Leodan the Son of Lion Chapters 1-7

— "Really, unusual show", — told, making a wry mouth, Vaakhrad, the Supreme priest of Ygerabal. — "But for the sake of what gods respectable priests of Shat-Tsebu decided to perform it?"

— "And you did not understand, dear master Vaakhrad?" — Ashran showed on the Sabian birema which almost disappeared under water. — "Now we will be able to be through with Sabian pirates once and for all. Our fighting ships and this wonderful weapon will clean an ocean smooth surface from Sabian filth to the delight of our gods — Shat-Tsebu and Ygerabal".

— "My uncle is right", — told the Shofet with gloss in his eyes. — "Now I do not doubt that it is time for us to carry out great plans of my late father".

— "Conjurers!" — grumbled Vaakhrad when representation ended and guests of the Shofet were invited to follow to convivial tables in palace gardens. — "They want to force the Sabians to the knees with that trick?"

— "The jealousy and envy are in your voice, my lord", — the Supreme priestess of Kua, the tall black-eyed woman in heavy embroided clothes noticed. — "This is really terrible weapon. Here only how lord Ashran got it? Isn`t there a sort of black magic in it?"

— "It isn`t important", — Vaakhrad sighed. — "But the Shofet always follows Ashran`s advice, and I`m afraid we won`t escape big war now".

— "It grieves you?"

— "It will ennoble priests of Shat-Tsebu and the god of war Geshtan even more. And they will receive the most big chunks from the House of the Sun again and look down on us. Doesn`t it upset me, the Supreme priest of Ygerabal? You heard, Ashran told the name of Shat-Tsebu before the name of Ygerabal — it means someting, isnt`t it?"

— "Let's not think of bad", — the priestess of Kua playfully took the grieved Vaakhrad by an arm. — "We are waited by an entertainment in the Shofet gardens and then we will be able to discuss how to glorify our gods".

-" Allies?" — Vaakhrad looked at the priestess.

— "The love and the sea suit one another better than the love and war", — laughed the priestess.

* * *

Shemmer-Ta-Nat did not see how servants carried away from a feast her drunk and happy father. Now she was a daughter of the Son of the Sea, and the most notable grandees spoke with her faithfully. But she noticed in what irritation the queen Kuati left a feast — it happened after the Shofet sent sweets to Shemmer-Ta-Nat from his table for the third time.

It seems, she had an enemy. The queen Kuati will hardly forgive her such humiliation. Or perhaps everything is not so bad?

— The Son of the Sun ordered to tell to the brightest star of Darnat that today he intends to show her rooms of the palace, — the eunuch servant squeaked her in the ear. — Let the brightest star do not worry about anything, she will be carried out to the Shofet when time comes ...

Shemmer-Ta-Nat answered nothing. A thought appeared unexpected and as seemed to the girl very successful. The Shofet more than favorable to her, so she could ask the Shofet for help to find her Leodan. The Shofet can do everything and if Leodan is alive ...

If he is alive.

An opposite lump drove to a throat and tears clouded eyes again. The eunuch servilely faced her expecting the answer. The silly eunuch was for certain sure that she cried with happiness.

— Oh ... thank the Son of the Sun, — Shemmer-Ta-Nat told and pretended that she was interested in a vase with fruit and sugar cookies.

My Leodan is alive, and I will find him, she told herself. Only it is not necessary to cry, the make-up will begin to flow. It is necessary to remain strong. Gods smile strong and persistent. They will grant her desire.