacks of so many well trained fighters indefinitely.
As the first of these fresh reinforcements got within striking distance, Master Bremin casually flicked a finger towards him, sending an intense bolt of light zooming across the room. The bolt of light then enveloped several of these guards who fell to the ground convulsing. Master Bremin then simply went back to slapping the faces of the four other mages.
The four mages though, seeing the futility of their spells dove and scampered in four different directions. Now that the four mages no longer stood before Master Bremin, and Master Bremin could not see them all at the same time, he could no longer defend himself against all four. Master Bremin then quickly grabbed at an amulet that was around his neck, said several strange sounds and disappeared.
The four mages, now being free to attack the king's attackers, began to cast deadly spells, all pointed directly at the heart of Master Williams.
The first mage began a spell of disintegration that would turn Master Williams to dust. The second prepared a lightning bolt sure to weld the great fighter's feet to the ground. The third prepared a shape changing spell that would change the body of the great master into that of a worm that could later on easily be stepped on. The fourth prepared an arrow spell that would send magical shaft after shaft at the master until his body split in two.
"AMAN HERIO GRYPHALGIUS MOOR!" cried an unseen voice.
The four great echoing words shattered the chaos of the throne room and all stood in amazement as the bodies of Jake, Sir Thomas, Zeb, Adam, Master Williams and the King all turned white, and then clear, and then disappeared altogether.
The king was gone.
"No. You can't come down. Now shut up and listen." said a voice.
The King could no longer stand. He had long since fallen to the snowy ground shaking from the cold as the great snowy gale pummeled his now naked body. Master Bremin and Master Williams stood there with him, atop the highest mountain the planet had to offer, waiting for this young king to mature. There was no time for patience. Usually, kings would not become kings until they advanced well into their thirties. By the time a man is thirty, any man, usually has enough maturity to at least know how to not die from his own stupidity. This new king though, being only seventeen, was not yet so blessed.
"B-B-B-But-t-t Ah-Ah-I'm-m-m the K-K-King-g-g-g." said the King somehow believing that the title alone would save him from any harm.
"Yup. You're the King. Congratulations." said Master Williams.
"Would you like to remain King?" said Master Bremin.
"B-B-B-But-t-t Ah-Ah-I'm-m-m the K-K-King-g-g-g."
Master Williams looked at Master Bremin and began to laugh aloud. Master Bremin looked disapprovingly at Master Williams. This strategy of theirs, to intimidate a king, was far too reckless. Master Williams seemed to not care.
"WE DON'T CARE!" said Master Williams who stood there and was fully entertained at the stupidity of this boy.
"I'll ask you again sire. Would you like to remain King?" said Master Bremin, almost pleading with the King to mature. Master Bremin knew that this would not work. But, once Master Williams had struck the King, there were no longer any other alternatives.
"Y-Y-Y-Yes-s-s." said the King whose lips were now quite blue and who looked as if any second he would lose consciousness.
"P-P-P-Please-z-z-z." said the King who was now desperate to save his own life.
Master Bremin, relieved, raised his arms above his head, said several very unpronounceable words, and then clapped his hands.
All three were now sitting cozily by a warm fire in a log cabin. The King, still naked, lay on the floor shaking. Master Williams walked off into another room from where he soon returned with a large broiled turkey drumstick. He then sat down on a sofa and began to eat it all the while staring at the King as a wolf stares at a rabbit.
"Are you going to listen now?" said Master Williams as he chewed.
"Y-Y-Yesssss." said the King in tears.
Master Williams and Master Bremin then began to retell the entire story as it was related to them by Jake.
Obediently, the King shook or nodded his head, depending on whichever was needed to save his own life. A portion of humility had been thrust onto this youth. He accepted it as one who starved would accept a box of stale and rotted bread.
The conversation continued for perhaps an hour and the King, very obediently, gave all the responses that he believed he needed to give. After an hour, Master Bremin and Master Williams both became somewhat satisfied that the King would, the next day, make a decree that would ban Nahli from the country of Eastbrook.
That evening, the King would later reappear in his throne room. It was dark and empty. He found his own kingly robes there on the floor where they had fallen from him. He wrapped the robes around himself tightly, sat down on his throne with his knees tucked tightly below his neck and began to weep like a little child.
Marie walked to the wagon. Jake, Isaac, and Hannah walked behind her closely. Marie was crying.
Marie had just partaken of the sacrament that signified her reentry into the Church of Papa Voice. The second she left the church, Jake noticed that she began walking strangely. She was leaning on her legs as though she was testing their strength and seemed unsatisfied about it. Marie no longer had a gift.
"Are you okay Marie?" asked Hannah.
"My legs feel weak. It's hard to stand. I can't run no more can I?" asked Marie.
"No Marie. But, you're safe." said Isaac.
"Safe from what?"
"Your soul is safe Marie."
"Safe from what Isaac?"
Jake put a hand on Marie's shoulder and Marie began to cry even harder. Her gift from Nahli had made her safe. Her gift from Nahli had brought her food. Her gift from Nahli had made her special. Now, she was nothing more than just another eight year old girl in a city that was flooded with strangeness. Despite Isaac's assertion, Marie felt very much not safe at all.
They all climbed aboard the wagon. And then, Isaac flicked the reins once and Gideon began to take them home. As they drove, Marie held Monk tightly.