Episode 5

The irregular winter had passed. The snow on the roofs of Ezra's palace had begun to melt, and the rattle of drops on the ground was the only thing that could be heard in all the palaces; That melody was the musical orchestra that all the beauties of the king appreciated, from the wife of the lowest category to the empress could delight or go crazy with the sound.

For Ezra that was an unusual sound, because the area where he came from was not common winter snowfall. That sound was relaxing in that endless solitude. Ezra did not want his life to be lost in the rough walls of the royal palace. Although, I very well knew that was what would happen.

"Madame, the eunuch Chief is here. I will pass it on.

Madame Azzar settled into the armchair while busily checking her hairstyle and the condition of her dress.

"Greetings to Madame Azzar," greeted the old eunuch politely.

"Chief eunuch, what brings you here?"

"Madame Azzar, congratulations. The Caliph has summoned her.

Ezra slowly erased the smile on his face. For the other wives to be summoned by the king was the most desired, but Ezra did not want to attract attention and was doing the opposite. So many women wish they had their luck. However, it was an irony. What one wanted was obtained by the other.

"Tonight, we will send a palanquin here to the king's palace. He must prepare as soon as possible and that is why I have brought him the extra staff for his arrangement, the eunuch spoke in a monotone voice, with no expression on his face. Behind him came the considerable number of eunuchs and maids who would attend to her. I say goodbye to Madame Azzar.

Ezra was so absorbed in her thoughts that she did not notice her chief eunuch's entrance to the chamber. Di-di was a 15-year-old boy who had been turned into a eunuch at the age of ten, the boy was more efficient in his work than he had imagined. During the five years that the young man had been in the palace he had learned all the tricks that concubines did, and he had also been teaching him tactics to defend himself.

Di-di had been unreceptive to the idea of keeping it hidden from the king's attention. And although Ezra had had doubts about the eunuch's loyalty, the young man had shown him that he was with her.

"Madame, I knew I would soon get your majesty's attention.

"Look so cheerful, we could not remain hidden from the king.

"Madame, your beauty cannot be hidden, it is like covering the sun with a finger, Impossible!

"Di-di, since when have you been so flattering?" Will I have to cut off your tongue? —he joked in a cheerful tone.

"I'm just telling the truth, if that's why I'm executed, I'll accept it," Di-di spoke dramatically. The young man's comical expressions only make Ezra laugh.

Those moments when he talked to Di-di or Tafur, his maid, were unique, and he could even say that in that place they were his family.

"Di-di, I'm confused. Your majesty has summoned me. The other wives will hate me for that, how should I protect myself?

"There is no better protection than your majesty. Madam me, you have just entered the power struggle, and the other wives will not expect you to rise above them. No doubt they will look for a way to make it fall.

Ezra thought of his eunuch's words and finally accepted that. The beauties of the king were not willing to tolerate one bit that another woman won the favor of the king, because his task of ascent in the pyramid would become dangerous if another remained in his rear. They would not be calm until it fell precipitously from its ranks.

...

The day passed in acceleration and nervousness. The additional servants had given the king's palace the new concubine who would accompany him that night. Ezra waited patiently for the king's arrival in the room. That place was incredibly decorated and furnished. There were many silver chandeliers illuminating the room, a huge black velvet leather couch, and many paintings taped to the wall. Ezra had never seen paintings as well designed as those.

Full of curiosity, the woman approached the paintings to look at them closely. The drawing contained the representation of an immensely popular dance in the region. The women in the painting wore beautiful turbans and ankle bracelets that shone with unusual charm, which was a unique color. Ezra took one of the lampstands and illuminated the image. by candlelight, those drawings seemed to come to life, so much so that Ezra imagined that the dancers’ protagonists of the painting moved to the rhythm of a cheerful melody.

"Do you like it?" —the king spoke when he entered the room— If you like them so much, I will send some to your palace.

Ezra agreed nervously with her head.

"I never thought you would be so shy; on previous occasions I saw you very sure of yourself. What happened to that woman?

—There are times when it is best to be silent. A person's abilities are not appreciated when speaking, but when listening.

"You didn't call me by my title," the king waited for Ezra's reaction, but she was too confused with the whole situation to understand what the king wanted, "Won't you apologize?"

