บท 10: Chapter 10-Hidden Ambition
It was since five or six months since the king and he started to play pranks. They not only pranked in front of courtiers, guards, generals of four armies, in front of some noble families and also his harem queen and concubines too in several occasions. Whether many of them who fall into this prank had shown their unpleasant notion and dissatisfaction king never decided to end it. He decided in glued in it more and more. It was not taken a long time to reach this news to common people and they started to ridicule their king more and more.
But for Subha, this period really became the most memorable time in his life. King was so happy about his cooperation, so he decided to promote him from normal gatekeeper to chief doorkeeper in the royal palace. He also gave help to make a house in the city and permitted Subha's wife to live in that house permanently. As well as he became a good friend of Subha. He always shared his ideas, his feeling with each other. So Subha could understand king more than anyone. But time flows, there was idea that appeared in his mind. That was to become real king.
At first he was afraid to act as king. When time went, he adapted to it. Then he saw luxury, facilities, abilities, gains and etc. being a king. Also he saw what were the power, authorities, might held by king. So, he wanted to get those in his hand truly. Sometimes he felt that he could give a better decision and solution when the king decide some things. So he imagined how to act if he was a real king when time goes in dreams too. But he never showed it to others. Because he didn't want to betray his friend. So he hid this idea in his mind deeply. But one day this situation changed.
It was evening five days before the summer festival. So many royal guards and royal gatekeepers got their summer leave on this day. Also, the royal court holds to give space for festive summer festival for courtiers and given orders to call that emergency only. As a chief gatekeeper in the palace, he should stay in the palace because his presence was important for the continuation of the daily process of the palace. But the king had permitted him to celebrate the summer festival at home. So he also was going out of the palace. He received a message from one of the guards who met on the road and he told it was from the grand secretary.
This grand secretary was one of the noblemen of Lambhakanna family and also relationally was his nephew. As being a grand secretary he held lot of power in royal court and in his clan he only second only to grand minister position which held by clan head. In his message told that to meet him tomorrow tenth hour at western city gate. So he decided to meet him with the idea of getting materials for celebrating summer festival.
Western city gate of city directly connected with western road that connected MahathithTha port and city. Through the road there could see a lot of foreign merchants entered to the city. With being a major port on the sea trade road MahathithTha port worked as an exchange port that exchanged materials from east countries and materials from western countries. Some merchants occasionally came to the capital and also made some stalls there too. So the western side of the city was filled with different-skinned people. Most of them were Indian merchants from different countries and some of them were from different places. There could see merchants from Persia, Rome, and Nubia with some other western places and also Pagan, Funan, Han and other place merchants from eastern places. Subha went to the western gate early in the morning the next day while searching stalls on the way. He saw some stalls, restaurants, and pleasure houses owned by some of these foreign merchants too. On the way, he saw there were selling spices, gems, pearls, silk clothes, cotton clothes, different dye types, different incense, horses and other things too. It was being near to the summer festival, many things that want for the summer festival were sold here and foreign merchants also tried to introduce new things that associate with festivals to this festival. So he bought several things that necessary for celebrating the festival while taking some new things that suit for the festival from foreign stalls on the way. After reaching the western wall he waited till the approach of his distant uncle.
After some time waiting he heard "Oh! It seems you celebrate this summer festival grandly "and he turned his head in that direction. He saw his distant uncle behind him while wearing some coarse cotton cloth that was surely made in the Indian kingdom.
"Uncle, aren't you coming here early? There wasn't sound of marking the tenth hour yet"
"Aren't you also early? I thought to come here early because the matter is very important "
"Uncle, why are you calling me?"
"Why are you hurrying? Let's go to that restaurant first" said uncle and showed distant small building. That building was two store building made of wood and owned by a Persian merchant. Most of the workers were foreign people there and specially worked in restaurant for foreign merchants and dignitaries. But for noble people in the city, this restaurant was a familiar place due to they learned one or two foreign languages. After he entered into restaurant his uncle said to sit on a chair on side of the ground floor and asked some things in some foreign language. Then he told "Nephew, don't worry. You have not to worry about taking you here. But this matter is secretive. That's why I asked to come here."
"So, why do you want to talk with me uncle?"
"Is work as chief of royal gatekeeper good to you?"
"Yes, uncle. Everything is okay. Everyone is so good to me. King also treat me well"
"Oh! I think you are enjoying your work well. Anyway your prank with his majesty really good. Even I also cheated by you both. "
"Uncle you are joking. I only obey his majesties order. " Subha said embressenly.
"Never mind. Never mind. I want to ask you playing as a king long time, do you like to be a real one?"
"What… Uncle …What are you talking?" Subha asked scared manner. Then distant uncle said," Don't worry about that. All are well planned. You have to do is act on our orders. You have our support. So, you have not to worry about anything "
"But king is my benefactor…my best friend.... he has done so much help to me. How could I betray him?"
"Think about it nephew. If you get power our family will become royal family. We both can get endless prosperity. So think about it. If you like it come and meet me day after summer festival in here" said uncle and he departed from restaurant while making Subha to taste food alone in there.
He watched the destination where his uncle departed with some concerned manner.
Summer festival – Ancient version of new year in Sri Lanka.
MahathithTha port – Current Mannar port was called as this.
Grand Secretary – In ancient Sri Lanka this addressed as Mahalena.
Tenth hour- This is not same as ten O'clock time in present time. A day in ancient Sri Lanka had 60 hours and it started with rise of the sun from horizon. So this means 5 hours after sun rise in current time.
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