The King's Scepticism

Prologue

‘’What makes a powerful Kingdom?’’ asked Prince Jairus to his father as he came by to kiss him goodnight.

‘’ A wise and a good King and citizens, son, When wealth and honour fills your house, you must never forget who carried you to the throne. Wealth and manpower all comes from the people who bows at your mere scent. Love them as much as you love power. That’s the secret to remain powerful.’’

‘’ What, then, can destroy a powerful kingdom? ‘’

‘’ Greed and Pride of course, especially when that comes from within the powerful kingdom.’’

The King’s Scepticism

Jairus acceded to his father’s throne at the age of 17 after King Lemuel died of a prolonged respiratory disease. As a young, energetic and ambitious King, he himself made official appearance on the battlefield. The Royal Ministers opposed this act claiming it a risky fate for a Kingdom but he would insist saying, ‘’ Routhon’s fate lies not in the hands of our enemies, it lies in the hands of the Heaven alone. ‘’

A kingdom so powerfully inherited, King Jairus bathed himself in the glory of freedom. He has triumphed 3 major wars in 18 years while almost draining the whole kingdom in the going. A frenemy king of another Kingdom would say that King Jairus is a mad King. But deep down in the heart, everyone agrees that the secret behind his greatness lies in the firmness quality in his madness.

At 35, he called all the Consul Generals of Routhon Provinces and waged a war against Hetitroi, a small empire of eastern descendants, ruled by emperor Karita. When the last enemy was slayed, King Jairus felt extreme dizziness which made him to lose control of himself and compelled him to fall on the ground. Then, he went to a deep sleep for sometime and when he regained consciousness, he found himself lying agonizingly in a room that looked like a dungeon but the wide open window and the unlocked backdoor assured him that it was not. Two questions lingers on his head,‘’ Where am I? And for what? ‘’

His body and neck were sore from oversleeping. He called out for his guards but nobody answered. He strenuously got hold of himself to rise and take a look outside the window; the sun tells him it is going to be dark soon but the green trees confused him because the last memory of him awake was in a battlefield with a sword and a shield surrounded by soldiers and leafless trees. Another question rose up, ‘’ Who brought me here? If my guards are not with me then it must be an enemy!″

He took a step out the backdoor and was shocked to realize that he was in a small house beside a giant mansion and a stable with no horse inside. Tall willow trees engulfed the fencing - no neighbour. He heard the vague galloping of a horse from the direction of the sun so he climbed over the fences and ran towards the east. He ran as fast as he could with a knowledge that a horse can pace up with him at anytime. He had ran a long miles but funnily no one appeared to be chasing him. The moon and the stars had overtaken the sun. He was thirsty and hungry so he hunted squirrel’s flesh for food and its blood for drink. Disgusted by the taste, he cursed; The worst meal nature can provide is a fresh flesh and blood with a fire untouched.

Uncomfortable sleep tempted him to continue walking. He headed towards the east and drank from small streams and ate fruits but dared not to harm any creatures that has flesh and blood in them. A small ray of excitement struck at once when he came across a paved narrow walkway. He walked along the road hoping to come across a person who could tell him where he is. And finally, much to his expectation, he saw from afar a woman and a child collecting firewood. He approached them and asked with certain awareness, ‘’ I know I would sound like a lunatic, But I want to know where this place is. ‘’

The mother replied, ‘’ This is Beriko, Routhon’s province. ‘’

Jairus thought, No this is not Beriko!

Now with a loud audible voice he asked, ‘’ Are you sure? ‘’

‘’ Yes I am.″ The mother replied. And at the same time, the daughter counter questioned him, ‘’ Mister, Are you lost? ‘’

Feeling deeply insulted by the inappropriate addressing of him, but he had to hold back, ‘’ Yes, I am lost… so lost young girl″

The child ask her mother, ‘’ Mother, why don’t we give him a shelter for a day or two? In return he could help us with fixing the barn. ‘’

The mother after a moment of possible hesitation asked Jairus, ‘’ What do you think? ‘’

‘’ That’s fine by me. ‘’

Later, during the dinner, The mother asked, ‘’ What’s your name? ‘’

‘’ Jairus. Madam.’’

‘’ Who are you exactly? ‘’ out of curiosity, the mother asked again.

‘’ That’s what I want to know too. Were my past memories just a dream? Were my family only an imagination? All these things, I want to know. Otherwise nothing makes sense.‘’

‘’ Jairus, I cannot understand in which situation you are in but I hope everything goes well in the end. ‘’

‘’ Why don’t we go to the shaman? ‘’ The child suggested with a mouthful of rice in her mouth.

