The following day, Esta was called from her room promptly at nine. A servant escorted
her to the playroom, where Sisera greeted her by pulling her over to a chess board.
“Know how to play?”
“No.”
“Good, then I can beat you.”
At any other time, Esta would have been thrilled to learn a new game, but her mind was on last night’s events. Would the king sell her? Would the king discipline her? These
questions stayed with her throughout the day. However, she had little to worry about; for
in the garden the king sat silently alone. He was there for sometime sitting on a marble
bench surrounded by red roses that did little to improve his mood. The queen found her
husband and gracefully sat beside him.
“You’re mopping,” she said. “I never seen you like this.”
“I never gotten angry with any servant like that---let alone any creature like that before.
It was as if what Esta said touch the very core of me, and I didn’t like it. Did you feel it
too?”
“I did, but I ignored it,” said the queen sighing, “I’m beginning to believe Esta story is
more than just bedtime fairytale. In fact, I think its true.”
“I just believe.” said the king, “I believe who she was talking about---I believe on Glory!”
The queen, seeing her husband’s joy, was not inclined to follow it.
“Remember the question, I had yesterday about being a good king. I got the answer last
night. I wasn’t good and when Esta was talking---I don’t know how, but---I realized I was
not good at all. I needed someone to make me good. I’ve been in this garden since four
in the morning, asking in my childlike way for the Holy One of Shavron to make me one
of His own. When Esta was called to play with Sisera, I found the book she was talking
about.
The queen stood from the bench surprise from her husband’s confession.
“Your forefathers would never do such a thing. They would never follow the God of
Shavron.” she said starting, “What would they think of you?”
“Emerald,” said the king looking at her, “they’re dead---who cares what they think? My
dear, I know you felt that tug at your heart too. Do you believe?”
The queen wrestle with her thoughts.
“I cannot believe what I do not understand?”
The king extended his hand towards her wife.
“Let me help you to understand.”
She gracefully took his hand and sat beside him. The king showed the queen all that he
had read, and within the hour, she too had believed on the name of Glory.
Meanwhile Esta was playing or more accurately, enduring Sisera, when one of the
guards came into the room.
“Prince Sisera and Esta please come with me. The king and queen have to make an
announcement to all the palace.”
Within five minutes the entire help from cooks to palace guards were standing in the main hall. The king and queen were present. The king cleared his throat which made all
talking to cease. The noble king in his humble way thanked his servants for all that they
had done and were going to do. He also addressed Esta for her bedtime story, and
which was the reason called for the meeting. The servants listened as the king and
queen took turns explaining what had happened last night and the results of this
morning. Once it was understood that the royal couple had become believers in the God
of the Shavronites, a hush came from the crowd. The king not fearing the outcome,
proceeded to explain what the plight was for each servant that did not believe in the
name of Glory.
“It is the witness of the Holy One and my conviction too, that any creature that does not
surrender to this God will die and go to Hell for the wickedness of breaking His laws and
living our own lives without Him. Glory has called everyone here to turn from your sins
and follow Him. It is called repentance.”
“Repent, what? said one of the servants quietly to another.
“I am resolved to follow the Holy One according to his Word, and will rule the kingdom
as such.”
“There will be no further work today.” said the queen interjecting, “You have the day off.
That is all.”
Everyone returned to their rooms with little to say. The palace remained silent for the
rest of the day. Lunch and dinner was not prepared nor was there any cleaning done by
any of the wash servants. The sunset came quickly and the moon rose to shine its
lesser light which gave way to a new day. When the king woke to make is way through
the hall, he found, to his astonishment, at least twenty servants standing at the front
door with their bags packed.
Troubled, he approached one of them demanding the reason for such an action. It was
explained, in great respect, that the twenty did not feel that any Chetzian ruler had any
business following the Shavronite God; and it was better, as they believed, to be
removed from service, than to be under the authority of the king. Also, they found the
king to be “weakened” by his decision, to which Dorian argued that submission was a
virtue ---not a vice.
“Nonetheless, sir,” said the eldest servant, “ I am sixty years old and have served
faithfully under your father. He would never do such a thing.
“I’m not my father.”
“We can see that well enough,” said the eldest servant irreverently. “We prefer to be
released.”
“I will not hold you,” said the king look at the twenty with a heavy heart. “As you leave, please consider not my decision, but yours.”
Not another word was spoken as the servants quietly left the palace. Esta was listening
around the corner; and finding that her story had caused the king’s loss of help,
immediate ran to him.
“I’m sorry.” she said, “It’s my fault.”
“No, no,” said Dorian kneeling down to her, “You have done nothing wrong. In fact you
have help me, my wife, and as you will see today, the entire country. Just wait and see.”
He took her hand and they both ran through the halls to the room of the kings most
faithful captain of his guard. The king’s request was urgent and seemed impossible to
complete.
“But sir, you want the entire city to know about this by two this afternoon. My soldiers
need at least a week to accomplish this.”
“You have three hours.” said the king in jest, “This announcement will not be delayed
another day. Tell the birds and they will surely make up for the time needed. I and my
family will be ready at by one. Quickly, Captain, there’s no time to lose.”
With a hearty salute, the captain ran to his soldiers and gave the order. Surprisingly, the
word spread throughout the city of the king’s secret announcement. Rumors spread that
he and his wife were expecting another child; others believed that new laws were about
to be passed, but the mystery only made the city more eager to come to the palace
gates and they did in a great multitude. The royal family came to balcony with Esta
beside them. The king and queen looked over the crowd with endearment and fear.
“Are you ready for this?” said the queen.
