Leodan the Son of Lion Chapters 1-7

— "I would bless you with pleasure, Samedyar. But Shemmer-Ta-Nat will not agree to marry you. You spoke with her, didn`t you?"

— "Spoke".

— "And what?"

-" She refused".

— "Here you see!" — Uzmay grievously shook the head. — "My daughter does not love you".

— "Truly. She loves nobody, except this nasty slave Leodan".

— "What can I do? My daughter values him very much, and I did not get used to refuse anything to my girl. This cute worthless boy is as a bone in my throat. But I can make nothing. The daughter will never agree to leave this son of a pig and donkey. Since my wife died — may silver-eyed Shesh keep in peace her light soul! — Shemmer-Ta-Nat does not leave Leodan even for a day. This effeminate Chochi * are dearer to her than all grooms of Darnat. I tried to finish this more than once, but she did not even want to listen to me, the spoiled little girl! The last two years I even cannot send this damned Dorian to the market without her permission".

— "Now, when the Shofet inclined the light eye to your daughter, we have an opportunity to get rid of the unusable slave".

— "No", — resolutely told Uzmay. This conversation began to bother him. — "Shemmer-Ta-Nat is a daughter of her father and stubborn as a mule. It is easier for her to leave me, this house, all treasures which she has, than this son of not buried father. She also will take him in the palace of the Shofet. The lad so looks like the eunuch that he even should not be castrated. And the Shofet judging from the fact that I know, is so fallen in love in my daughter that will not refuse her this whim. I swear by face and palms of Kua, I do not understand what `s the matter. Perhaps this is black sorcery?"

— "Then it is worth talking over with priests: can, this effeminate Dorian is really ..."

— "Do you have melon instead of head? The highest look of the Sun from the House of the Sun fell to us: Kua inspired young Shofet love to my daughter. Do you realize what happens if rumours about magic go? The sovereign will grow cold to Shemmer-Ta-Nat at once. And I will fall into disgrace. Sorcery in the house of Uzmay! It is impossible to think up anything worse. No, this idea is no good. It is necessary to think up something another".

— "The Dorian could just disappear".

— "How? To put him on the ship and to send far away? The daughter will kill me".

— "He can die. All we are mortals. And Shemmer-Ta-Nat will condole and reconcile."

— "To kill the slave?" — Uzmay looked at Samedyar with interest. — "Whether you were going to cut his throat?"

— "What for? There are good laws. For example, there is a law on the slave, robbed the master".

— "You make laugh me, Samedyar. Leodan will never steal something. He has been living in this house since his birth and for these years even did not break apple from a tree without permission".

— "Theft can be arranged. And noone will prove that the unusable slave is actually innocent".

— "It is a thought!" — Uzmay scanned the young man. — "And you are a rare rascal, Samedyar. I would not guess such meanness".

— "Only the unfortunate lover who is in despair and tries to think up any way to achieve reciprocity. And then, I want that the favor of the Shofet won`t leave your daughter".

— "What do you mean?"

— "You told that Shemmer-Ta-Nat would want to take Leodan with her in the palace. Of course, this pathetic slave is so ridiculous that nobody will suspect some confidential communication between him and your daughter. However our young sovereign is so jealous ..."

Uzmay shuddered. He understood that this was a prevention. That Samedyar was tired to wait for and is ready to take any step if only to get his daughter as his wife. The merchant knew about Samedyar's love to the daughter long ago. The guy also appeared in his house as one of numerous boyfriends of the beautiful Shemmer-Ta-Nat. And nearly a year goes to his house almost every day. He is servile and respectful to sugariness — more pleasure than halvah. Uzmay understood that this young officer of Sacred Legion drives friendship with him only because of Shemmer-Ta-Nat. However it did not confuse the merchant — Uzmay even was very rich even among the Darnat grandees, and nothing so erases class borders as money does. But the main thing, this young man is madly in love, and is in love with his daughter. So Uzmay without hesitating exploited arrangement of the young man. Samedyar rendered him essential services more than once. From where would Uzmay learn about the events in the palace of the See Master if not from Samedyar? In Samedyar's head arose the plan to use the unexpected interest of the Shofet to the merchant daughter for the eminence of Uzmay. To be jealous of the Shofet? Nonsence. Shofet is a double of the Sun on the earth, but here will never be able to marry the merchant daughter. And Samedyar will be able and marry when the shofet is bored by the new mistress. Perhaps after acquaintance to the bedchamber of the sovereign Shemmer-Ta-Nat will become more compliant. Samedyar, of course, tried for himself, but the merchant estimated mind, cunning and unscrupulousness of the guy. If this plan is carried out, all will be happy — Uzmay will become very important grandee and put thousands of sakkars in a pocket, Samedyar will marry the beloved and become the son-in-law of the Sea Son. For the ordinary centurion of Legion the transcendental prospects will be offered. Only the Shofet will receive nothing, except fleeting pleasure he so aspires — however, he also does not wish more. Love is really unselfish sometimes. Now the words of the young man disturbed the merchant. All his grandiose plans can be ruined because of unclear affection of the daughter for the Dorian slave — effeminate, silly and lazy.