‘’ I doubt its success. ‘’ Jairus replied

‘’ What option do we have besides that? ‘’ The child asked.

‘’ That’s also true. ‘’ The mother voted in.

The next day as Jairus was about to leave for the shaman, the mother came and pointed towards the stable, said, ‘’ Here, take this horse. It belonged to my husband but he died in a war. It now belongs to you. You must win this time.‘’

‘’Thank you, Madam’’

He took the horse and went to the Shaman. He was a man of short stature who looked like an ancient red Indians but something was unique about him, which Jairus wasn’t sure what it was. The shaman then took powders and spill in into the fire which was in front of him, chanted some foreign spells and told Jairus, ‘’ You were the man I dreamt. In my dream, you were sick, excruciatingly sick. Then you asked for water from the king, but Alas! The king had everything except water that you needed.’’

‘’ What do you mean? ‘’

‘’ Just a dream. I don’t interpret dreams. So tell me son what is wrong? ‘’

Jairus replied, ‘’You see, I had been sleeping for a long time, had beautiful dreams which were so real to me. But when I woke up, I had forgotten who I am! ‘’

‘’ You have come to the right place, because when I dreamt about you, the dream appeared so real, never before had my dream ever made me feel anyone’s pain. ‘’ the shaman sipped his bottle of wine regularly.

He closed his eyes, chanted another familiar spells and cried, ‘’ Impossible! Impossible! A human? not a spirit? ‘’

‘’ What did you see? ‘’

‘’ Nonsense. I see nonsense, something is telling me that you came from a different dimension. But what nonsense! Suppose you came from the past. Does it make any sense to you? ‘’

Meanwhile, a Royal guard announced before he appeared, ‘‘A King has come to meet you. ‘’

The Shaman got up on his feet and bow down with solemn reverie, ‘’ My Lord, I would cross seven mountains just to meet your desire, why have you taken the trouble? ‘’

The King laughed, ‘’No, no… If you need me, you come to me and if I need you I come to you. ‘’

‘’So what is it that the king need that I have? ‘’ The shaman inquired.

‘’ Very rude of you, when a king visits your house shouldn’t you offer him a sit first? ‘’ the king joked.

‘’ Ah, my Lord, I was so taken aback by your unexpected appearance that I didn’t know what to do. ‘’

‘’ Two empire alliance has waged a war against my Kingdom. I want to know who wins? ‘’

The shaman, shocked by the question, ‘’ I refuse to read this case. My Loyalty to you my Lord has not receded and never will it again. But I am bound by my spirit and determined to never read the king’s death. ‘’

‘’ O loyal citizen of mine, I am touched by your words. But I am a cynical mind, for once would you break your decision? ‘’

At this dilemma, Jairus from the middle interfered, ‘’ You will win gloriously.’’ Everyone looked at him surprised but he continued, ‘’ and beyond your expectations, they will surrender. ‘’

The King proclaimed, ‘’ I am satisfied with your answer. I didn’t realise the reason I came here until you spoke. It wasn’t to hear my defeat nor my victory. But words and gesture with such enormous confidence. Because I haven’t seen them in a while. My warriors had abandoned confidence since they learnt such a ridiculous news of two empire against a kingdom. Now I take my leave. Shaman, you depicted the spirit of a true and loyal citizen. I’m glad I came under your roof. ‘’

The shaman in honesty and humbleness replied, ‘’ My merciful Lord, I’m glad you see it that way. ‘’

After the king left, the shaman retorted at Jairus, ‘’ Have you gone mad? If the king prove your fallacy, you and your whole family related by blood will be publicly executed! ‘’

‘’ Didn’t you say I was from a different dimension? ‘’

‘’ Yes I did but I also asked if you are from the past? Not the future!‘’

‘’ It made sense of my confusion if I came from the past, but it also serves the same even if I come from the future. Moreover, I had seen this king in a portrait which my foster-father told me was my biological father and that his victory against the alliance of two empire is what he will be remembered for. I read about war a lot of times. Even if I was wrong what have I to lose?‘’

‘’ So you are saying you’re from a royal family? ‘’

Jairus nodded in response.

‘’ If he is your father then you are not born yet. The king has no child.’’ the shaman asserted and continued, ‘’ No one will believe you if you say that you are a prince from the future. You are just a typical vagabond now. How unfortunate of you! ‘’

Jairus shrugged at the thought of that and questioned, ‘’ Do you know how I can go back? ‘’

‘’ Ask the person who brought you here. ‘’ The shaman suggested.

