//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Be Brave, Karam // Story: The Sandstorm King // by PioneeringAuthor //------------------------------// 127 B.S.E. “Sleep well, My Sons,” Khayri bid his young stallions as he walked off to bed. “Sleep well, Father,” They replied as they slowly walked to their own rooms. “Today’s feast was most wonderful!” Karam exclaimed to his brother with a tired, yet happy sigh, “I wish we could have more celebrations.” “Karam, we already have plenty of festivals to attend each year,” Daud pointed out, “I think we have enough to celebrate.” “Yes, but the energy, the joy, all the guests! If only we could have fun like that every day,” Karam piped up with a slight spring in his step. “Although I do enjoy a good feast, I have a feeling that when we have to rule and attend all sorts of events that we both shall grow tired of it,” Daud chuckled. “I suppose you are correct, Brother,” Karam admitted as he entered his room, “Well, see you tomorrow!” Daud nodded and went to his own room. It had been many years since Karam was old enough to learn the secret of the rivers, and he had matured much in that time. Although he was still a chatterbox and was a bit of a rebel, he was beginning to understand the importance and duties of princehood, and was determined to bring honor to his father and his brother as well as his own name. Over the decades he had stopped many sandstorms, learned new spells, and grown stronger in all things. Truly, his father and brother were very proud of him for his accomplishments. Certainly he would be a wonderful leader one day. That day was coming sooner than he thought. Karam awoke and stretched his wings in the bright sunlight streaming through his latticed windows. He quickly brushed his mane and tail, and then put on his silver shoes and necklace. Realizing what time it was, he wondered why a servant didn’t come and inform him breakfast was ready. That was most unusual. Curiously he trotted to the hallway and examined the area. There were guards huddled together at the far end of the hall, and they seemed distressed. At the other end of the hall were some servants crying over something. Karam began to worry. He quickly trotted over to the guards and asked, “Guards, what is it?” Instantly the guards turned and looked at the young prince in dismay. They all eyed each other, each willing one of them to speak, yet none were willing to say a word. “Somebeast speak! Tell me!” Karam ordered, growing frustrated that nobeast was telling him what was wrong. In his nervousness, he adjusted his wings along his back and sides over and over again. “Your highness… Your father, the king… He died in his sleep. It seems to have been poison,” The bravest guard replied as he hung his head. Karam stared at them, unable to understand the words. Slowly he blinked his blue eyes, and straightened his stance. “Wh...what?” He answered, blinking again, hardly able to comprehend anything at the moment. “King Khayri… died of poison,” Another guard slowly repeated, gulping deeply as he finished the words. “No… he… but… who? Why?” Karam gasped, feeling lumps gather in his throat. “We know not, but if you wish… you can see for yourself,” A third guard answered, stepping aside for Karam to pass. Karam barged through, cantering around the corner and down the hall to his father’s bedroom. The doors were already open and several servants were nearby, mourning. One was a camel, who was kneeling on the ground, tears streaming down her cheeks. Resting her head on the camel’s back was a young Pegasus Pony who seemed shocked out of her mind, staring blankly ahead. A third was an Earth Horse Stallion who had his head bowed in respect as he stepped aside for Karam. Another servant was a Zarfaim camel who seemed to be reciting some kind of blessing in the Zarfaim language. However, Karam wasn’t paying any mind to them: he was focused on the sight of his father’s regal bedroom, where various guards and doctors and some nobles were gathered around the bed in astonishment and sorrow. As soon as they saw him they straightened up, took a step back, and bowed low before him. Steadily Karam walked into the room and approached the bed. There, his father lay. His blue-grey fur was matted from tossing and turning for long hours, and his feathers on his wings were ruffled in likewise manner. One of his noble, soft ears was pointed in one direction, and the other was in another. His face was scrunched up and his teeth were gritted in a contorted, pained manner. Khayri was dead. Karam wasn’t barging around anymore: he was silently studying the scene, unable to process it. Karam heard nothing but heavy breathing in the room, and wondered who could possibly be heaving so loudly. After some time he realized that he was the one sobbing out loud. Steadying himself, he took one final deep breath and looked at the nearest Pegasus Horse and asked, “Daud, where is he? Does… does he know yet?” At that, the Pegasus averted his eyes and replied sorrowfully, “We have not found Prince Daud yet, Prince Karam. We are uncertain if he was assassinated as well, or if he discovered your father’s death and ran away for a time to be alone.” “Daud… gone?” Karam squeaked, “And… father… dead…” Again he sobbed, and did all he could to stop himself from bursting into tears. “Your highness, please, leave this place of death,” A calm voice broke through his shock for a moment, “Let us take your father’s body and prepare it for burial while you recover in your own room. You must be strong for the whole nation now.” Karam turned to the voice and realized it was one of Khayri’s Zarfaim advisors, who was an Earth Horse wearing a plain black set of tack which covered his flanks, back, and