Xunpadshahannama: Eclipse of Brotherhood
| Xunpadshahannama: Eclipse of Brotherhood | |
| |
| Original title | Xunpadshahannama |
| Language | Common Tongue |
| Author(s) | Gustaaf Vermeylen |
| Genre | Historical narratives |
| Location(s) | Çakaristan |
| (main) characters | list of characters |
| Timeframe | 1757 - onwards |
Xunpadshahannama: Eclipse of Brotherhood is the fourth part in the story series Xunpadshahannama. This Book of Xunpadshahan is the official chronicle of the reign of Xunpadshahan. It contains various stories surrounding the Shahanshah, the third ruler of Çakaristan. It is a sequel to Xunpadshahannama: Blossoming of the Dragon.
An arranged future
1757 AN
“I’m certainly not going to become your mistress; if you can’t marry me, then…” These words of Isolde Kael echoed through Suleiman’s mind. He had wanted to comfort her; he had wanted to make room in his life for her love for him. But he had to admit she was right: if she couldn’t marry him, then a second-class position was no real solution. “No, go away! I don’t want to see you anymore.” Those were her last words to him. All this came to mind as he gazed out of the car window, lost in thought. Although he could see the city of Maulikpur, the people on the street couldn’t see him. People were looking at the car, perhaps wondering who was inside. Soon the car arrived at the Cenfae Mahal.
“Suleiman, your presence is such a blessing,” Lucy said to her eldest son. Together they walked through the palace corridors. When they reached the garden, Lucy said to Suleiman, “I’d like to introduce you to someone. This is Aishwarya Badakar. She is the daughter of Waazir Badakar and Chandi Harish.” Suleiman looked at his mother questioningly. “Come on, is there something wrong with your manners?” Suleiman apologised to Aishwarya Badakar and greeted her. Lucy said that refreshments were waiting for them in the tea house. Suleiman was not pleased with this ostentatious attempt to set him up with a noble lady. When he looked at Aishwarya, he was overcome with pity for her. So he decided not to disappoint her after all. He smiled and invited her for a stroll in the palace gardens.
When, after the walk and refreshments in the tea house, the couple returned to the palace, they were escorted by the Nawab ka Mahal to the Shahanshah’s sitting room. There sat his father and mother, as well as her parents. Suleiman began to realise what was going on. Not only was he being paired with Aishwarya Badakar, but their marriage was being arranged. He wondered whether he should protest or not. He could not marry Isolde, even if she still wanted to. Perhaps it was for the best, but then again, could he really love this Aishwarya Badakar?
With a gesture, the Shahanshah motioned for them to take a seat on the bench. “Now then,” began Aurangzeb, “as you may have realised, my son, we have reached an agreement with the noble lord Badakar. Namely, that within the next three months, you, Suleiman and Aishwarya, are to be married. We believe you make a good match.” Visibly uncomfortable, Aurangzeb didn’t really know what else to say. Lucy looked at her son. Suleiman didn’t know how to react, but glanced nervously at Aishwarya. She was nervous too, but nodded in agreement towards Suleiman. He nodded in return and turned to his father. “Father, may I introduce you to my fiancée.” Relieved, Aurangzeb smiled and Lucy clapped her hands with joy.
•••
1761 AN
The telephone rang on the Grand Vizier’s desk in the Rani Mahal. Usually, that meant a call from Maulikpur, but not this time. The call was from Khanabad. The Grand Vizier, Talal Sayfasad, answered. His face fell and he ended the call with the words: “I’m on my way”. He slammed the receiver down, jumped to his feet and ordered that he be taken to Khanabad as quickly as possible. He ran through the palace and found his wife, Aigerim Serik, in the kitchen. “Aigerim, my sister has just phoned from Khanabad. My father… my father is very ill. He might well…”, said Talal, trembling and trying to hold back his tears. Aigerim embraced her husband and said: “Let’s go to Khanabad as quickly as possible”.
The Grand Vizier and his wife flew to Khanabad on the Air Çakar Second. The limousines from the Dar Al Baraka Palace took them to the palace. Talal ran to the room where his father lay. Yafar Sayfasad was pleasantly surprised that his son had come. Musbah bint Asad, Yafar’s wife, and her children were also present. Talal fell to his knees at the edge of the bed. “My son, my son,” said Yafar, his voice trembling. He began to weep and said: “Musbah, look at our wealth. Our children are all here. Now I can rest in peace.” Musbah began to weep and was comforted by a hug from her only daughter, Fatima. Yafar died within that very hour.
An uncertain future
1757 AN
Esmeralda was visiting Maulikpur with her husband and their one-year-old son. Whilst her husband, Willem August, was visiting Karel Kyle, Esmeralda stayed at the Cenfae Mahal with Joseph Leopold. Jaffar came in and greeted his sister. “Hi, little cousin, here’s your favourite uncle,” Jaffar said to Joseph Leopold. The little boy looked sheepishly and carried on throwing wooden blocks. Jaffar turned back to his sister and said scornfully, “Have you heard? Suleiman’s been matched with a wife.” “Brother, don’t talk like that about your brother. He bears the weight of the crown.” Jaffar sniffed and replied: “You can defend him all you like, but he really isn’t fit for the throne. He’s far too gentle.”
