-... O great King Solomon! Truly, your wisdom and virtue know no bounds! This Maharaja will never forget your help in such difficult times!
Emeric found himself rather spontaneously in the middle of another vision. He wasn't even surprised, something like this was to be expected. If he was seeing a memory from Solomon's life, it meant that the King of Israel was deliberately showing this particular passage.
At the moment he was walking a little apart from Solomon and the unknown ruler. The turban on his head, the mustache, the dark skin and some details in his speech and surroundings made it clear that this was most likely taking place in ancient India. That time period was not the clearest because of the too ancient time span. All Emeric could tell from his own memories was India as several separate nations.
Solomon moved in a rather purposeful manner while the Maharajah semed slightly behind and didn't shut up about all of Solomon's "mercy".
-... A veritable War of the Gods, my crowned friend! What a terrible thing is going on! The great indra and trimurti are at odds! They've been at war for a year now, and we've been suffering. The land's yielding no bread and disease is killing my people! And you, the greatest ruler of our time, have come to our aid with supplies and riches! Magadha will be eternally grateful to you, King of Israel!
«Yes, yes," Solomon only nodded nonchalantly at the entire thank-you speech, looking around all the time. It was obvious that the King had a specific goal in mind. - By the way, how many gods are involved in this war?
«Millions of deities, crowned one! Millions! - The Maharaja wiped the sweat on his forehead. - Not only the thirty-three major ones, but all after them!
«Hmm," Solomon grinned. - No wonder it was so easy to bring them together..... You pagans must have some kind of birth defect that prevents you from focusing on the one true god.....
The Maharaja stopped abruptly, looking at Solomon perplexed.
-... What?
Solomon shook his head and began twirling the gold ring on his hand with one finger.
«Forget it... - And he continued walking through Maharji's palace while the latter, shaking his head in confusion, followed Solomon. And after a while he started showering compliments on the king again.
Emeric leveled himself with Solomon with a quick step, trying to examine the golden ring from all angles. But no matter how much he listened to his inner senses, Emeric couldn't tell the difference between this ring and an ordinary ring. Considering that the Maharajah had been so suspiciously accommodating of Solomon's 'forgetting' clause, one might assume that Solomon's notorious protection on his artifacts was at work here.
«Usually," Emeric realized with shock that Solomon was looking directly at him. Looking around, he realized that there was no one else here. So Solomon was talking to him! - If I am in contact with the Gentiles, it means that I need something from them.... I can't stand them.
Here a bewildered Maharaja intervened.
«What?
«Forget it...
Emeric wanted to respond to Solomon's appeal, but realized he couldn't say a word. He couldn't even nod! He just walked beside him and watched what was happening!
Solomon did not react in any way to the lack of response on his part and walked toward the large carved doors. The Maharajah became strangely nervous.
«Venerable, we'd better get out of here... Let me show you our most beautiful gardens....
«Don't be," Solomon shook his head. - This is where we came in...
With one easy motion, Solomon opened the door, revealing a view of a rather shabby looking library.
The only occupant of the room, the young girl's eyes widened when she noticed the presence of her Maharaja and the king from distant lands, and she quickly rose from her seat and knelt before them, not failing to look up. Initially, Emeric assumed Solomon was seeking knowledge, but contrary to his expectations, he looked directly at the girl.
A young, under eighteen, beautiful brunette. The unknown woman shook with fear when she realized that Solomon wanted to address her directly.
«What's your name?
The girl somehow got over her trepidation and answered:
«Amiya is from the shudra caste, Raja..... - Amiya never looked up. - Raja, has this unworthy one offended you in some way...?
The Maharaja, pale with terror, turned to Solomon:
«King, n-we shouldn't be here... - The Indian tried to touch Solomon's hand, but he pulled it away. - We could be in trouble...
«That's right, you're going to have a problem.... - Solomon nodded, walking around the girl and looking at the texts she was reading. - After all, it was Indra who gave you custody of this girl.....
«Ya-ya-ya-ya... - The Indian king began to stammer in terror. - N-no...
«That's enough," Solomon rolled his ring again in a careless motion. - Get out of here and forget everything that's happened....
The Maharajah turned in one motion and closed the door behind him. It was Solomon's Ring after all!
Emeric shook his head and glanced at the numerous parchments left on the table. Frowning his eyebrows, he shifted his gaze to the young Amia. Something didn't add up!
«Amiyah...
«Yes, Raja!
«Didn't you say you were of the Shudra caste? - Solomon picked up some parchments and examined them closer. - Did you lie to me?
«I wouldn't dare, Raja! Let Indra smite me right here and now, kola it would be guile!
Solomon didn't react in any way to her panicked speech.
«Then clarify a couple of questions for me.... - Solomon knelt down on one knee in front of Amiya, causing even more consternation. It was obvious that the young servant was not used to the presence of important people and did not understand what might happen. - Shudras are a caste of servants, aren't they?
«Yes, Raja!
«Are they allowed to read?
«N-no, Raja," she shook her head, still not meeting his gaze.
«Then you can explain how you, a servant and a woman," Solomon took Amiya by the hand and led her to the table. - Permission to read religious texts? Or rather, ordered to?
«I... - Amiyah looked around awkwardly and couldn't answer. - That's all I have to do... This unworthy one has the honor of learning about our gods and their great accomplishments...
«Especially about Indra... - Solomon muttered behind her, looking at the parchments. - The Rigveda, the Mahabharata, the Ramayana-all these are texts that exalt your God of War... - Solomon gently took Amiya by the chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. The young girl shook with fear as she realized she was being held by the king of another country. - Tell me, Amiyah...
An oppressive silence formed between them.
«Do you want me to show you the world beyond this little library? Not endless parchment texts, but real experiences?
«I...
At that very moment Emeric realized he was falling, he fell straight through the floor before the whole previous picture blended into one lump of colors and sounds.
A whole cacophony of unknown sensations and memories began to assault his mind.
... The older Amiyah brought Solomon a tray of viands with a smile ...
... On rich carpets and silks she danced before her beloved king and moved tantalizingly straight toward him ...
... Amiya, but already with the bindi, the red dot right on her forehead, was kissing HIM. Her full of expectant moans and the figure that was rubbing against him with all her appetizing hemispheres were driving him crazy.....
«Haaah!.... - Emeric opened his eyes with a sigh of surprise, and instead of Amia from the visions, he saw his favorite sister.
Aldis smiled reassuringly and kissed him lovingly on the forehead.
«Sleep, my star...
Strangely enough, the not fully recovered body immediately reminded itself.
Emeric sank back into sleep.
***
patreon.com/posts/124888009