Ezra clenched his hands because of nervousness, what mistake had he made? Talk to him without titles? That was not a fault, he had done nothing wrong, it was those kings who lived with their heads in the clouds, believing that they had the sun and the moon in their hands.

"Is that missing?" I have not disrespected him, why should I apologize for a fault I have not committed? "Ezra said with apparent courage, for inside he was dying of fear. What if he had his head cut off?

The king let out a loud laugh making Ezra startled by the sound. The man moved briskly around the room while laughing loudly.

"You have courage and personality, I like that," he said as he peeled an apple, cut the pieces, and ate the pieces of fruit. The members of your tribe are well known for being expert musicians and poets, do you have any talents? —He still spoke with pieces of apple in his mouth.

—Since I was little, I learned to play the flute and the harp. But now I do not have any instruments.

Do you know poetry about music?

"My father is the best musician in the tribe, it would be logical if I imitated his talent. If you wish I can sing for you.

"Go ahead.

Ezra cleared his throat and prepared to start singing a song to the king.

Leafy trees are visible

From afar, green leaves

augur happiness.

Life slips through my hands.

Youth is just vanity.

Our distant faces

They fade in time.

Who can stop their rhythm?

Your white eyebrows bear witness to the

years that have passed over us.

Can it be our love lasting?

Aged eyes look at the horizon

focusing their hopes on the

Bright white flowers.

Their love froze turning

in hard frost, scattered

by the wind

An eternal love is what he wants,

and the white flowers

Granted

Ezra finished singing and opened his eyes waiting to see the king's reaction. The man was smiling slightly, so Ezra thought he had done it wrong.

"Did I do it wrong?"

"What?" No. That was wonderful. You sing beautiful. Whose song, is it?

"It's mine, I made it.

The man was really surprised by Ezra's talent and when he heard that the song had been made by her, he spit out the apple chunks he had in his mouth. The fruit got stuck in the king's throat and worried she tried to help him.

Ezra grabbed the king by the stomach pressing to get out the pieces of apple that had gotten stuck in his throat. The red king of shame tried to evade the woman's grip. But he only managed to fall into the couch along with her.

"Your Majesty, is that okay?" Ezra asked with his eyes wide open.

"Mahdi, I give you permission to call me by my name.

Ezra nodded in and when he realized how uncomfortable the situation was, he tried to get up from the emperor's chest. But the man stopped her.

The woman tried to let go, however the more she stirred, the more the man tightened the grip.

"Let go," he demands.

"Why should I?" —The challenge.

"Your majesty is the king, surely you are uncomfortable with my weight in your fragile body.

The king pushed Ezra's body and she loses her balance a little.

"I'm not fragile. Don't you see these arms? Or this chest. They are hard as stones.

The night passed between laughter and witty talks by Ezra and many laughs by the king. That girl managed to relieve him of the problems he used to deal with in court.

Ezra awoke from his restful sleep and the first thing he saw that day was the king's face. His brown hair fell over his face, the eyes were almond-shaped with long eyelashes and his beard slightly grown, all those characteristics would make the king an attractive person. That Ezra did not deny, but she would not be carried away by a pretty appearance. If the man turned out to be kind-hearted, he would serve him loyally all his life.

"Do you like what you see?" "The emperor still spoke with his eyes closed.

"No, I just wanted to check if the king was as handsome as it is proclaimed throughout the palace...

"Am I?"

Ezra failed to answer, for a eunuch spoke outside the room.

"Your Majesty, we come for Madame Azzar. In addition, I come with orders from Consort Akil, the woman asks to see him urgently in her chambers, her maid says she is very sick.

The king got up from the couch and sat on the bed still sleepy.

"Send him to the royal doctor.

"Her highness, the consort, said that she demanded her presence.

"I think you should see what happens to your highness. Azzar recommended in a faint voice.

The king smiled at the woman and then put on his dressing gown and left the room.

Then the entire army of eunuchs entered the room, wrapped Ezra's body, and then removed her from the king's chambers. Ezra lived all this utopia in a confused way. The eagerness of the eunuchs to serve the king was ironclad.