111
Shozu was crying over the bodies of Diringos and Lizera. He knew he should follow them, for he felt something in his very soul cry out for his own death. As it was, Diringos had followed the siren call of his own soul to the grave.
But Shozu had something to finish: negotiations with King Harald had yet to be completed, and there were those among the lesser Charigiri that he could not trust. Besides, the other's had deferred to him in this matter, a deference of the highest magnitude.
He found one of those at his court fluent in the Strigan language, a young Charigiri short-named Sharahentii. He gave him a message, explaining that the other's had deferred to him in this matter, that it was important that the Bringiri and Strigan peoples share common grounds. The rest of the message detailed how he who carried the message was a valued member of Bringiri society, to be kept their as ambassador and translator but not harmed.
It was more his fear of Shirohotep's Charigiri, Sharahentii's father, than anything else that motivated the last part of this letter. However sneaky and underhanded it was, though, he was sure that it would thwart that particular enemy's schemes and ingratiate the Ir'Charigiri to King Harald. It would all work out, he was sure of it...
Shozu Selenarus II lived only long enough to get a response to his letter. He then followed the other Three to the grave so as to renew their pledge to the Giri and come forth enlightened with new purpose.
114
The Council was visiting another village, one that had been pillaged by one of the competing bandit factions of the Triiumiho Mountains. Sharahentii was aghast at the still smoking ruins, but still more important was the Tree; it was untouched, and the bodies of the slain villagers were placed reverently beneath it.
To Sharahentii, this was still a new experience. He had returned recently from another minor diplomatic mission at the Strigan court. Something he did not quite understand; he had been taken as a translator, as was usually the case.
From what little he understood from his few experiences with this sort of brutal pillaging, this was the work of Shozu's Bandits, a fanatically Girist group of bandits that believed they were carrying out the will of the Second Shozu. What an absurd thought!The young Third Shozu had been brought along and, although only two, he seemed to understand better than anyone what had happened, for he only was crying.
This was touching to Sharahentii, who had been the young Shozu's caretaker for as long as he could remember. It had been he who had taken him from his mother and father to be raised in the Palace at Shirohotep. He was like a son to Sharahentii in the same way Sharahentii had been like a son to the Second Shozu.
This is one of many, many cases of banditry in this time period of Bringiri history. Although Shozu's Bandits were by far the strongest group, there were a number of large competing factions that raided the towns in the foothills of Triiumiho.
119
"...as for your father, Sharahentii, I want him killed. You shall take his place as the Charigiri of Shirohotep." At this, Sharahentii's eyes glazed and his mouth frowned. He had never wanted this from Shozu...
"What is wrong Sharahentii? I have always wished to give you something for your years of labor in my service; this is a just reward for you and your traitorous father." Sharahentii nodded. He still did not want it.
"On to the next order of business, then. I wish to see all of our messengers here after this meeting is adjourned. I will send them to all the Charigiri of the land; I need an oath of fealty from them all, so as to renew the power of the Ir'Charigiri!"
"The bandits also pose a problem. However, I see a solution in the Shozu Bandits. They believe themselves to be performing my work. Obviously, this gives me power over their actions. I shall turn them against their fellow bandits while offering incentives and protection to those willing to settle the Triiumiho. That should fix the problem." Shozu paused then for a long time.
"The meeting is adjourned. I wish to see the messengers in a short while. For now, you are all dismissed, except for you, Sharahentii. I have another task for you." The various Urin'Charigiri rose quickly and left. Sharahentii approached Shozu's throne, dreading what was to come next.
"I want you to kill your father, Sharahentii. I want you to do it, not anyone else. Just you."
"I understand, Shozu."
Sharahentii kills his father and becomes the Charigiri of Shirohotep. Shozu's various policies in relation to the bandits and the Charigiri strengthen his control over Bringiri and eliminate the bandit problem.
123
"Come and see, Sharahentii! I have completed the greatest of my works." Sharahentii knew the shout of Shozu, his master. He knew also the insane cruelty of his master's whip in every word.
"I will come, and I will see, Shozu," he replied, rising from his chair and walking slowly towards Shozu's workroom, that secret hope rising, but then falling with every step he took.
He soon entered Shozu's room and he knew at once that what had been done was important; he could feel madness radiating from Shozu, the same sort that he had felt when Shozu had claimed the throne, and when he had reorted the death of his father.
