Gods and Guardians

Chapter 39: The Troubled King

'We must pray,' Dravan said. 'We must pray.'

Lord Simenusa sat beside the king before the altar of the Guardians in the Zihan's sanctum. Cornelius and Sisa stood on a stepped altar bedecked with precious stones. The altar gave off a fragrance of peace which Dravan knew not for his senses were shut.

It wasn't morning yet. The cue of worship was yet to be sounded. Night loomed magnificently outside the walls. The Zihan himself could no more pray. His back ached in this position. He had been here the full day's length to talk to the king, but the king had not let him since. Dravan has been praying. He urged Lord Simenusa to pray too. Each time Lord Simenusa tried to talk to him, His Majesty persisted they continued praying.

Their eyes settled on the tip of the star below them, the pand they each sat on. Until the plymocks sounded the cue to awaken Thralls for the gathering, the king and Lord Simenusa continued to pray and meditate.

While Lord Simenusa was weary now, worn and sapped of vigour, the king's face exuded raw strength. At this point, the mystic wondered whether his coming into this private sanctum to see the king was a good idea. He learnt that the king was ailing with worry about the state of the Islands. When he asked to see the king, he learnt that His Majesty was in the private sanctum for a whole day without coming out. No one could speak to him, for he would urge the same to pray with him. The king had the energy endowed only by the gods to men of destiny.

He was born for this and he knows

Dravan urged him to retreat into the temple to conduct the gathering.

'The Great Lord would answer me before I leave. I must know what it is that I must do, for everything is falling apart and he has said nothing.'

He returned his eyes and meditated.

***

The king of Zainox did not go to the gathering this morning. Instead, he chose to spend the time with his son, Nimrod. The latter woke with the cue to find his father already sitting beside him.

'Father, good morning.' Nimrod pulled himself up.

'Sleep well?' Dasirus replied.

'Yes, Father How are you?'

'I guess I'm stronger than I was this time yesterday.'

Nimrod could see. 'We should be going to the temple house, right?'

Kiyanna opened the door momentarily. 'Oh, Father, you are here already?'

Dasirus beamed. 'Kiyanna, go to the gathering. When I'm through talking with your brother, we might come.'

Kiyanna understood immediately. They were not coming.

'Nimrod, I am proud of you,' Dasirus said when Kiyanna shut the door.

Nimrod rubbed his neck, guiltily. 'Thank you.'

'And your friend was with you all the while? Damian.'

Nimrod nodded. 'Yes. He agreed to help with the research.' Pause. 'Have you begun taking the medicine?'

Dasirus nodded. Afterwards, there was an extended silence. 'Yes I started as you directed. I have to agree what was her name again...?'

'Weinisa,' Nimrod helped.

'Weinisa, arr yes. Weinisa. Why did she keep her discovery private for so long?'

Weinisa was a physician in Simsee. Her private work home was situated on the outskirts of the city. Nimrod and Damian decided to use her as cover. When they entered Simsee — that is central Simsee — they separated from Zola. They had sworn the group to secrecy. Being that the mission was one that would benefit the crown and not Nimrod and Damian directly, they understood. Nimrod and Damian stayed with Weinisa for more than a tenth before returning home.