“I love pork, it’s my favourite.” The king added as he sat down, “Please have a seat. I understand that you Tzurians find swine offensive especially when offered as a meal. So I made sure they prepared a nice roasted turkey, just for you.”
Hashim looked at the variety of food and exotic fruits displayed on the table, and almost drooled. He then turned to the king and queen.
“I insist,” the king said. “Please!”
Hashim sighed, then gently drew a chair out and sat down.
“Please, eat!” The king added, “You Tzurians are lovers of exotic fruits I am told, I also made sure they plugged the finest from the palace garden. Hope you like it.”
Hashim grabbed a purple fruit that looked like an apple and took a bite. He shook his head. “Mmm!” He responded, “This is very-very-good! Tastes like uh… assortment of fruits; a mixture of pineapple and uh…grape?”
“You’re pleased by the sweetness of what I offer to you then.” The king said excitedly, “This is a good start, huh?”
Hashim shook his head as he mashed the juicy fruit with his Tzurian teeth.
“Good!” The king added, “I love the fact that you love it.” He giggled, “I believe you’ve met Nabil?”
“I sure did,” he said, “She’s beautiful, but the way she stares and appears out of nowhere scares my soul.” He licked his lips, “Whence comes this peculiar fruit? It’s…juicy!” He took another bite.
“My queen’s favourite,” said the king, “Jaspel, I call it. I actually named it after her beloved mother.” He cleared his throat, “I don’t know what name your people shall call it, I can give you some samples to go back home with. It is a combination of the heart of a pineapple tree and some fruit tree from the western part of Africa.”
Hashim stretched his hand and grabbed a chunk of meat placed before him. He sank his teeth to it. “Hmm!” He remarked, “You live in a paradise oh great king.”
“Wait till you taste her own meal,” said the king referring to his queen. “She’ll make your tongue realise it has been denied its right from birth.” He smiled.
“Oh please, my king!” The queen said. “Yet he doesn’t want me in the kitchen.” She smiled.
“No king in his right minds would allow a rare and beautiful gem such as yourself near anything that burns, my queen.” He responded, “As much as I’d do anything to eat your food, I’d rather die trying to protect your tender skin from being gouged by the wind itself.”
She smiled and shied away from his comment.
Hashim belched, “Pardon my manners.” He said.
“The seer, Nabil.” Said the king, “She thinks you’re special, and should not be tampered with.”
“The beautiful lady in red?” Hashim said, “I think she’s in love with me. I can see it in her eyes.”
The king cleared his throat and turned towards his right.
Hashim turned and saw Nabil standing behind him. He gently turned his head back to the table and laid the meat on a platter, he reached for a cup filled with red wine. “Nabil, her name?” He asked, “She’s not from this kingdom, is she?”
“Hmm.” The queen remarked, “And, how did you know, might I ask?”
“Hashim is one of Thal Kalliman’s great student.” The king said.
“Thal Kalliman?” The queen asked, “The great old and grey scholar from the Ghanerk?”
Hashim shook his head, “and how did the great king know all these about me?” He asked.
“I know more than enough about you, Hashim.” Said the king, “I know that you’re the true heir to the throne of your father, King Xhafir Khail III. You’re a brilliant swordsman, and very generous to the people, even those not of your father’s kingdom. I also know that you lost your wife to the cold hands of death.”
“Oh dear,” said the queen, “So sorry for your great loss.”
Hashim smiled. He gently placed the wine cup back on the table.
“Please, come with me.” Said the king as he stood up, “There’s something I’d like to show you.” He wiped his mouth with a piece of cloth and led the way, Hashim stood up and walked with him. And so did Nabil and the two guards.
The king took him up to the roof of the palace, where ten more guards stood watch. He showed him a model of the vast land he ruled, laid on a big platform; it showed the great city of Nurok, the capital of Therakania. And many other cities and lands under the king.
“Not as big as thy father’s kingdom,” said the king. “But big enough to be my pride, as it was to my father.” He sighed, “You see, my father…your father’s chum built this great city, and during his reign he shifted the capital after every ten years. This way, he believed would bring development and spread prosperity throughout the kingdom.”
“Wise approach.” Hashim said.
“He was a wise king indeed.” He said, “We Therakanians attach value to loyalty. And the late king, my father, had told me a great deal about your father. He promised never to stand against his interests in any way, no matter what. My father had great respect for your father.” He nodded, “He always said that your father was more than just a king, but a man with a good and kind heart. I think there came a time when war knocked upon the gates of our kingdom. When Arrazaq, the Gruxian invaded our land and none among my father’s friends came to his rescue. He called for help but they turned their backs on him. The one king that my father didn’t call out to, was the only one that came to his aid. They joined forces and drove out the Gruxians, and fed them to the vultures in the plains.” He laughed, “My father told me that, after the war, this king even offered assistance to help raise the kingdom’s economy back on its feet. Do you know who this king was?”
“No!” Hashim responded, “But I’ve heard stories of King Arrazaq of Grux.”
“Come on, Hashim.” He said, “Don’t tell me your father never told you about how he assisted my father in defeating the Gruxians in the days of old.”
“No!” Hashim answered, “My father isn’t much of a talker. He is more of a thinker and adores his solitude. He did tell me he was expecting a gift from your father, and he sent us to collect it, we didn’t know your father’s son had other plans.”
“Things are not as they appear, Hashim.” King Yuri said, “You’ll find out at the right time, maybe. But your father…he was a great king.”
“No, he is a great king.” Hashim emphasised.
King Yuri walked to Hashim. “King Xhafir Khail III passed away weeks back, Hashim.” He said. “About the same time you were brought.”
“Really?” Hashim responded. “No, you must be talking about a different king entirely. My father…”
“Your father was assassinated, Hashim.” He interjected, “I’m sorry to say but it is the truth.”
“Don’t you dare stir the name of my father with the dead,” Hashim yelled in anger.
The guards made a move but King Yuri signalled them, and they remained calm.
“I did not invite you into my palace to make mockery of you.” He said, “The son of my father’s friend is also my friend.”
“Then what is this unthinkable thing you spat?” Hashim said.
“I have no reason to lie to you.” He said, “I’d gain nothing from it.”
Hashim wrestled the king to the ground. The guards grabbed hold of him and subdued him.