— "And how do you intend to execute this plan?" — Uzmay took an interest. — "Shemmer-Ta-Nat keeps Leodan by her side all the time. The little girl hammered in head that this pretty boy — her live mascot. She will never believe that Leodan steals something from her. And why should he steal? He lives in imperial luxury thanks to my daughter though, if I only could, I would have sold him to some fan of beautiful boys long ago. You have to recognize — Leodan is beautiful and brought well up. I would get good money for him".

— "He could steal something from you, master. He adores expensive knickknacks".

— "What?"

— "Something very valuable. Expensive thing which could attract him. Rare jewelry, for example. Such one which is very easy for identifying. I undertake the rest".

— "Do you want to throw him this bagatelle?" — Uzmay began to finger henna colored beard. — "And if the daughter does not believe us?"

— "The main thing that the judge believes. Deal, master?"

— "Frankly speaking, this slave costs me a fortune. Shemmer-Ta-Nat spends a lot of money for him". — Uzmay loured at the interlocutor. — "Perhaps, it is worth trying. To tell on conscience, I feel sorry for this boy though I like him. He sings not bad and plays on a zither — that's all that he is able to do. I stand him because my late wife loved him, and the daughter considers that he was sent to our house by gods ... So cruelly to treat him! But you are right. It is impossible to allow the worthless slave to ruin my and your happiness — and happiness of my daughter too. Only, gods witnesses, I am sorry of this fellow. My late wife would condemn me if I harmed him... I accept your offer, Samedyar, but, for the sake of Ygerabal, do everything yourself!"

— "Lie more, the old pretender, I know why you haven`t exempted yet from this Dorian puppy", — Samedyar thought, looking at distressed Uzmay. — "I bet that the Dorian himbo humours you in a bed and not one year already! Whom do you want to deceive, Uzmay? You do not want to get rid of him, I swear by light face of Shesh!"

— "So you agree, master?" — he added aloud.

— "I will give you one thing which I once presented to my wife. The rest is your care. However remember that my daughter will be not so easy to be convinced of Leodan's guilt".

— "But whether I can hope that in case of success you will agree to my and fine Shemmer-Ta-Nat marriage?"

— "Word of Uzmay".

— "Oh, master!" — Samedyar kneeled before the merchant, nestled lips on his chubby hand. — "You will not regret about your generosity. Even the dog will not be as devoted to you as I will".

— "I know, I know! Come to me for a dinner tonight, there we will discuss what to do. And now leave me. I still need to check accounts for this week".

— "By all means I will come, master.May Ygerabal will shower you and your house with the favor!"

— "Go. Also do not forget to tell me everything what you learn in the House of God about".

— "I remember whom I serve. Till the evening, master!"

— "Till the evening", — Uzmay waited when the young man disappears behind garden trees, scratched the immense stomach and marched by the pool to a marble table already set by Afaristan slaves with all the delicious things that the Uzmay`s cook prepared for the owner for an afternoon meal.

The new gift of the Shofet was awesome -Shemmer-Ta-Nat has never seen in her life anything similar to this thing though in house of Uzmay there were enough expensive wonders. Gold garnet apple was made so skillfully that everyone would want to cut and eat it. When Shemmer-Ta-Nat unintentionally pressed the secret spring hidden in the apple fruit stem, apple revealed on six segments with a melodious ring, and the delighted girl saw a set of the ruby kernels scintillating red sparks hidden in gold pomegranate. In addition to the surprising apple Shofet sent her the thread of magnificent pearls, but Shemmer-Ta-Nat did not even pay attention to it.

— "Gods, it is so beautiful!" — she exclaimed, having clapped her hands.

— "And refined", — Leodan added. He was sitting on pillows beside the madam and carefully polished nails on the left hand with a bronze file. — "The Sun from the House of the Sun always makes you refined gifts".

