Author's Note : The following story is completely fictional.
The two men had seen in it all, and lived to tell the tale. They were once young recruits in the Emperor’s grand army. It was a golden age. Then came the revolution, and another. The once mighty nation was falling towards obscurity and it was up to the two of them to bring it back.
Now, they were the oldest men in the country. Shadows of a damned past, but one was the Emperor and the other the Vizier.
“Have you ever had the feeling that your days are numbered?”, the Emperor asked in a low tone, as they passed the two boys playing senet on the lawn.
“Every day, my old friend. The end is something to look forward for, in a life like ours.”, replied the Vizier. A memory of a past horror came into the Vizier’s mind – a noble prince killed in deceit, as he camped near the sea of reeds, trusting the Vizier, much younger then, in his safety.
“But I don’t see an end in sight. There is so much left to be done.”, pondered the Emperor, reminiscing the nation of their youth.
The Vizier sighed in agreement.
“And you think these boys will complete the job?”, the Emperor queried indicating at the senet players.
“They will have to. It will outlast both of us and even the lifetime of my son. There is much remaining to be done”.
“Does the younger one know who he is?”, “No. Neither does my son. But he knows the child will be able to guide the workers of the village, when the time comes.”
“The last in the line of the ancient kings of the north. Our old master would have killed me for letting him come to this palace. Such was his hatred for them.”, said the Emperor with a touch of regret.
“And for good reason.”, completed the Vizier. “The enmity of our people lasted for many centuries. Both sides did many deeds no one would ever be proud of.”
“So have we, my friend, so have we. We were once two people, united by blood spilled in battle, with one the master and the other slave. Now, we will work together and bring glory back to our nation.”, closed the Emperor.
The Emperor and the Vizier walked back towards the boys in the lawn.
Earlier
It was a sunny morning. The Emperor saw two kids playing on his lawn. He approached to meet them and they stopped playing. He asked the older one, “Who might you be, young one?”.
“I am Parameshu, sire. My grandfather said you wanted to see us.”, replied the boy.
“Oh, the Vizier’s grandson. It is good to meet you. And what is your name, son?”, the Emperor asked the other.
He smiled and replied, “That is my name – Moshe”.
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