Chapter 40
“Good morning, Jihaad,” Sheiji greeted the soldier who knelt on the ground in submission. Jihaad mumbled a reply and Sheiji continued, “How long have you lived in Imatsuro, Jihaad?”
“Almost twenty years, Vua,” Jihaad replied.
“Do you feel you know the customs and laws of Imatsuro and of this palace?” Sheiji questioned.
“I know them.”
“Bring your children to the palace, Jihaad,” Sheiji told him.
Jihaad froze. A look of terror filled his eyes and he gasped, “Please, Vua,” he begged. “You may beat me or torture me or kill me, but don’t harm my little children.”
“Jihaad, whatever made you think that I would hurt you or your children?” Sheiji asked. “I am not angry. What you said yesterday is not what caused Fa-Ying to become ill. It was only a small part. Don’t fear. I won’t hurt you. In fact, I want to make you First Advisor to the King until Fa-Ying becomes well. Will you accept the position?”
“Your servant does not deserve such an honor, Vua,” Jihaad replied. “My humblest thanks to you, Vua.”
“Now, go get your children and bring them back here. I have rooms ready for all of you. Take this with you,” Sheiji pulled one of his many rings off his finger and handed it to Jihaad. “This will give you free access to the palace and grounds, and will mark you as my advisor. We will talk of your pay when you return and then of your duties.”
Jihaad bowed himself out of the room.
At last, things began to fall into place. Sui-Tsai was cremated and shoved away in the crypt, the bribed soldier was found and punished, and preparations for Sheiji’s real coronation were nearly complete. It was then that he remembered Korin, the Zurielite servant boy that had tried to poison Sheiji just before he fled the palace. The boy had disclosed that he knew who had assassinated the king of Osaku, and now that Sheiji’s own kingdom was relatively at peace, it was time question Korin.
Sheiji ordered a thorough search of the palace, but Korin was nowhere to be found. Some said he had run away, others said that Sui-Tsai had killed him for failing at his mission to poison Sheiji. But Sheiji worried that the assassin who killed King Tuan had found Korin at last, and done away with him. Whatever it was, the coronation day was drawing near, and Sheiji was forced to put Korin from his mind.
Jihaad made a wonderful advisor. He was well versed in Imatsuran laws and customs. He could read well and write in the elaborate script of Tekelonnese. And he proved to be wise beyond his years, as Sheiji had hoped he would be. Jihaad’s judgment and advice reminded Sheiji of Jihaad’s father, Fa-Ying, yet in appearance and personality, they were as different as day and night. Jihaad was much calmer and less quick to change his mood as Fa-Ying was. He was much less casual with Sheiji than Fa-Ying was, but perhaps that would change with time.
It was Jihaad’s planning that kept the coronation date from being moved back. He could, Sheiji discovered, organize a group of people and keep them to their task better than anyone else Sheiji knew.
Coronation day dawned bright and beautiful. The people gathered below the balcony as early as they could to get the best view. Many came the night before and slept in the street. For Sheiji, the event was not as involved as his first coronation had been. There was no need to fast this time, as he had already been through that ordeal once. But one thing was the same. After a quick, light breakfast, Sheiji was hurried off to his dressing room where, for the next two hours, servants dressed him in a flowing robe made specifically for this event and tried to make him “presentable.” Sheiji did not understand how so much time could be put into the arrangement of a garment, but considered it a necessary trial, just this once.
Sheiji was led to the door of the balcony where he had been first crowned only four years before. Inon stood waiting by the door with Jihaad. “Shall I announce you, Vua?” Jihaad asked.
“Yes, thank you, Jihaad,” Sheiji nodded. He listened as the crowd grew quiet outside and Jihaad spoke. Sheiji glided through the door, which Inon held open. Sheiji stood on the balcony overlooking the city of Taiyunyi. He wondered if Sahima was somewhere among the crowd or maybe hiding in some alley of the city. Would she come back for his coronation day? Even if she just came to observe and not to let him see her? Was she even safe? What if something had happened to her out in the wild world? A thousand questions buzzed in his mind and he felt sadness welling up from his soul.
Jihaad cleared his throat softly. Sheiji half wondered how long he had been standing there, staring over the city. He closed his eyes and shook away the thoughts of Sahima. When he opened them again, he focused on the crowd below him. Thousands of people were waiting expectantly for him to say even one word. No one here today would ever forget what they heard or saw. It would be passed on from parent to child, grandparent to grandchild. They would say with pride, “I saw the king on his coronation day!” They loved him, for his regality, for his dignity, for the singular, quiet humility, which shone in his face.
Sheiji addressed the people, “People of Imatsuro,” he began. “Many of you have heard of my adventures: of the battles and trials that I had to face before I could stand before you today as your king. You have heard how I fled for my life, for the Usurper would have killed me, had I not left. You have heard that I brought back the army of my mother’s people and how we conquered Sui-Tsai and his army, thus making me king over Imatsuro as my father wanted.”
Sheiji paused and watched the people. Fathers lifted children onto their shoulders so as to give them a better view. Here and there, a squabble would break out when someone tried to push toward the front. The soldiers, stationed below for such a purpose, would soon get it under control.
“But there is so much more to the story than my leaving and returning. During the months I was gone, the Usurper ruled with a hard hand. Many died or were wounded in some way. Families were broken apart…” Sheiji heard a small sob behind him from Jihaad. “…and people were reduced to poverty by harsh taxes. This is not the Imatsuro my father ruled.”
There were murmurings of approval in the crowd. Sheiji continued, “While I was gone from the palace, I experienced your life first hand. I was laughed at, spit upon, kicked, chased, and called names…” there were horrified gasps and angry shouts down below now, but Sheiji continued, “…I experienced your life. I lived for all those months as a homeless orphan on the street, and nobody knew it. There were times when I was hungry and cold or when I had no shelter for the night. I must admit that I did steal food and various other items. I wish now that I had not. I wish that there had been some other way. I wish I could repay each and every one of you for what I took, but it would be impossible to remember. Therefore, I give my most sincere apologies to all those who lost profit on account of me…” the people shifted uneasily.
“…I hope, though, that through all this, I have learned how you live. I hope that I will be a fairer judge of the lower class. Someone could tell me about your troubles until the day I die, but I would never understand unless I experienced them firsthand. Now I have. I hope to bring some change to Imatsuro for the better. Thank you all for coming today. I am honored to be your king. You have proved loyal and wonderfully kind to me.”
Sheiji bowed slightly from the waist and Jihaad placed the crown lightly on his head. One voice cried out, “Long live the king.” The people below took up the cry and began to cheer and clap. It started small, but within minutes, it rose to a deafening roar of approval. It did not die down even after Sheiji had left the balcony and the door shut behind him.
“Don’t expect that your speech will make anyone be more kind to beggars and street orphans,” Inon commented when they were back inside.
“You may be surprised,” Sheiji smiled. “But I’m not expecting too much.”
“That was a wonderful speech, Vua,” Jihaad said in a husky voice.
“Thank you, Jihaad. Now, let’s go see your father. The doctor said you could visit him today for a short time,” Shei
ji told him. “Of course, I want to change first,” he grinned.