Book Seven Stories II

II.

Once in a rich city, high in a splendid palace, their lived a King and his daughter and his son in law, Boren. Boren was a stranger who had defeated a dragon to win the princesses hand a year ago to the day, and tomorrow was their first anniversary. Tonight, his adopted birthday, he was celebrating with an elaborate banquet in his quarters of the palace. He did not invite his wife, the princess, in preparation for tomorrow.

After the meal Boren sat upon his thrown and gave a short slurred speech to his boisterous drunken company, ‘A year to this day I was poor, but now I am rich, rich because I told a dragon to give tomorrow a chance. I think a toast to the dragon. And may the last man standing get more wine.’ His chief hunting partner Patrio then stood and dedicated the evening’s entertainment to him. The doors of the room opened and a troop of ten beautiful dancing girls entered followed by a band of drummers and musicians. Boren was transfixed. One girl in particular caught his lascivious attention and she with tightened and prouder dancing, attentive smile and obedient eyes exasperated his yearning. When the dance had ended Boren took to his feet intoxicated and asked the girl to come forward. “Clear the floor”, he said plucking a huge gem from breast plate, “To this girl I give this diamond if she will dance for me”. A single base drum began to beat.

With eyes engaged on Boren’s she began to sing an ancient and beautiful love song telling of dynasties torn apart by untamed passions and she began a spectacular dance to the single slowly quickening beat of the drum. Her spinning possessed body enslaved to the rhythm hypnotised the room to silence. Faster she turned, jumping clockwise, counter-clockwise, faster, faster, still singing the song through her growing exhaustion. From frenzy the drum sounded a final beat and she was released breathless to the floor, still looking at Boren. Boren was transfixed his life draining as a fish on a harpoon, a helpless slave to his passions. Without trying to break his stare he threw her the diamond and the assembled crowd erupted in frenzied excitement. To the sound of more music fed by the summer’s wine the group enjoyed each other long into the night.

The next morning the princess was unhappy to be faced with a less than alert husband. “I hear you had quite a party last night!”, “Oh yes?”, “The palace was awake until the early hours.”, “We had a good party my enchantress, I’m sorry.”, “There is no need to apologise you know I trust you.” Boren felt awful but could not forget. He had little spirit for the party that he held in honour of their marriage and the next night was in disguise drinking in the city with Patrio. “Patrio I am possessed I can’t sleep, I must see that dancing girl again tonight.” “Boren you’re supposed to be happily married”, “I am, she still wears my ring! Come on, I’m a prince, grant me this simple freedom.” That night Boren let the dancing girl wearing his jewel through a window into his quarters.

“What is your name my divine temptress?”

“My name, my lord”, she replied bashfully, “is Kalima.”

“Where do you live.”

“I live with my boyfriend, he is a sheep herd.”

Boren was suddenly gripped with envy, “How much can I pay you to stay here in my palace with me?”

“I don’t know, I’ll ask my boyfriend he deals with our money.”

“No, No, with ME, Kalima. Do you think of him when we are joined?”

“I don’t know, I don’t always think of anything, does that matter?”

Dance for me for a while, I need to think.

A few months later Boren was out hunting with Patrio.

“Patrio the royal family are away next week and I want to hold the most decadent party ever held – exclusive guest list of course, and try and find me unattached girls, I can’t deal with boyfriends and husbands.”

At that moment the prize bow fell from Boren’s horse and before he could turn around to fetch it a large drab bird descended and took it into a nearby tree. “I have never seen one of those”, Patrio said firing off an arrow swiftly through the bird. “It’s a Watugot”, Boren stopped horrified, “I am such an idiot. I’m a husband myself. I must get back to the palace.”

Meanwhile the princess who had been growingly saddened by Boren’s coldness toward her had received a letter from a stranger and the news she had dreaded. Boren arrived at the palace and ran to her bedchamber where he found her crying. “I have been the fool”, he began,

‘I do not care, my father trusted you, thought you worthy to be my husband and instead I have been married to a dream, and you to YOURSELF, take YOUR ring and leave. GO.’, and she threw her ring at him.

Fearful of her father’s wrath Boren left taking his only possession, a satchel. He mounted his horse and fled into the forest confused. He no longer knew where he was or what he was doing. He rode for along time until the forest grew dark and his eyes filled with tears. Seeing a ruined building he dismounted, tethered his horse, and hid within to weep.

It began to rain. The gentle crackle on the leaves above and on the forests leafy floor outside was comforting. Boren began to feel at home again, and curling up under a poncho he drifted off to sleep.