“Yes, Lord willing.” said the king gesturing for the trumpets to be sounded.
The crowd’s commotion soon subsided and Dorain began to speak. After the formalities,
he revealed the secret that the Child Trade would be abolished in Chetz.
“As of this hour.” said the king mightily, “Any selling and trading of any child among the
borders of Chetz is a criminal offense which will be punishable by death.”
After that the king, taking Word of God, began to; in great detail, recite the same story
he was told by Esta, but in more serious terms. The multitude seemed to shutter under
the announcement of their own wretchedness before a Holy God and the punishment
that awaited them. In closing he told that the Holy One, would pardon everyone who
turn to Him. It was also stated that by the end of the week all slave markets would be
destroyed.
In the crowd was King, who on hearing the jarring news began to worry.
“Is that leopard out of his ever-loving mind?” he said . “He can’t abolish the Child Trade
and then tell us that God’s going to burn us if we don’t play nice. It makes me want to
vomit.”
“He’s the emperor,” said a bystander to him, “He can do whatever he wants.”
“What about us? How are to make money? How are we to survive in this world?”
“I hear they are hiring dishwashers in the next city.”
“Dishwasher!” said King angrily, “I’ll have none of it! There has to be a way to stop this.
I’ll find a way.”
Pogisa and Charm were also there. She saw king talking to a few other traders in the
crowd, and they followed him out of sight.
“He’s up to something, Charm. We better stay close to see what.”
Charm and Pogisa followed as not be seen. The cheetah took his small group away
from the crowd, and began to explain his plan.
“How are we to get past the guards?”
“Do worry about that now.” said King, “We need to get every trader we can find to meet
us tonight.”
“Where are we meeting?”
“The basement of Greenlakes Tavern at eleven tonight. Tell them to bring any weapon
of their choice. I’ll explain the other details later.”
The group obeyed and was out of King’s sight within seconds. Pogisa and Charm gave
each other a worried look.
Chapter 10: King’s Rebellion
The basement of Greenlakes Tavern was packed with irate and disillusioned traders
who had been among the multitude that day. There was much talk of the emperor’s
sanity. A few traders had witnessed the destruction of five slave markets around the city
and the purposeful sinking of three ships known for transportation of children. King,
finding the count of his mob suitable, parched himself on a table. The mob drew close
with their weapons in hand to hear the plan that would lead them to victory.
“We all know why we are hear.” said King slowly walking the span of the table, “Today
the emperor has threaten our livelihood. If this insanity continues we’ll lose everything.
Storming the palace directly will be a wake up call for the emperor.”
“And if he refuses to wake up?” said one in the crowd.
“....Then we will bury him and his family.” said King viciously. “Now listen, we’ll make a
silent march through the back roads. It is very likely the back gates have fewer guards.
Once over powering the guards, we’ll split into three groups. The first will burn any tree
and bushes--this will be a distraction. The second and third group will wait in hiding and
once the guards open the doors we’ll rush in to find the emperor.”
As he spoke, the mob slowly nodded their heads assuring King of his persuasion over
them. They did not leave the tavern until midnight finding many of the streets in Chetz
deserted. According to the plan, there was a silent march through the back roads where
few eyes could see them. Pikes, daggers, swords, and pistols were held firmly be each
owner. The cheetah lead his bad of murders craftily through the darkness in hopes of
the surprise attack. Two soldiers were on guard as the mob arrived. King watched
carefully at their movements.
“Only two.” he said looking back at the group, “We don’t them to alarm the others.”
King made a motion across his neck with his finger.
“Hold on, look.” said one.
To their utter amazement the two guards went inside, looking the gate behind them.
“Turning in for the night.” replied King, “but they locked the gate. We need someone to
scale the wall and open it.”
A volunteer came forward. Scaling the palace wall was easy enough. The gate was
opened and the mob quietly entered. King held up three fingers intimating that the mob
was to split into three groups of ten. The first group were the “burners”; and taking their
cloth wrapped torches, they brought them to a fiery blaze. The surrounding bushes
began to burn as they were touched by the flickering flames. King and the others waited
for the results desperately eager to enter the palace. However, the doors never opened.
“Plan B?” said one in the mob.
King saw that the windows were low enough to get through.
“Break the windows. Kill everyone once inside!”
The crashing sound of glass hit the glossy palace floor as the group of twenty filtered
through the window opening. King lead the charge down the hall giving a mighty battle
cry. He felt the rage grow inside him with the anticipation of seeing the downfall of the
emperor. Turning a corner he brought his crew into a large rotunda area. King’s
murderous expression soon turned to horror and the murderous mob came to a halt.
Before them stood the emperor, one hundred of his guards with pointed long rifles,
lances, and swords ready to kill them if necessary. King’s gang immediately dropped their weapons decrying (as much as they could) that it was all his idea.
“Arrest them.” said Dorian apathetically. “I’ll have you in prison for fifty years for
sedition.”
“How did you know?” said King
Pogisa came from the group, stood beside Dorian with a cheeky smile.
“YOU FILTHY LITTLE BRAT!” yelled King, “I beat ya! I tear the skin from ya!”
“Not anymore.” said Pogisa with grin.
“Well, I still one over you!” replied King wickedly. “The whole palace will be ablaze in
moments.”
Suddenly the final group of ten were brought in rubbing their wounds from the beating
they received from the other guards.
“How is it?” said Dorian
“Minimal damage, your highness.” said the guard, “And we gave them a good thrashing
too!”
One of King’s fellow comrades tugged on his shirt.
“You should have taken up dishwashing.”
“Oh, shut up.” replied King.