Epic Of Ahiram (Book 1) (54 page)

“My dear Ibromaliöm,” snapped Ramany, “I am blinded by the dazzling light of your tact.”

“Gentlemen,” intervened Garu with a tired voice, “do I have to remind you of the seriousness of the matter at hand? Can we let this fine young man explain to us how he found the dead body?”

“Your Honor, we have received orders from Commander Tanios to scout the mines in order to determine whether the contestants were able to survive the earthquake or not. Upon entering the mines, we followed their trails to the lake where we found the body of this man on the shore. We could not proceed further into the mines.”

“Why was that?” asked Ibromaliöm abruptly.

The Silent hesitated before answering, “The lake prevented us.”

“What do you mean?” asked Ramany.

“I mean that every time we tried to get into the water, we were thrown back onto the shore by surging waves. We attempted the crossing several times, and each time we were forced to go back to the shore.”

“To what do you attribute this behavior?” asked Hylâz.

“I do not know, Your Honor. All I know is that we were not able to cross, so we came back, bringing with us the body of this man. Now, if you would excuse us, we must report to Commander Tanios.” With a curt bow, the leader and his men were gone.

Having a knack for regulations and details, Hylâz asked, “Why did Tanios order these Silent to enter the mines during the Game?”

“Because I asked him to help us,” answered Garu. “The arbitrators could not report properly on the status of the participants, and I felt it important to engage the Silent to determine their whereabouts.”

“Why were we not briefed of your decision?” asked Ibromaliöm.

“Because, my dear Ibromaliöm, I was convinced that all three of you would have supported my decision. Is it not the case?” Hylâz and Ramany nodded their approval. Ibromaliöm and Garu stared at each other, locked in a battle of wills. After a painfully long time, Ibromaliöm lowered his gaze and nodded affirmatively. He turned around abruptly and resumed his nervous pacing.

“This brings the total count of young men who have died since the beginning of these Games to four,” sighed Hylâz.

“Four?” asked Ramany.

“Yes, one from Prince Olothe’s team and three from Baal’s team.”

“Three? You mean two, do you not?”

“No, I mean three. The man from Olothe’s team was found murdered in the storage area on the first floor, remember? This is when Tanios interrogated us, and I woke you with my snoring.”

“Yes, I am aware of the two murders.”

“Well, now you can add to your count this unfortunate young man who drowned in the lake.”

“Assuming this is a murder, then when we add the victim found in the Queen’s Ballroom, we end up with three deaths. Who is the fourth?”

“You may not have been briefed, my dear Ramany, but this morning a man belonging to Hiyam’s team did not show up. Early this afternoon, the Silent found the unfortunate man dead.”

“He was dead?”

“Yes. Murdered like the other two. And you know where they found him?” added Hylâz in a conspiratorial tone.

“No, where?”

“In the Silent’s quarters, no less. Right there, under the commander’s nose. This murderer is amazing, I tell you.”

“Tanios must be
very
angry now,” said Ramany, shuddering.

“
Very
,” said Hylâz, nodding. “Very, very angry.”

“How unfortunate,” added Hylâz heaving a deep sigh. “My, my, these Games are rather eventful.”

The crowd, by now, had become agitated. They had seen the four Silent come forth carrying a dead man. They had witnessed the quick exchange between the leader of the Silent and the judges, as well as the departure of the four young men with the body. They wanted updates and felt the judges were concealing important information. Garu turned around and raised his hands. The crowd quieted expectantly.

