“Please, sir,” the boy cried out. “I only need some water. A bit of bread. Whatever you could spare. I would work for it. I can scrub and clean. I can mend clothes. I’ll do anything.”
“Can’t you see there’s a party going on?” the butler said. “Come by tomorrow if you’d like, but the sultan will not be disturbed right now.”
“Wait.” Prince Haris walked over to where the boy stood on the marble front stoop. “You say you’ll work for it, will you?”
“Yes, sir.” The boy nodded.
“Then come on in.” Prince Haris waved an arm. The boy hesitated, glancing at the butler before taking a tentative step inside.
“Up to your usual tricks, Haris?” A duchess walked over and winked.
“Boy says he wants to work for food.” Haris shrugged. “Can’t we at least segue this into some sort of entertainment? Can you juggle, boy?”
“No….” The boy’s gray eyes widened. “I didn’t mean—”
“How about some death-defying tricks?” Haris moved closer to the boy. “Why don’t you stand by the wall and see if we can throw some blades between your fingers and wager where they’ll land? Or a dunking contest—take some bets on how long you can breathe underwater.”
“I’d want in on that,” a man said, approaching. Soon an audience had gathered.
The boy paled. He mumbled an apology. He took a step toward the door, but before he could leave, Haris shoved the boy.
“You said you’d work for money.” Haris’s eyes glimmered. “Said you’d do anything. You’re a liar, then, aren’t you? You know what I do to liars?”
But before the boy could say a word, Sultan Zayn strode through the crowd.
“What is going on here?” Zayn looked at the people around him, at Haris’s expression, and then at the beggar’s terrified face. “Is everything all right?”
“Just a little game.” Haris shrugged. “This boy said he’d do anything for some food. Thought I’d make your ball a little more entertaining. Was doing you a favor, wasn’t I, dear friend?”
“Do you find mocking a young man entertainment?” the sultan asked.
“Easy there,” a woman laughed. “You know us, Zayn. We mean no harm. Were only having a bit of fun, weren’t we?”
“But at whose expense?” The sultan frowned. “As my great-great-grandfather said, while the world is filled with kind and good people, the only way we can see a kind and good world is if we look beyond ourselves and intercede to help others when we can.”
Zayn had a knapsack of food prepared for the boy—a bit of bread and chicken, a canteen of water, and dried fruits and nuts. Studying the boy’s disheveled appearance, he asked, “Sleep on the ground, don’t you?”
“Yes, Your Majesty,” the boy said. “I have seven more days on my journey. Until then I sleep where and when I can, however I can.”
“Get him something to lie upon at night, a blanket, a pillow,” the sultan told the butler.
“For the beggar?” the butler sputtered. “We have only the finest things here, Your Majesty.”
“Yes, for the child.” Zayn nodded. “Get a pillow, blanket, and the rug from my old nursery. It’s been gathering dust for decades anyhow—should be light enough to carry and sturdy enough for him to sleep on. And one of our maps, so he can navigate more easily.”
The young boy stared at the bounty the sultan had given him.
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” The boy’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I will repay your kindness tenfold, this I promise you.”
The sultan patted the boy on the shoulder and watched as he left the premises and disappeared into the night. It was a sweet gesture, the sultan thought as he rejoined the crowd, but the boy was young indeed if he thought he could ever be of help to a sultan such as himself.
Ten years hence, Zayn reflected back to the days of grand parties with a wistful twist in his heart. Gone were the days of embossed invitations and lavish affairs. His palace was in shambles—the roof on the southern wing of the estate shattered from the cannonade the enemy forces had rained upon them earlier in the week. That was when he’d told his men to lay down their weapons and sent a missive of their surrender to the other side, whose artillery they simply could not match. A handful of soldiers remained in the palace with him as they awaited the approaching army. They would be here soon. What a wonder, Zayn thought, how his kingdom had withstood centuries only to collapse under his watch. And as much as all this hurt, realizing how alone he truly was hurt far more.
There was a knock at the door.
So, this was it.
Once the door opened and he met the commander of the army face to face at last, he knew he would take his last breath.
A soldier moved to answer the door.
“No.” Zayn stood up. “It should be me. The rest of you—you have served nobly and with honor. Do not try to defend me. Surrender and spare your families the pain of losing you.”
But upon opening the door, Zayn did not see the gleaming smile of a military commander staring back at him; instead, it was a young man. His hair was dark and his eyes were gray.
“You,” Zayn said slowly. “You’re the boy from that day at the party.”
“I am.” The young man nodded. “I came to thank you for saving my life all those years ago. I was nearly done for; I had come to your doorstep out of complete desperation, never imagining anyone would truly help. Your kindness saved my life.”
“I’m glad.” Zayn glanced about at the dingy hall where once lanterns glowed and people danced. “Those days seem like a lifetime ago. My friends and allies abandoned me. A handful of tired soldiers and myself are all that are left of this kingdom.”
“I am sorry to hear that,” the man said.
“None are sorrier than I am. What has hurt the most in all of this, though, is realizing that the friendships and loyalties I had enjoyed and believed genuine were there only for my wealth and my power.” The sultan sighed. “But that is neither here nor there. I’m glad time has done you well. But you aren’t safe here—an army is fast approaching. It’s better if you continue on your way.”
“I saw the army.” The man nodded. “They are a good five miles away but few in number. And I am here to assist you. I made a promise to help you someday, and that day has arrived. What if you found a way to outwit those who approach?” The man removed a map from his knapsack and presented it to the sultan.