"I have figured a way to prevent treason, Sharahentii, an idea borrowed from one of Striga's philosophers; it is called hierarchical bureaucracy! Rather than just three layers in each of three chains of command, I have formulated a great chart that maps every Charigiri's position, his duties, who his superiors are, and who his inferiors are. And all will be appointed with the help of the three Ir'Charigiri. Can't you see that this will give us ultimate power over the fate of government withing Bringiri?" At this, Sharahentii cringed and started to speak slowly in an attempt to keep his opposition hidden.
"If only I could see it, Shozu! It must be brilliant, I can feel you in your creative mood, as you were when I lost my sight to your beauteous rage. Control is what must be provided a government, control to the Three who deserve it and to the city of our faith, Shirohotep."
"I am glad that you like it, Sharahentii. It is now time to implement it, for the good of all. Prepare the messengers as you have so many times, Sharahentii. I will prepare a copy of this list for each, to be sent to those Charigiri of import outside Shirohotep and Iilwarantsa." Shozu seemed in an odd sort of fever, even greater than the last.
"As you command, Shozu," replied Sharahentii, wilting at yet another unreasonable demand on Shozu's messengers. He left quicker than he came, not wanting to risk his master's impatience.
The List was successful and implemented by all three Ir'Charigiri. It did, in effect, place an enormous amount of power to determine the destiny of Girism and Bringiri in the hands of the Three.
160
Shozu was visiting the sick-bed of Gairinos. Sharahentii had no idea why, they were supposed to keep away from each other. Sharahentii knew that for sure after such a long life. He would be back soon, though. It was time now to make sure that Shozu did what he needed him to do...
Shozu entered the room, swaggering even with the stoop he had developed in his old age. His eyes were no different, however, and he glared at Sharahentii as he came in.
"Is that you, Shozu? I can no longer tell, I have not seen you in such a while," said Sharahentii.
"Indeed it is. What do you want, Charigiri?" said Shozu, his voice full of the bitterness that pervaded his life and his thoughts.
"I know you are poisoning Gairinos, Shozu. Why? Is your desire to end your own life so great that you would kill another to do so?" asked Sharahentii.
"I see...so you are here to get me to do something are you? Well, I suppose I must," said Shozu, "What is it that you want?"
"I wish to be he who chooses the next Shozu, Brilliant One. It is important to me, for you have been a kind and generous master. I need to know him again upon the death of Gairinos." Shozu laughed. He didn't stop for some time.
"I need you to see something of mine, first. It guarantees my rule after death! It will force you to continue doing what I say, even after I die. How do you like that, Charigiri?" At this, Shozu, brought forth a scroll, signed by him. "There are many like it posted throughout the city. You cannot deny me my rights, Sharahentii!"
"And I shall not, Shozu. All I wish is to choose the next Shozu," said Sharahentii.
"Fine. You may have your wish, as the last gift of a dying man to his oldest advisor." At this, Sharahentii smiled and left the room before Shozu could say anything more.
Shozu III's decree eliminated the possibility of the Charigiri Council usurping power when he died. He made clear his wishes for the nation to the people, and the Council's actions would be judged by these. His precedent was to be followed by the others of the Third Three and every Three afterwards.
163
"Diringos Gairini is dead!" At this proclamation by the doctor, Sharahentii signaled to the guards. The unsheathed their swords and ran through the other Ir'Charigiri.
"Remember, you of my servants who help me shall be rewarded. Now it is time to procliam one death and two suicides." Sharahentii rose with a gladness and quickness to his step that none had seen for many a year. The two guards and the doctor followed him to address the crowd outside the Palace.
"The Ir'Charigiri are dead. Gairinos died, and the others have followed him, as is their duty! Now, bring forth babies for consideration!" At this, many women moved forward with babies of all types, some obviously too old to even be considered. Sharahentii saw them all, and eventually chose the most mild of the children to be the next Shozu, one who did not cry when he was threatened, and one who smiled when he was given a book.
"Now the tyranny is at an end. You shall be the next Shozu, little one, and all the people shall rejoice at hearing your name. Glory be to the Shining Lord." At this, Sharahentii drank the cup he had prepared and died quickly and peacefully in his vision of the future.
In the history books, Sharahentii was to go down as the most fanatically loyal of any Urin'Charigiri. He supported Shozu's every decision, chose his successor, and then killed himself in grief shortly after his death. In reality, he hated Shozu with every bone in his body and killed himself in the hope that someone better suited might partake in the raising of the next Shozu.
As it was, Shozu IV was raised by a scholar who taught him to love books and delight in poetry. Sharahentii achieved his goal, ending the reign of Shozu III and beginning one much less eventful.
I made it in my orders to, so scale everything back 100 years if you can, okay?