“Dear friends, it pains me to inform you that one of our worthy contestants has lost his life during the Game of Gold. It would seem that this fine young man, owing to undetermined circumstances, drowned in the lake. As you are well aware, death is no stranger to these Games. It is not uncommon to see young men and women come to the Games full of life, vibrant with hope and expectations, only to meet their ultimate fate. These Games are indeed unparalleled in all the territories of Baal and bestow upon their winner the highest honors. They also exact the highest price from some of those who take part in them. Such are the laws of the great Games of the Mines. As for the remaining participants, they have been delayed due to the earthquake, which sealed the main exit. However, there are many other pathways that one may take to leave the mines. Rest assured that as we speak, most, if not all the teams, must be close to one exit or another. I would ask you to keep calm and honor these participants by waiting with us a little longer. Tomorrow is another day, and by tomorrow, all these unfortunate events will be behind us. On behalf of Their Majesties, the King and Queen, and my most honorable colleagues, I thank you for your understanding.”

Garu bowed and the crowd applauded mechanically. The applause started low and polite, and abruptly turned into a roar. Garu who was still bowing, lifted his head and was startled. He was receiving a standing ovation and the arbitrators were running toward him.
I know my speech was good, but I did not think it was that good,
he thought. He walked toward the arbitrators running in his direction to reassure them that he could handle the crowd without their protection, but they passed him and continued running up the road behind him.

He turned around and saw Ahiram and Hiyam sprinting down the path. They were running toe-to-toe and crossed the finish line together.

Hylâz smacked his head with his hand. “Not again,” he moaned. “What are we to do? The rules do not make provisions for a slave as a co-winner of a Game. Did he lose or did he win this Game?”

“Let us verify the artifacts, shall we?” snapped Garu.

Ahiram raised a mask of gold. The crowd surged like a mighty wave, and the judges were nearly trampled underfoot, but the angry shouts of the trumpets broke the surge and quieted everyone. Garu elbowed his way through the human forest and had to use his full authority to reach Ahiram and Hiyam, who now stood side-by-side. The three other judges joined him.

“Well, young man, what have you to say for yourself?” Garu spoke with a gruff voice. Despite appearances, he was impressed that this slave had won single handedly The Game of Gold was no small feat.

“Here is the mask, Master Garu,” replied Ahiram with a weary smile.

“Yes, yes, indeed, it is the mask of gold. Do you have the shoes of bronze and the belt of silver as well?”

Ahiram exhibited these pieces to the delight of the crowd. To win the Game, it was not enough to find the proper artifact at each step; Ahiram had to keep them until the last Game was over. This is why the Game of Meyroon was the most dangerous. In the past, stalling and pouncing became a widespread tactic that various teams used to try to win the Games. They would intentionally trail the winner in the first three Games to conserve their strength, then pounce on their exhausted prey during the fourth Game, and steal the shoes, belt, and mask. The judges modified the rules a few years back to disqualify all but the top four teams from participation in the Game of Meyroon.

“Yes, yes, there is no doubt, young man,” continued Garu, who had finished his deliberation with the three other judges, “You have all the artifacts. Now your turn, young lady. Show us the mask, if you please.”

Hiyam handed them a mask of gold. The judges inspected it and confirmed its authenticity.

“Very well, now please show us the remaining artifacts,” asked Garu.

Hiyam blanched. She was the fastest runner on her team, and when she had seen Ahiram ahead of her on the road, she had snatched the mask of gold from one of her teammates, but she had forgotten the shoes of bronze and the belt of silver.

“They are with the rest of my team,” she stuttered. “We have them.”

“Unfortunately, my dear lady, the rules are very specific,” said Garu. “No team can be declared a winner of the Game of Gold unless they exhibit all three artifacts. As such, I declare the slave Ahiram the uncontested winner of the Game of Gold. Congratulations.”

The euphoria of the crowd knew no bounds. A dream once thought lost was now becoming reality. It had taken shape and now had a face. The city of Taniir-The-Strong was swelling with visitors attracted by the ancient prophecy. The flow of people did not give any sign of abating. The garrison of Baalites was on full alert and reinforcements were being sent from the two southern ports of Mitreel and Aramin.

