Last King of Kings

Chapter 8: Divine opportunity

Servant led him through palace corridors in front of a metal door. Yazdegerd recognized these doors. These doors led to palace dungeon, a place he knew very well. He was held prisoner by Kavadh II., when he revolted against Khosrow II. and had Yazdegerd's father Shahriyar killed. Yazdegerd himself was then held here prisoner for a few months, until Kavadh II. died of plague and his successor had him released. In front of these doors stood a man. It was Jalinus.

"My Shahanshah, may he be immortal, thank you for coming."

"So, what is it you need of me, my hazarbed? What are these matters of "utmost importance"?

"Yes, my Shahanshah. Come with me, I shall show you."

After that, Jalinus opened the door that led in the dungeon and dismissed the servant. Yazdegerd started descending the stairs, Jalinus following behind.

"So what is this about? Did someone try to infiltrate the palace or what, that you want me to see them."

"No, my Shahanshah, may he be immortal. It is a different matter. These two man, more accurately old man and a kid were disturbing the public peace using very inappropriate methods."

"Were they running around naked?"

"No, my Shahanshah. Something worse."

As Yazdegerd was thinking what could disturb public peace more than old man with a kid running around naked, they finally descended into the dungeon, where dozens of cells were standing, most of them empty. But there, in a certain cell, two people were sitting. An old man, around sixty years old and a child, around Yazdegerd's age, maybe younger. Jalinus pointed to them and led the young Shah to their cell.

"These two are those I was talking about."

"I can see that, my hazarbed. But you still haven't told me what exactly are they guilty of."

"Breaking public peace, refusing to complain with the town guard, impersonation, lying to the town guard and attempted fleeing."

One certain charge caught Yazdegerd's interest.

"Impersonation? Who were they impersonating that they earned this charge."

"Your prophet Zoroaster, my Shahanshah."

"What? Both of them?"

"No, only the old man. He is trying to convince us this kid is a reincarnate of Zoroaster."

"Reincarnate, huh...?"

According to Jalinus, the old man was running around town, dragging the kid with him, preaching and convincing townfolk that he has Zoroaster's reincarnate right here with him. Then town guard caught him, demanded he stops. He of course didn't and after a short struggle, he ended up here.

"My Shahanshah, may he be immortal, please, release me! I didn't do anything wrong, Ahura Mazda be my witness." cried the man from the cell.

"Shut your mouth, you wretch!" Jalinus instantly made him be quiet.

But this was great chance for Yazdegerd. If he would support this kid's claim and somehow prove it, religion would be in his grasp with clergy unable to do anything with it.

"Calm down, my hazarbed. Let him talk. And you, if you want freedom, you better answer my questions."

"Yes, my Shahanshah, may he be immortal! I will do whatever you ask!"

"So, first I want to know your reasoning, why you think this kid is our prophets reincarnate. Show us a proof."

"My Shahanshah, I have no proof but testimony of me and my lord, Ahura Mazda. I found this poor child in an abandoned fire temple along the road from Herat here. From that very moment, I knew that there is something divine about this kid and that he is someone far bigger than what he looks like."

There certainly were few fire temples along the roads, and few of them were abandoned, due to raid or a plague. It doesn't matter. This was an excuse strong enough, combined with Shahanshah's support it would be completely enough to delegate most of the religious matters to this child. Well, rather to his guardian, the old man.

"Do you see now, my Shahanshah, why I ordered them to be locked down and to inform you of this? I am not of your faith, so it isn't my place to decide what to do with them. I personally don't believe them, but it all depends on you, my Shahanshah."

"Yes, I see now. Thank you, my hazarbed. As for whether I believe them or not... I do not believe them. But I have to."

"What do you mean, my Shahanshah?" asked Jalinus, a bit confused.

"Unlock the door and lead them to the guests room. Don't let them escape. I will talk with them personally later. And, let them bath. Please. My nose can handle only so much."

"As you command, my Shahanshah. Didn't you hear? Hurry, get to work."

Jalinus immediately started giving out orders while still looking perplexed at his Shah, who was still standing there and looking calmly at the two men, as they were led out of the cell into the palace above. He couldn't see what his Shah was thinking. It was only month since he was appointed as hazarbed by his Shah, but it seemed as if his Shah grew so much during this time. He didn't understand his liege's intentions, but trusted him enough to not question them.

"My hazarbed, from now on, when you talk about that child, you talk about our prophets reincarnate."

Yazdegerd had first to come up with better undercover, because reincarnation didn't exist in Zoroastrianism. At least not yet.

---

Farrukhzad was currently with Darius and Javid, marzbans or margraves of Tabarestan and Sistan regions, those where the plague had appeared. Ever since the first mentions of it appearing, both of them fled from their regions to avoid contracting it.

"So, gentlemen, I thank you for your time. Are you aware of how badly did the plague spread?"

These two probably didn't even pass any safety measures like quarantining the cities and funding the physicians.

"Honourable wuzurg framadar, if my subjects are right, the spread is limited mainly to big cities of Amol and Rasht." said Darius, marzban of Tabarestan.

"And I presume you had them quarantined?"

"I did not, honourable wuzurg framadar, as I do not possess enough finances to be able to."

"Not enough finances, huh, but that navel of your didn't grow by itself, right?" was what Farrukhzad wanted to say. But he didn't.

"Thank you, gentlemen, for coming here. I will take care of this problem, on behalf of our Shahanshah."

Farrukhzad stood up and left the two men to themselves.

"Didn't have enough finances. Ha! Bullshit!"

He sighed. He had to send enough finances and make sure they end up on good hands. That meant he had to go personally.

"Sam! Where are you?"

"I am here, sir. What do you need?"

A tall man was standing in front of him. It was Farrukhzad servant, Sam.

"Please, prepare the quarantine orders as well as financial request. We have much to do."

"Right away, sir."

"Thank you."