— "He is in love with me".

— "Does it surprise you?"

— "It seems to me to be unclear", — Shemmer-Ta-Nat carried out by a palm on the black hair twisted in small rings. — "Wife of the Shofet is a rare beauty. I cannot compete to her".

— "Nonsense!" — Leodan blew a file, critically examined nails, was satisfied. — "You are beautiful. The queen Kuati is beautiful too, but she lacks your femininity. She has cold beauty causing only admiration, no more. And the flame of Kua burns in you, your beauty awakes mad desire in men. And our Shofet has also seen it".

— "Sometimes I am afraid of the future, Leodan", — told Shemmer-Ta-Nat, having carried out by a finger on lips to remove lipstick lumps. — "The love of the Shofet frightens me. Of course, it is great honor when the Son of the Sun turns the favorable view of the girl, but ... The queen will not forgive me this love, understand? And I cannot simply reject the Shofet, it is even terrible to imagine".

— "Oh no! Shofet is so fallen in love with you that will forgive you any whims".

— "However I am not ready to accept his courtings. It can anger him, can`t it?"

— "The Shofet is only a man. And men, having hardly caught sight of you, forget about everything in the world".

— "You say me it so often, Leodan, that I begin to trust in it", — told Shemmer-Ta-Nat very flattered with the words of the young man. — "Also do not deny that in many respects you help me to be beautiful. You have a faultless taste. Noone compares to you in ability to choose a dress or jewelry for the woman so that they ideally emphasized her beauty. I appreciate it very much".

— "It is very kind of you", — Leodan put painted lips in a tired smile. — "I love you so much, Shemmer-Ta-Nat! What a pity that in this rough and imperfect world there are not enough people, similar to you! To tell more precisely, they are absent at all. Your beauty makes you similar to the deity".

— "And I love you, — Shemmer-Ta-Nat rose from pillows, approached Leodan, embraced him and kissed. — You are the man, but understand a female soul better than other women".

— "You have already spoken to me about it today". — Leodan attentively looked at the girl. — "Did you put on beryle earrings? Sapphire ones suit much more to you. They amazingly stress your blue eyes and your swarty skin. Put on them, I beg you".

— "Really?" — Shemmer-Ta-Nat grabbed a mirror, critically examined herself. — "Perhaps, you are right. Simply these are new earrings. Samedyar's gift".

— "Faugh"! — Leodan was twisted in a fastidious grimace, widely opened eyes in theatrical horror. — "Do you accept gifts from him after all?"

— "Why not? He is very lovely young man".

— "Lovely? I feel smells from his mouth. And his dress is always nasty. To put on a chlamys, orange with gold, together with sandals of green leather — oh, gods! He has no taste at all. And his gifts are simply poor. Only beryle earrings! He is just a cheapskate. Could present you jewels more expensive and more elegant. And last time he presented you this nasty monkey. The rooms stank of urine the whole week after her".

— "However he has beautiful eyes", — Shemmer-Ta-Nat told, considering herself in a mirror. — "And he is in love with me. He cannot make me expensive gifts because he hasn`t a lot of money. But you are right, Leodan, these earrings do not suit me. I will obey you and I will put on sapphire earrings".

— "You should not give hope to Samedyar", — Leodan told. — "He will never become your husband. You got used to luxury, and in Samedyar's house you will not receive it. He is only an officer, though serves in guard of the Shofet. You are worthy that your husband showered you with gold as Shat-Tsebu's altar ... You obeyed my advise, and now I need yours. What is it delicious to me better to cover my nails? The day before yesterday I chose nacreous varnish. Today I want something brand new, festive".

— "Color of imperial purple. You like this color, don`t you? ... Oho, we are lost!"

Exclamation of Shemmer-Ta-Nat forced Leodan to distract from a chest with toilet accessories and turn back. In the doorway housekeeper Shebtar was standing, portly, important and dressed up, as for a holiday.

— "Come here, Dorian!" — he ordered, having supported the words with draft gesture. — "There is a work for you. The lord charges you an important task".

— "What one?" — Leodan with a visible reluctance rose from the embroidered pillows.

— "This Saturday the lord is indending to receive very distinguished guests. New draperies for a refectory are necessary. You will go to the Trade city and will choose fabrics for these draperies. I will give money to you".

— "I have to go immediately?' — Leodan interrogatively looked at Shebtar, then at Shemmer-Ta-Nat.