part 3

The sun was gathering its last golden threads from the earth, and it turned red like blood congested on the king's face when he slammed the door violently upon entering his room.

He nervously poured himself a glass of sweet wine and then began to pace back and forth across the large room aimlessly. Most of the wine spilled onto the ground following his wide steps, soaking the earth to the point of drunkenness while he only sipped a little.

"They want me to abdicate the throne once again!... why ?... Isn't it enough that I humbled myself and did it once? ... . Who are they... who are they to doubt my ability to rule... I... I am the one with the crown... They must think I am weak and submissive, a lion without fangs!..." The king thought to himself first with anger over an old wound that had not healed, then as he calmed down, sadness and regret overtook his heart, leading him to say in doubt : " Is this really what they think of me?... isn't Marwin my friend? How could he do this to me ?"

He sat at the threshold of one of the room's windows, watching the sunset behind the mountains with apprehension about what news the coming days would bring... about what would come after the long night! Unconcerned by the gentle breeze that pressed cold kisses upon his forehead and cheeks. The king suddenly stood, placing the crown at the window's threshold, then fell to his knees on the cold ground and raised his hands to his bowed head, revealing his palms in humility, beseeching his deity.

The elders of the sun worshippers advised the people to pray for their needs and to give thanks for the blessings at two particular times of day more than others, at sunrise and sunset. The supplicants would pray at sunrise for their desires and wishes, while sunset would be reserved for the prayers of the oppressed and those wishing to keep their secrets safe.

His father had told him more than once, with pride and dignity etched on his face, that there was no need for him to beseech a deity, for kings are the gods of the earth. But he also told him, with the same frankness and a tone of veiled disdain, that he did not consider him worthy of ruling... thus it would not harm him at all to supplicate !