“And you’re more suitable?” asked Esmeralda with a touch of cynicism. But before Jaffar could respond, she added: “You’re playing with fire if you think you can undermine the constitutional order.” Jaffar decided not to respond further and to ignore Esmeralda’s words. He turned his attention back to his nephew and built a tower with the wooden blocks. He encouraged Joseph Leopold to knock the tower over; the little boy clapped his hands, sort of, but missed the tower.
•••
1761 AN
Talal received the Shahanshah at the Dar Al Baraka Palace. Aurangzeb greeted him warmly and offered words of encouragement. Talal was very grateful, but also asked the Shahanshah how things should proceed from here. After all, it was by no means certain that he would inherit the role and position held by his father, that of Nayib al’Amir of the Emirate of Al-Khadra. For if that were the case, it would conflict with Talal’s current role and position as Grand Vizier. Aurangzeb noticed that Talal was unable to grieve fully because he was confused about this matter. The men withdrew and spoke amongst themselves. A short while later, the Shahanshah summoned his secretary. Several firmans were issued on the spot.
When the men rejoined the women, the Shahanshah announced that he had just decided to dismiss Talal as Grand Vizier and appoint him as Nayib al’Amir. “However,” the Shahanshah emphasised, “we shall not make these decisions public straight away. We shall first pay our respects to my dear friend and your revered husband and father.” A short while later, the Shahanshah visited Yafar Sayfasad’s coffin and paused for a moment of reflection.
The coffin was carried out of the Dar Al Baraka Palace, and a procession comprising family members, the Shahanshah and dignitaries made its way to the Craittemple. Large crowds of onlookers lined the route. Inside the Craittemple were the other guests from home and abroad.
A seasoned plan
1757 AN
The day had finally arrived. Suleiman was feeling rather nervous after all. He had heard the scornful words of his twin brother, spoken when they met in the garden of the Cenfae Mahal. He had replied: “Your time will come.” ‘Reserve shah’, he wanted to add, but he didn’t say it after all. Their mother came walking over; her sons stopped arguing and greeted her. Jaffar excused himself and left for the palace. Once Jaffar was out of earshot, Lucy asked Suleiman what was going on. Suleiman waved it away, but Lucy pressed him. Eventually, he told her what Jaffar had said. Lucy reassured Suleiman and thought about finding a marriage partner for Jaffar as well. Suleiman could almost read her mind and said, “If you’re thinking of arranging a marriage for Jaffar, he’ll absolutely not accept it. He needs to be seduced rather than proposed to.” Lucy looked at her eldest son and, after a brief silence, replied: “That’s a clever idea.”
He walked into the Cenfae Mahal with his mother. And then the ceremony began. The bride, Aishwarya Badakar, was led in. She looked breathtaking. Suleiman felt his heart leap with joy, and a question popped into his head: ‘Can I truly love this woman?’. But as the festivities continued, Suleiman let himself get drunk. The wine tasted sweet, his head felt light and the music was captivating. Lucy made sure her son and his bride slipped away in good time, before Aurangzeb realised what was happening. Once in the silence of the bedroom, the bride and groom were overcome by fear and uncertainty at the prospect of the unknown. The uncertainty of this intimate experience. When the moment came, Suleiman, in his drunken state, spoke the name of his beloved: Isolde.
•••
1761 AN
The brand-new Grand Vizier presided over his cabinet. Before him lay a list of issues that the previous Grand Vizier had handed over to him. Several members of his cabinet had also been members of the previous cabinet. He intends to continue the policies of the previous cabinet, but also to make his own mark. He took his time with the latter, particularly as his appointment had come rather suddenly. “Viziers, we have parted ways with Sri Pashana and the Beneluccas. Despite the trade agreements with Sanpantul, prices for salt, tea and poppies are still rising. The first two products mainly affect everyday consumption, whilst poppies are a raw material for morphine. Although exports to Nouvelle Alexandrie have ceased, due to that country’s unilateral breach of the agreement, there are domestic shortages.”
Fayzal Nizari replied: “Your Excellency, a study has been carried out into the possibilities for salt extraction in the Azure Sea. However, the infrastructure and facilities required for this are currently lacking. If we provide that infrastructure and set up a company, salt extraction will provide the crucial raw material for the whole country.” The Grand Vizier nodded and asked: “How much will this cost and what are the expected returns?” Vizier al-Malia produced a calculation that provided the answers. A similar plan existed for poppy cultivation, albeit on the Northak Islands. It was on a smaller scale than on the Beneluccas, but sufficient for the production of that crucial raw material for morphine. The Grand Vizier concluded: “Sufficient for domestic use.”