Jairus, then left for the remote mansion where he woke up. He saw an old man and a woman feeding the horse and was looking as they heard the footsteps of the horse. Suddenly, he noticed their faces. It was the younger version of his foster father and mother. But he knew they won’t know who he is. The woman asked, ‘’ Where have you gone? Have you eaten anything? How could you leave without leaving any word? We were worried about you. ‘’

Jairus was confused, ‘’ Me? ‘’

‘’ Yes you, is there anyone else out there beside you? ‘’

‘’Do you know me? ‘’

‘’Of course we do. This old man here brought you some few days back.‘’

’’Ah...″ Jairus understood.

The woman brought a glass of water and provided some fruits on the table, ‘’So nice to see you awake. ‘’ she was glad.

Jairus smiled, ‘’ I want to know how I got here? ‘’

The old man replied, ‘’ I was on my way to the street when I heard an inaudible voice in my mind, I just snapped out the thought but then the voice became louder and louder which seemed to be coming from a particular direction. So I followed the voice deep into the woods and miraculously found you lying on the ground unconscious. Insane isn’t it?’’

Jairus wasn’t sure.

‘’ What happened to you then? ‘’ the old man asked.

‘’ I don’t know. I have lost my past memories’’ he excused himself.

‘’ Which means you don’t remember your family and friends? ‘’ the old woman was intrigued.

Jairus nodded.

‘’ It’s ok. You can stay here with us until you find your family. Until then, we will be your parents.’’

Jairus consented.

He had been staying there until the warriors returned from the war. The king was surprised by the completely undeniable prediction of Jairus. The two empires really did surrendered. He sent his guards to search for him.

In the mean time, another guard entered, ‘’ A visitor wants to meet you.″

’’Send him in.″

The visitor came in front of the king and knelt down, ‘’ Your highness, my people’s land has been annexed and we have no where else to go. We have become a nomads. If you grant us to stay in your place for some few weeks we will remember you for forever.’’

The king, being happy as he had won the war, permitted to let them stay.

Jairus was brought before the king who was impressed by his prediction and made him a Royal general in the army’s position.

Some weeks later, the visitors showed gratefulness to the king and left.

Jairus, having learned about the history of war knew when and where to attack the enemies. He did as much as he could to minimize the loss of his armies.

Soon after, he had gained the trust of the king.

But there was a problem in the palace, there were reports of missing foods and drinks. This wasn’t recorded in the history. The thief was not caught no matter how sternly they guarded the foods. It however continued to get lost.

Now Jairus was beginning to experience things he was never been told. As he was worried about this things, Lebron, the king’s most trusted guard came to him and informed him that his majesty wanted to meet him.

As he sat with the king, the king sent all the guards away and told Jairus what he was about to say was confidential, Jairus promised to never spill any words about it. ‘’ My queen is barren. If there is no one to take my throne, the whole Routhon’s general will fight each other to take my place. It will result in the division of this Kingdom and soon after it will be overtaken by another kingdom. In order to prevent this the queen and I had fabricated the news that the queen is pregnant. At the same time, we had had another woman who is carrying my child. She is hidden from the world and is guarded by a highly trained guards, known as the lady Bird. I was told that the woman is to give birth anytime now. So I want you to go and stay there until the child is born and bring him here.’’

‘’At your service, my Lord. ‘’ Jairus bowed down.

‘’ You have to start by sunset. Light two torches as you go. It is a sign that you are sent by me. You have to be really careful. If one light goes out, kindle it as fast as you can, otherwise you would be in danger.’’

‘’ I understood.’’

Soon after, Jairus did as he was told, two masked guards came to receive him. He had entered the gate and was told that the woman is undergoing labour. So he waited till she gave birth. He wrapped the child in a clothe. Then Lebron came and told Jairus to leave the child and return to the palace with the lady Birds because the palace was under attack. Two of the guards stayed back while the rest went to the palace.

No one knew who they were and where they came from. Lebron ordered more guards for the queen and the king but alas! The king was harmed. The lady Bird succeeded in tackling the enemies but failed to protect the King.

The enemies were being guarded when the king came to see them.

‘’ Traitors!’’ They were the visitors who requested the king to provide them shelter. Within the two weeks that they stayed they had dug a tunnel below the palace with a secret passage to steal the foods and drinks.

The queen slapped the man who pretended to be their chief.

