Suburban Vampire: Book of Origins

MALEK, also known as JEREMIAH: Part One

UPPER NUBIA, AFRICA

333 BCE

"Your majesty!" The royal eunuch announced, "may I present Malek, crown prince and grand vizier of Upper Nubia!"

The large double doors swung open and a young, handsome African man boldly approached the ivory throne, upon which was seated an older, heavy-set man wearing a crown lined with lion's teeth. The young man walked down the hall of imported marble then stopped before the dais upon which the throne set, then knelt upon the lion skin rug that was stretched out before it. The old king smiled, then rose from his throne and descended the steps to approach the young man.

"Rise, my son," the king said. "There is no need to be so formal!"

The young man rose as well, and with a beaming smile embraced his father. "But your majesty," he said, "I seek to honor you in all that I do."

The king laughed. "You do honor me, my son! And I have nothing but praise for the way you have administered the office of grand vizier." He then looked down at the lion skin rug. "You even honored me with the very first lion you ever killed."

"How could I not?"

"My son, that was your achievement, your glory, and yet you gave it to me. A better gift a father could never receive from his son!"

"Again, how could I not? For you are a good king, and a good father."

"And you a good son, and most worthy of my throne."

"I thank you, father, but perhaps we should discuss the issue at hand. There is a reason you called upon me, I assume?"

"Indeed, there is. As you are well aware, we are clients of the king of Persia. The king of kings has allowed us some degree of autonomy, so long as we allow the Persian empire certain rights of way and trade concessions."

"I do not see why that is. We of Upper Nubia are a strong people—"

"Perhaps, my son, but not strong enough to withstand the might of Persia. Besides, it has been a mutually beneficial arrangement, for Upper Nubia is but a minor kingdom in the scheme of things. But back to the purpose for which you have been called: the king of kings, Darius of Persia, has called upon us to raise an army."

"To what end?"

"The Persian empire has been threatened by the young king of Macedon. Darius has called upon us to assist in the defense of his realm. He expects all his vassals and clients to join in the defense of the empire."

"And you want me to raise and lead this army?"

"It is a great honor, is it not, to lead men into battle? A king must understand the arts of war in order to be a well-rounded leader, do you not agree?"

"Of course I agree. I am honored that you choose me for this, but I do not see why we are fighting for a king thousands of miles away, in order to fight another king who is from thousands of miles beyond that. We have no quarrel with Macedon, do we?"

"No, not that I am aware of. Do you not want this honor, my son?"

"Oh, no, it's not that. I just don't see why we, of all people, are being called to defend the great Persian empire. Do they not have enough armies already?"

"Apparently not. This young Macedonian king is, from what I gather, most formidable. Greece and Asia Minor have fallen to him, already."