//------------------------------// // Chapter 6: The Advisors // Story: The Sandstorm King // by PioneeringAuthor //------------------------------// “I promise you all that I shall do my best to protect you and serve you until my older brother returns,” Karam finished his reassuring speech to the crowd gathered below his balcony. The people of Saddle-Arabia were frightened after the death of their king, and deeply needed somebeast to comfort them. Seeing their young prince stand tall and give them those brave words helped reassure them that things would be all right in the end. Karam, however, did not feel reassured. For the past week, nobeast had found Daud. Where could he be? Was he truly dead as well? “Wonderful work, Your Majesty,” One of Father’s--no, Karam’s-- advisors, Jaffar the Peaceful, said calmly with a respectful nod. He was a pale yellow camel known for his gentle nature. Although Camels did not have Destiny Marks, his blanket tack showcased his status as Advisor of Diplomacy with branches and leaves embroidered across it on both sides. “I tried,” Karam sighed as he folded his wings and closed the balcony doors with his magic. “Do not lose hope, Young Prince,” Jinan the Healer added, “The body needs hope as much as the heart does.” He was an Earth Pony apothecary known for his ability to manage trade routes as well as his healing skills with herbs. His Destiny Mark was a bundle of herbs, showcasing he was mostly the Court Physician. Compared to all the camels and horses, the Pony seemed short, but he was average height. In the golden light streaming through the windows, his pale green mane and tail lit up, and his dark violet eyes and orange-brown pelt seemed brighter. His words were encouraging, but Karam’s tormented heart couldn’t hear them. “I know, but what is there left to hope for? We can’t find Daud, Father is dead, and everything is on my shoulders now and I’m not prepared!” Karam moaned as he flopped onto his bed in sorrow. “Fear not, Oh Strong Wind, for we are here to assist you in all matters,” Avram the Patient, a Zarfaim Earth Horse reminded him. Avram’s outfit today was brown, with six-pointed stars embroidered onto it. According to Zarfaim tradition, his tack covered his back, sides, chest, and flanks in a loose robe, though the leg coverings stopped at his knees to give him breathing room. On top of his peach head was a short mane of white, covered with his black head tack. As the court’s Spiritual advisor, he often prayed before and after meetings, and tried his best to give a more ethical stance in everything. Looking at the calm Horse, Karam felt a little braver. He looked at Avram’s plain, modest, tack and compared it to the fancier tack of the other advisors, and wondered if Avram felt hot with all that fabric on him. Oh but Karam insulted himself for thinking such foolish thoughts at such a time! At the same time, Karam insulted the others for how they were all acting. How could Avram and all the other advisors manage to be so rational at such a horrid time? Weren’t they panicking too? Perhaps Karam needed to learn how to maintain himself like they maintained themselves… for the good of the kingdom. Sitting up straight in his bed, Karam sighed, “All right… well, assist me! Does anybeast have any suggestions of where to find Daud?” At that, the advisors awkwardly eyed each other and then looked away from Karam. Well, it seemed that even the calm and collected council had their worried moments too. “The best option is to send messengers all across the land seeking him! Perhaps he was kidnapped the night of the murder!” Qadir the Swift quickly suggested as he spread wide his electric blue Pegasus Horse wings in declaration. His white and golden tack had emblems showcasing that he was the Chief of the Aerial Defense part of the army. “It seems that is the only option,” Heydar the Great acknowledged, using his Unicorn Horse magic to adjust his golden tack better. His tack had a long blanket draped across his back that was woven with diamonds and marks of magic, showing that he was one of the two Court Magicians. “Then so be it!” Karam agreed. “Shall I offer a financial reward for whoever brings him back? Surely that will give some speed to their journeying,” Kalil the Prosperous asked. As the one in charge of finances, the Unicorn Horse knew the perfect price for everything. He too was a Zarfaim, and his black modest tack was ornamented with symbols of golden coins, showing his place as Advisor of Economics. “Let it be done!” Karam declared, feeling a bit braver at the thought of the messengers hurrying back. “As for other matters, what would you like for luncheon?” Kamal the Faithful inquired. He was a pale-colored Camel who was in charge of all the servants in the palace. His tack was embroidered with symbols of symmetrical shapes, showing that he was the Chief of the Servants, and that he loved keeping a tidy palace. “I… I suppose just a plain salad; I’m not that hungry today,” Karam decided after a moment. “Excellent! The greens will help your body and eating will help soothe your mind,” Jinan commented with a smile. More days passed and still no word from Daud. Slowly, Karam believed that his brother was dead. What other explanation was there? If he was alive, he’d be back by now. Karam wanted to mourn for his father and brother, but didn’t know how. He had to be strong for the nation, and mourning was… wasn’t strong. Was it? He didn’t know. Because he didn’t have time to mourn, he buried his emotions away and taught himself to always look serious and strong. Whoever his father’s assassin was, wherever that traitor was, he was probably watching Karam, waiting for an opportunity, and Karam refused to look like he was wide open emotionally. Wherever Karam went, he stood tall and strong, and whenever he spoke he spoke clearly and soberly. He halted several sandstorms during this time, and he used the violent winds to get out some of his anger by violently striking back at them with his magic. No matter what happened he would be strong for his nation, his brother, and the memory of his father. Thankfully, he had some excellent advisors beside him.