chest modestly. What was his name? Oh yes, Avram… Avram the… the… Patient… why couldn’t Karam think? Why couldn’t he think? He had to think…. Unable to reply, Karam nodded and somehow managed to reach his room, where he collapsed on his bed and stared out his window at the sky over his balcony. Two agonizing days passed in which the kingdom mourned over their king’s death. Daud never appeared. The funeral needed to go on without Daud, before the king’s body began rotting. Though Karam ached for his brother to be there beside him, he had to watch his father's funeral alone. Silently he stood at the front of the procession, leading the way to the graveyard where his ancient family was laid to rest. Thousands of citizens followed, wailing over their wise, patient king’s casket as it passed through the streets. To Karam, everything was blurred and he could barely believe it was happening. Soon his father was buried in the family tomb beside his mother, and Karam was in his room again, staring blankly out his window. The sky was still blue. The birds loudly sang. The world moved on. Didn’t the world know that his father died? Didn’t the world know that his brother was missing? Why did everything have to seem so perfect at such a horrific moment? Karam couldn’t comprehend it. That same day, one of the chefs died; apparently the same poison that killed the malik killed him as well, but he only had a small taste of it, hence it took him longer to die. Immediately all of the kitchen servants were interrogated for days, except for one who mysteriously disappeared. Although nobeast could prove it, all assumed the vanished beast was the traitor. Either way, the chefs and remaining servants had no idea who could have killed their marvelous malik. While Karam pondered what to do, somebeast knocked at his door. “Enter,” Karam heard himself mutter, though he didn’t feel like he was really speaking out loud. Gently the door opened and Karam heard somebeast say, “Sire, I apologize for disturbing you… but we think it would be best if you could say a few words to the citizens, letting them know that everything will be all right… somehow.” Karam knew that voice. It was one of father’s chief advisors. For a moment, Karam thought about the people. Perhaps in the countryside people still did not know the news, but everybeast in the city knew. Everyone was shocked. They needed comfort, but Karam himself was filled with agony, and barely had the motivation to brush his own tail out. How could he possibly give a speech to comfort others when he didn't even have the heart to care for himself? “I know not what to say,” Karam sighed, refusing to turn his head or even lift himself from his bed. For a few moments there was no sound, and then Karam heard the creaking of the door closing softly. Once more, he was left alone, sprawled out across his soft, regal blankets. For the next few days, the advisors handled all the major meetings with nobility and other leaders, doing their best to comfort everybeast. While they did so, they all looked out for Daud, but he was nowhere to be found, as if the earth itself swallowed him up to be with his father. “My Prince,” Heydar The Great, one of Khayri’s advisors, asked politely as he poked his head in the door, “May I speak with you a moment?” “Yes,” Karam muttered as he slowly picked himself up and stared at the Unicorn Horse glumly. “Sire, I know you will not like to hear this, but we advisors feel that you must take the throne until your brother returns,”The red-brown Unicorn Horse announced in a calm voice as he bowed and then adjusted his silvery tack with his magical aura. Instantly, Karam shot up to his hooves, spreading his wings angrily as he spat, “WHAT!? NO! DAUD IS THE RIGHTFUL KING! HE WILL BE BACK… He… he will… he will!” His last words were slower, and he softly lowered his wings as the realization dawned on him that his beloved elder brother could be dead too. He hung his head and sobbed, and didn't even have the heart to fold his wings, allowing them to lay down and drag on the bed around him. “Oh Great Wind, He will, surely, but for this season of time, the nation needs a leader to assure her that things will be all right, and to send a message to the assassins that they have failed; Saddle-Arabia will move on from this tragedy. We will surely find Daud, but for right now you should take the throne so that the people have a face to look up to,” Heydar persuaded him with a quiet voice and a reassuring smile. With a sorrowful look in his orange eyes, Heydar stretched out one of his forelegs and lowered his head in a respectful bow while his ears folded back in sympathy. Although he didn’t want to do it, Karam knew that Heydar was correct: the people needed a leader. Sorrowfully bringing up his wings and folding them along his sides, Karam sighed, “Very well. I suppose we can have some ceremony tomorrow.” With that finished, Heydar bowed low again, letting his red-brown mane graze the floor as he murmured, “I truly am sorry this has happened to you, My Young Prince. I promise I’ll do all I can to assist you through this terrible trial.” Karam nodded to the Unicorn, who then backed out of the room respectfully. During the ceremony, Karam felt as if he was betraying both his father and brother. Alongside the feelings of betrayal stirred a sandstorm of fear and anxiety, for he felt too young to be given such an immense task. Though he felt his heart race with a hundred feelings,he didn’t say one negative word at all. In his heart, he felt that he must hide his emotions and be firm, be brave, be strong for everybeast, like Daud would… like Father would. For the sake of everybeast, he had to handle the important work of royalty, and be brave.