7 Chapter 7: The feast that decided everything

Shirazad spent most of the time in her father's manor, so the king's marriages to her were like a distant nightmare – so terrible she could hardly believe it was real.

One evening, there was a feast in the palace. Shirazad's father was there, together with many important officials and generals. They drank a lot, then they started to speak nonsense but because they were important people everyone smiled at them. It was late. Some started playing cards, others were too drunk for that. Some went back home to their families. So the whole night went by. Soon it would be daybreak.

King Shahryar went out on the big terrace to air himself after the alcoholic celebration. There were some guests out there as well as some soldiers.

"King Shahryar." General Boras turned to him, "are you airing yourself as well?" He laughed, a deep roaring sound.

"General Boras, have you been drinking too much?"

A flock of birds was heard flying above them and it distracted them.

"Huh, look at them!" Boras shouted and pointed at the sky. "Already flying away. I bet I'd be able to shoot one from here, right?" Boras called for one of his servants and ordered for a bow and arrows, and more alcohol.

"Your Majesty, aren't you the best archer in the kingdom?" Boras exclaimed, "Would you like to have a bet with me? If you win, I will comply with a single wish of yours. If I win, you will comply with a single wish of mine?" Boras laughed. "Let's see who will shoot more birds."

Shahryar laughed as well,

"Do you take me for a jinn?" He pretended to be thoughtful, "It's in no way a good bargain, for I have the power to grant much bigger wishes than you could grant me." Shahryar touched his head for he was a bit dizzy because of the wine.

Their laughs were short, insincere, somehow unnaturally ending in a nervous muted sound.

"Well," Boras smiled, "then we can make the deal fairer. Let's see who will shoot more birds for two turns of the hourglass. If you win, I will be your true slave and my life will be in your hands..."

"Your life is in my hands already."

Boras smiled almost archly, "Then how about that: if you win, I will be your slave and I will serve you, and do anything you wish."

"The bow and arrows, my lord," a servant said to Boras from aside, handing him the weapon.

"If you lose, Your Majesty, then..." Boras pondered for a while, "then I will choose the woman you marry tomorrow. So what do you say? Even if I choose the ugliest, you must bear with her for one night. That's fair, right?"

Shahryar laughed,

"Sounds like a much better deal. But let me tell you that I won't make it easy for you were you to become my slave."

Shahryar drank another draught of the wine before shooting. His head ached and he thought he shouldn't have agreed to the bet just now because he would lose.

"Oh, look!" Boras exclaimed when they had finished the competition and were counting the dead birds, "I shot five, and you, Your Majesty, shot only four. Must be the wine, eh?"

"You are very sagacious, general Boras," Shahryar exclaimed. "Now say whom I shall marry." He looked at the dancers in the banquet hall.

"Ah, all of them are very pretty," Boras said. "But I'd like to choose something different. Don't worry, Your Majesty, I won't be mean. Ah! Did not Vizier Azdavan want to marry his daughter Shirazad? Why don't you marry her?" Boras raised an eyebrow and Shahryar was startled.

He had forgotten that Boras bore an old grudge against Azdavan, and now it was too late. How could Boras dare do that?! But Boras was too much of an important figure, a governor of a province who had many connections and the title of a general. Moreover, there were a lot of onlookers. And Shahryar couldn't go back on his word.

Why did the king have to participate in that stupid game?! He knew that he would lose, because he didn't feel well. But he'd been careless, thinking all of this wasn't important...

Such a sly snake! Shahryar thought about Boras when he realized that the general must have planned all of this. The king had never suspected that Boras' hatred for Azdavan was so great that he would devise such a plan against him. Suddenly, the king realized how many people around him were whispering after having witnessed the situation.

"Shirazad? I think she already has someone," Shahryar said solemnly.

"She is both smart and beautiful, and I don't think she has anyone. You truly deserve her," Boras exclaimed. He wouldn't discuss the topic further. "Yes, Shirazad."