The Birth of The Black Prince

  As documented by of Zoraxeses Mirshofari, Royal Court Historian - i1098-i1191

  From “A Complete and Private History of the raSahal1 and the Royal Line of Erikenyea, during Imperial Rule” by Bookmaster Haspar Haj

  Collection Date and Location: 16 Zhuye, i1216. Office of the Royal Court Historian, Erkishar, Erikenyea. 6:919:EOW-3

  Classification Code: 3 of 3

  22 Ongo'hena, i1180

  In all of my sixty years, documenting the chronicle of the events of the noble court and advising the Line of Sahals, never have I witnessed such an easy and more anticipated birth than that of today’s arrival, the first child of Vykina and Ostonas, rulers of the ancient and proud kingdom of Erikenyea.

  As is customary with the noble families of her homeland, Vykina brought with her from Rishea a young woman named Pychak, a skilled midwife, confidant and well-versed in the ancient birthing rituals of Vykina’s native Zhemyrei Tribe.

  When the it was clear that the child was ready to enter the world, Pychak, with a surprisingly forceful hand, instructed all who need not be there leave the room, allowing only myself, as court historian, and our queen’s beloved Ostonas to stay. This annoyed Pasaz the royal physician to no end obviously, but as it was her wish to have a traditional Zhemyrei birth, he had not choice but to adhere to the wishes of the raSahali.

  Pychak lit several bowls of incense, filling the room with a strong, sweet, and unfamiliar smell so relaxing I found myself soon in a nearby seat, as did the raSahal, our great once-King whom I have never seen bested in hand-to-hand combat. She then proceeded to speak to the raSahali in a low-hushed tone in what I later learned was the ancient tongue of Rishea, recounting with her the story of her own birth, and the history of her family, passed down from mother to mother, for as long as was remembered by her people, which is long indeed. The Zhemyrei, according to local lore, do not keep written records of their history, and have a legendary focus on oral tradition, and practice the recording of doing so often. This recounting seemed to draw the raSahali’s strength. As the time of birthing came near, she seemed to me the icon of feminine power, ready to perform that task only we women have been charged with by the powers of creation.

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  In total, the process took no more than a few hours, and soon the raSahalini was brought into the word. I have never seen The Great One smile so wide as he did when he first laid eyes on his young son. As is custom Ostanas asked Vykina for permission to name the child, and if she has any preference. Her wish was that his name be an honor to both the Great Sahals of the ancient time and her own line of ancestors, the star-children of the Zhemyrei. The raSahal asked his wife if she would allow the child to be named Harian, in honor of the Great Sahal who defended the Shining Coast from the raiders of the Glass Islands in antiquity. In an interesting turn of custom, instead of giving Harian the traditional middle name honoring the great Avos, King Beyond the Stars, my lord looked at his wife and asked that she give the child it’s second name, something from her people that would allow him to hold this history deep in his heart.

  Something happened I have only seen a handful of times. The rarest of gifts. The raSahali smiled. The last time I experienced it was two years ago when Vykina and I sat together in her private garden and her pet Xichmao, a gift from Bookmaster Naheed Rohulamene, sneezed and sent all the petals of the nearby gulkum flowers billowing into the air, causing what looked liked a rainstorm of petals around the two of us. It remains a mystery to me whether or not the raSahali often finds joy in life. If this is an emotion that she feels and masks, or one that she refuses to allow herself. But I can say with definitive proof, that when the raSahal asked her to name their child after her ancestors she smiled. She felt joy in that moment.

  Looking at her child, and then to her husband, then back to her child, and gave him the name of Bakat, the name of her great ancestor who stood with his cousin, the great Psha Duza Zhemyr, in defiance of Empire when they sought to conquer the Zhemyrei homeland. The Battle for the Frozen Steppes is a well-known story still to this day throughout The Empire and it will be interesting to find out what The Court will think of the the young raSahalini having such a provocative name. Nevertheless, it is the name she has chosen for him, and the raSahal agreed without question, which is of no surprise to me.

  And so Harian Bakat has come into the world. I pray to Avos that he may have a long and blessed life, filled with joy and prosperity. May he know only peace in his days and may they be free of strife and civil conflict. I am looking forward to documenting his history, and hope to live long enough to record his growth into adulthood, his ascendancy to the Living Throne, and the day that he will stand with his own wife, in this very room, and ask permission to name his own child.

  1. The Emperor VERU I banned the use of the honorific Sahal, the Erikenyean word for “king or ruler”, as a part of Erikenyea’s annexation into the Empire during the reign of Veru I. During this time the customary title is “raSahal” or “once-king” or “raSahali” or “once-queen.” To formally use the term “sahal” is considered seditious and punishable by death.

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