The Sun God's Heir: Redemption (Book Three) by Elliott Baker

Author:Elliott Baker [Baker, Elliott]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: General Fiction
Publisher: Hypatia Press
Published: 2020-02-03T16:00:00+00:00

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The village of Ifran roiled with discussion. They had been oppressed, they had starved, they had survived, but now choices cascaded before them like a herd of animals filled with every species they knew and many they had never thought of before. Choices that might bring wealth or death. Abundance or famine. Many in the tribe were against any contact with the white intruders. The old ways were best. Capture them and hold them for the sultan who would certainly reward their loyalty. Fortunately, there were wiser heads among the tribe. People who knew there would be no reward forthcoming from the sultan other than starvation and slavery. The council of elders, already fewer by one at the hand of the sultan’s Bukhari, made the decision to assist and accompany Ibn Nasir to Casablanca where they would both sample the largess of René and Miguel Zaportas.

To survive the sultan’s rule and the inevitable increased taxes, they must increase their herds and exports or slowly have their life’s blood drained until slavery and disintegration were their only options. They spoke with Señor Zaportas about capital and the expansion of markets. They were given letters of credit with certain words secreted within the body of the letter that authenticated the instructions of both Señor Zaportas and René to their respective factors in Casablanca.

Because of the urgency for René’s group to be on their way, the elders made their decision with blinding speed and then they acted on it. They immediately sent men with supplies and donkeys to Ibn Nasir’s settlement to help organize their evacuation. They saw that René’s party was outfitted with camels and supplies, and they did one more thing.

Although extremely young to be invited into the ruling council, Youssef had been asked to replace the elder killed by the Bukhari and he was now their spokesman. The wisdom of this group of elders was most evident in its sharing the reins of power with a younger element. The elders understood that if Ifran was to survive, new attributes other than patience had to be encouraged within the tribe. Attributes found only within its younger members.

René was amazed by the speed which the village mobilized its resources and how difficult survival was in the desert and the lessons it must have taught these people. The Maestro appeared in his mind’s eye. René found it comforting to know they were on the right path.

When change is inevitable, and the flow of the river casts you in a new direction, embrace the speed of the river for to do otherwise will carry you into the rocks that have instigated the change.

Youssef and the elders had gathered once again in the medina, the rest of the village stood quietly behind them. “Trust is the only way we manage to survive from day to day,” Youssef said to René and Miguel who stood before them. “That difficult days are ahead is so plain that a child may read their portents. We are determined to survive them.

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