The Storm Started Brewing - Part 4

The prince and the Sultana sat together on a bench inside the patio. The girls except two followed them and stood behind them in an orderly fashion. The two girls remained at the patio gate to prevent any unwanted individuals from entering.

The patio itself had a round design, constructed with a combination of stone and wood that blended harmoniously with the surrounding environment. In the center of the patio stood a round stone table adorned with a plentiful basket of fruits. The prince plucked a fruit from the basket and took a bite. They became ready to welcome the uninvited guest.

As the girl wearing a maid's attire approached the patio, one of the girls among the guards commanded her to halt and declare her identity and affiliation. The maid halted her steps and bowed respectfully to the prince and the Sultana before revealing her purpose.

"I am a maid from Aurora House. My madam wishes to request an appointment with the esteemed Sultana of Sahama tomorrow afternoon," the maid stated, her voice filled with humility.

The guard inquired about the identity of her madam, to which the maid promptly responded, "She is the wife of Samir Aurora, the third son of the Aurora family."

The Sultana interjected, expressing her willingness to meet the maid's madam the following day. She extended a warm invitation, stating, "Please inform your madam that I will be expecting her presence tomorrow. Only she and you are welcome.", she looked beyond the maid and said politely, "My son will be delighted to meet with you. Please come with them tomorrow."

The Sultana's polite and unexpected response surprised the girls surrounding her, as they had rarely witnessed her extending such courtesy to a stranger. While they pondered who had garnered such respect from their Sultana, a sudden distortion occurred on the surface of the table. Alerted by the unusual phenomenon, some of the girls instinctively touched the blades at their waists, preparing for any potential threat, while others readied themselves to cast protective spells. However, as the Sultana smiled reassuringly, the girls relaxed slightly, understanding that the distortion posed no danger. On the other hand, the prince, captivated by the spectacle, halted his chewing and watched the distortion with great interest.

The Sultana whispered to the prince, "Is it powerful?"

"Very powerful," swallowing the remaining inside his mouth, the prince whispered back, afraid to disrupt the ongoing process.

After a brief moment, the distortion cleared, revealing a beautifully crafted earthen camel statue in its place. The sight astonished everyone present, except the Sultana who appeared unperturbed. Even the maid couldn't hide her surprise as she was very familiar with the camel statue.

"She has sent you a gift, my prince. Do you like it?" the Sultana gently inquired.

"I love it. It is the most beautiful and detailed statue I have ever seen," the prince replied with genuine happiness.

The Sultana then asked, "Would you like to meet her tomorrow?"

"I would love to," the prince answered eagerly.

"Then, you just need to behave like a prince at the party," the Sultana reminded him.

"I will, Mother," the prince promised, assuring his mother of his cooperation.

Upon witnessing the prince's agreement, the Sultana became delighted. She turned her attention to the maid and said, "You may leave now. Inform your madam to arrive early tomorrow."

The maid bowed once more, showing her gratitude to the Sultana and the prince, before retracing her steps to the direction she came from.

As the silhouette of the maid grew smaller in the distance, the Sultana asked the prince, "Would you like to see the maid tomorrow?"

The prince disapproved, saying, "I don't like her."

The Sultana gently coaxed him, "Well, she is lonely and without any friends. Why don't you befriend her?"

"Alright, I will give her some of my time tomorrow," the prince compromised.

The Sultana slightly laughed, and declared, "Prince, it seems our relaxation must come to an end for today. Let us return and prepare you for the evening party,".

"Okay," the prince replied, his mood slightly dampened at the thought of mingling with dishonest people once again. However, upon gazing at the miniature camel statue, his spirits lifted once more. He looked at the Sultana with hope and asked, "May I take it home?"

"It is yours, my prince," the Sultana approved. However, she offered a word of advice, "I hope you will take good care of the statue, as it is said to bring luck. And don't forget to express your gratitude for the gift tomorrow."

"I will," the prince affirmed, standing up and cradling the statue carefully in his hands. He began walking toward the palace, with the others following suit. As they left, the once lively place fell into a serene calm, accompanied only by the gentle chirping of birds.

