Equal of the Sun A Novel - By Anita Amirrezvani Page 0,57
one of the closest allies of the new shah, and as his son, I would have been catapulted to high position. I might well have married one of the shah’s daughters. That much was true, but the rest of his story didn’t make sense.
“If the Shah thought my father was guilty, why would he allow me into his service?”
“For two reasons. First, you astonished him by becoming a eunuch in order to serve him. How many men would do that?”
He paused and stared at me curiously. I stayed mute, not wishing to explain myself yet again.
“Then, before he met you, he asked me to prepare your astrological chart. Did you know that?”
“No.”
“I discovered something I have never forgotten. The conjunction of planets present at your birth indicated that your destiny and the dynasty’s are interwoven like warp to weft.”
“Is that such a big surprise? I work for them.”
Looloo laughed. “You don’t understand. The chart is the reason you were taken into service.”
“Why?”
“Your stars foretold that you would help spur the rise of the greatest Safavi leader ever.”
“Me?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Looloo chuckled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “The stars are never quite that specific. I suggested that the Shah stay attuned to details that might emerge in his dreams, which gave him excellent guidance all his life. But that is about all I know, because I was banished not long after.”
“What crime did you commit?”
“The Shah asked me to make charts for all his sons to determine who would be the greatest leader. He didn’t like the results.”
“What were they?”
“Not one of them was destined to be great, and I refused to pretend otherwise.”
“Is that why he didn’t name an heir before he died?”
“Possibly. It may also explain why he was so eager to hire you and keep you in his service.”
“What a surprise!” I said, thrown into a whirl of confusing thoughts. “But there is something else that bothers me about my father’s story. The official court history says that the Shah decided not to punish his murderer because he was so highly placed, but doesn’t name him. Do you know who he was?”
“No, but I suspect that once the Shah had been apprised of the murder, he would have talked the matter over with one or two of his closest advisors. After deciding not to punish the murderer, they would have all kept his name quiet for the same reason the Shah decided not to punish him to begin with.”
“Why wouldn’t his name appear in the court histories?”
“Did you ask the historians?”
“One of them claimed he didn’t know.”
“There is another possibility: What if the man is powerful and still alive?”
I thought for a moment. “They would omit his name?”
“Why should they risk his wrath?”
“By God above! You may be right. Thank you.”
“You are welcome. Please return to take tea with me and my sons at any time. We would enjoy your company.”
“I will. And I will be sure to recommend your services to the palace.”
“I am deeply grateful. As you can see, I could use the work.” He gestured around him at the threadbare carpets and humble furniture. I thought about the court astrologers I had known, who spent much of their time observing the stars in the countryside at night. They rode out of town on the finest Arabians I had ever seen, sparing no expense on trappings or tents or tools. How costly it was to fall out of favor!
Balamani was already asleep when I returned to our quarters. I lay on my bedroll and thought about my father, remembering how he would come home every day in time for afternoon tea, spin stories about the court, and make my heart thrill at the idea of being part of it. But now that I was grown, I realized that my father had chosen to show me only the brightly shining silver of the court, not its old, tarnished samovars.
But had my father really been a rebel? The more I investigated, the more the truth seemed to recede from my grasp.
I resolved to look again at the History of Tahmasb Shah’s Glorious Reign, taking notes on all the accountants who had served the Shah during my father’s time, as well as all those leaders who had been the Shah’s closest confidants. I didn’t dare approach them outright, but I would try to piece together the picture by collecting all the tiny shards of information I could find.
The next day, I awoke early and discovered that Balamani was already gone.