The elation of the crowd was so strong that the arrival of Hiyam’s team was hardly noticed. Standing before the judges, her discomfiture turned to shame when no team member could produce the shoes of bronze. In the mayhem and confusion of the geyser, she had forgotten that the dead High Rider was carrying them. Ramany, wanting to sooth her pain, told her that the other teams were missing the mask. She nodded and closed her eyes.

“Aha,” exclaimed Hylâz, ”since none of these good teams have all three artifacts, we have a winner.” Garu rolled his eyes and sighed. “For the rules are clear: ‘if at any stage after the Game of Bronze, only one team has in its possession all constituent parts deemed valid, then this team is to be declared winner, and the Games are over.’”

“Wait, what did you just say, Hylâz?” asked Garu.

“Huh? What did tiny one say?” asked Frajil. He was talking to his older brother, Soloron, as they stood a mere three rows away from Ahiram and could clearly hear what was being said.

“He said that Ahiram has all three artifacts, and no other team does, so Ahiram wins.”

“Huh?” answered Frajil.

“Listen Frajil,” said Soloron patiently. “Ahiram has the shoes, belt, and mask, right?”

“Yes.”

“No other team has the shoes, belt, and mask, right?”

“Yes.”

“Ahiram wins. That’s what the tiny fella over there said.”

“Huh?”

“However,” said Ibromaliöm, “the rules stipulate that the Games must take place under normal and reasonable circumstances. I would venture that this particular Game does not satisfy either category, in which case such a Game ought to be annulled.”

“Correct as usual, my dear Ibromaliöm,” continued Garu pensively. He motioned for the other three judges to follow him and moved away from the crowd. The judges lowered their voices in order not to be overheard by anyone. “But if we were to annul the Game of Gold, does it then follow that one may win the Games without the mask of gold?”

“According to the rules,” replied Hylâz, “no team is worthy of winning that did not gather all four elements.”

“I see,” replied Garu, “we are throwing the slave as bait to the other teams. He enters the Mine of Meyroon, and the teams missing an artifact will converge on him to steal his items. I wonder who makes a final decision in this matter. According to the regulations, that is?”

“This one is easy,” said Ramany. “His Majesty the King is the supreme judge of the Games.”

“To the King then,” exclaimed Garu, who was relieved to know that for once, he did not have to make a difficult decision. They broke off their consultation and went back to the middle of the circle. “My dear people, after this superb victory of our young friend here, a number of legislative issues have been brought to our attention regarding the proper interpretation of the rules and their relevance to the Game at hand. Therefore, in strict observance of the rules, we shall defer all judgments to His Majesty the King who will be able to instruct us in these matters so that all is done in strict conformity to the rules, which are properly prescribed and ordained for the benefit of all. With these glad tidings, I wish all of you who were faithful through and through, a quiet and restful night. I hope to see you tomorrow for the glorious conclusion of these Games, so unlike any other event in the annals of the kingdom. Long live the King!”

The crowd answered, “Long live the King,” mechanically and resumed their rejoicing. Eventually, after mingling with the crowd, Ahiram went back to the royal castle, flanked by Banimelek and Jedarc. Abiil, the man who met with Soloron and Frajil at the tavern a few days back, gave them a slight nod. Soloron smiled as he left the plaza with his giant of a brother in tow.

“Tomorrow, we roast the chicken,” he said softly.

“Chicken? Where?” exclaimed Frajil. “Show me chicken. We could roast it tonight.”

“My dear Frajil, you will have to wait until tomorrow when the chicken is delivered into our hands.”

“Oh, yes, yes, I forgot all about it,” said Frajil.

“About what?” asked Soloron wondering if, for once, Frajil understood what was implied by these words.

“The marketplace is already closed. We cannot buy a chicken before tomorrow morning.”

Soloron sighed and went back toward the horses.
Tomorrow will be a busy day,
he thought.

“Gentlemen, this has been a rather busy night, far too busy for my taste. I shall give my decision in the morning. For now, I wish all of you a good and restful night.”