#####

As the sun retired for the day, fulfilling its duty, an almost full moon and a half moon graced the sky from the north and eastern-southern directions respectively, casting a luminous glow upon the world. There was another moon that didn't show its face today, as it was off-duty. The Moon Festival was a highly anticipated event in this realm, and people eagerly gathered to celebrate. The festival commenced when the three full moons aligned, appearing as a single full moon with two additional outer circles adorning the sky. To determine the precise time and location of this lunar convergence, astrologists meticulously calculated the celestial movements. And tonight was perfect for astrologers to observe the sky, as the stars were scattered and sparkling brightly above.

On the ground, a massive fire was blazed, providing ample illumination to the surroundings. People were dancing and reveling around the fire, while others sat on logs, enjoying the lively spectacle. On the southern side of the grand fireplace, numerous smaller fireplaces were arranged, where whole lambs were roasted over the flames. Some lambs were also prepared in pits, slowly cooked with the heat of burning coals. The tantalizing aroma of sizzling meat, carried by the southern breeze, whetted the appetites of all participants around the bonfire.

Samir sat on a log, enjoying the dance performance, and occasionally sipping from his wine glass. Samir attended the festival with his companions: Andy, two seasoned merchants, and two powerful bodyguards, all following the lead of Babar, a council member of the Sultan's court who was well-versed in Aslan language, Samir's mother tongue, and also had previous dealings with Aurora merchants. Before their arrival, Babar had informed them that this was not a formal meeting, but rather a prearranged party. The official meeting would take place in the Sultan's court the following morning. Thus, they were encouraged to relax and enjoy the festivities. He assured them that they would be notified if the king required their presence at the party. However, upon attending the party, the presence of familiar faces who were nonlocals dampened their spirits. When asked, Babar informed them that these groups had arrived three to four days earlier.

After assigning everyone their designated places, Babar took Andy to meet his other acquaintances. Shortly after the remaining members dispersed to mingle with the other guests or sample the succulent lamb roasts from the fireplaces. So, Samir became alone. Noticing baskets filled with fruits in front of him, he recalled some traditions of sand people.

Due to the scarcity of vegetables and salt in the region, the sand people rarely incorporated them into their cuisine. Instead, they adorned their meat dishes with these two luxurious items, resulting in a rich and flavorful culinary tradition. Despite their expense, the sand people never hesitated to trade for salt and spices with the Aurora family. They were known for their hard work during the day, but at night, they indulged in meat and wine.

As Samir observed the spirited dancing around the fire, someone approached him.

"I don't understand why adults enjoy drinking that foul-smelling water," the person voiced his disdain for the scent of alcohol. Samir turned his gaze toward the speaker and quickly stood up, bowing respectfully. "Good evening, Prince."

"Relax, foreigner," the prince replied, tossing a fruit to Samir, who skillfully caught it. "Eat it. It will be more beneficial than the drink in your other hand," the prince advised.

"Thank you for your guidance, Prince," Samir expressed his gratitude.

The prince had already seated himself on one side of the log and motioned for Samir to sit beside him. Samir obliged, taking his place politely.

Selecting a fruit for himself, the prince continued the conversation. "I can see some hyenas eyeing you hungrily. They're waiting for an opportunity to pounce on their prey."

Following the prince's gaze, Samir noticed the members of the Piccolo family sitting on a log, observing them intently.

"I bet they're dying to know why a prince is associating with their target," the prince remarked playfully.

"I didn't expect the prince to possess such a mischievous side," Samir replied, a smile gracing his face.

"Don't you enjoy jokes? Or are you like those grandpas who always told me to act serious and maintain Sultan's image?" the prince complained.

"I, too, dislike formalities. They are tiresome and dull," Samir shared his opinion.

"My mother was right! I like you," the prince exclaimed joyfully.

Samir thought curiously about what the sultana had said about him but momentarily lost his train of thought as a commotion erupted on the eastern side of the party area.