He raised his head and said, ‘’ Wasn’t it you that took away our land? We only did what we had to do. ‘’

The king replied in heavy breath, ‘’ But what a failure! Foolish. You think by killing me you have destroyed my kingdom? ‘’

‘’No, by killing the prince who has been hiding in the glade. Checkmate. ‘’ the chief laughed.

‘’Hang him immediately’’ the king ordered and secretly told Lebron to fetch the prince.

The king was dying as he waited for the prince. Then Lebron came back only to report that both the guards, the woman and the child had been killed.

The king was filled with anger, ‘’ I may die any minute now, go find a new-born male child from a neighbouring kingdom even if you have to sell yourself. Let me see the prince before I go. ‘’ He began to cry.

Jairus and Lebron immediately began their search. They had crossed twelve mountains and the first kingdom had no new-born. The second kingdom had but it was a girl. In the third kingdom, it was a rainy night, they saw a poor homeless woman with a child. The woman and the child was crying. Lebron came towards her and asked, ‘’ Are you hungry woman? ‘’

The woman nodded, ‘’My baby is dying. My breast has run out of milk.’’

Jairus brought a bag of gold and offered her ‘’Let me have your baby. I will feed him and he shall live.’’

‘’No. I’m not selling my child’’

‘’ If you don’t, both you and your child will die. ‘’

‘’But I’m never selling my child. ‘’

Jairus dropped the bag of gold, and Lebron took the child and return to the kingdom.

On the way Lebron saw Jairus collapse from the horseback. When he check his pulse, it wasn’t giving any sign of life. He placed him on the horse and tied onto it. And they reached the kingdom.

The king had become weak. His eyes were deep and his lips were chapped. But he smiled as he saw the child, ‘’ My son, My prince, it is you who will rule my kingdom. Take good care of my people and don’t be blinded by the power you own. You will be named Jairus after the first man who died at your service.’’

He kissed the child and breathed his last.

Lebron knew the crown prince was too young to rule. There was a king’s older brother who gifted his throne to his younger brother because he didn’t like to live an extravagant life. He moved far away and lives with his wife in a mansion. He was the old man who found Jairus. Learning the possibility, he conceded to the throne.

Lebron called all the best doctors to diagnose the cause of Jairus’s death. But no doctors were able. It wasn’t a heart disease nor a food poisoning nor from fatigue. If it was a food poisoning or fatigue Lebron would have died too because they ate the same food and travelled the same distance.

It was then the shaman came towards the death body of Jairus, and cried, ‘’ Your majesty, your struggle is a story to be told. Two same soul cannot be in one earth. You are gone but another Jairus has been given to us.’’

Jairus could hear what the shaman was speaking but he could not move. When he opened his eyes, he discovered he was in the present. Lying on the battleground, he saw the men who had lifted their arms in victory putting down. Then his commander came towards him, lifted him, ‘’My Lord, we have won! ‘’

Jairus smiled, ‘’ Sent the warriors home, they need to celebrate a big feast. But you and I need to go somewhere else, ‘’

The commander asked, ‘’Where? ‘’

‘’Somewhere you’ll soon come to know.’’ They rode their horses and reached a town. Then Jairus knocked the door, an old woman came to answer him, ‘’ Who are you? ‘’

’’I’m Jairus, the king of Routhon. And this is the general in chief″ Jairus was happy.

‘’Come in and take a sit, I will make tea for you.’’

She murmurs as she walk towards her kitchen, ‘’Seems like I’ve seen you somewhere… But I can’t remember when and where.’’

‘’Yes, we have met on a rainy night. ‘’

The woman stopped for a while and smiled, ’’It rains every year. Old age steals memories… Precious memories… ‘’

She ambled slowly when Jairus called out, ‘’Mother? ‘’

She experiences a mixture of many feelings, one that of happiness, and one that of embarrassment, she felt as if all her strength had left her and fell on the ground, Jairus came towards her and hugged her from behind, ‘’ Mother. ‘’

‘’ Am I even worthy to be called a mother. Look at me, I am still alive because of the money I got from selling my child. What I did was unforgivable! ‘’

‘’ No.. No.. Don’t say such things. It is because of what you did that night that holds a strong kingdom together today. What you did was honourable. ‘’

‘’ I spent every night wondering if my child has forgiven me, and hoped that he is doing well. But today when I hear the voice of my son, I am subjected to doubt if my sin is even forgivable? ‘’

‘’ I regretted not growing up with you but I feel like I have forgiven you even long before I was born. ‘’

The End