The young boy, Abda, servant and student of the great Magi, looked into the night sky, gazing at its peaceful beauty. The stars, his favorite nocturnal feature, sparkled like bright diamonds.
Then the boy dropped his gaze and sighed, scowling at the two wooden buckets in his hands. He'd much rather be gazing at the stars than watering the camels, but he was only a servant and a student, not a master.
Oh well, he thought, shrugging off the weariness of a busier than average day, when I am a master, I will send my students to do the chores.
He poured the buckets into the trough and headed back to the well for a refill, patting the camel's noses as he walked passed them; they were in a friendly mood and did not spit at him.
As he rounded the impressive stone walls that enclosed the school's courtyard, softly whistling, his eyes couldn't help but to lift skyward again. He stopped short, nearly dropping the empty buckets, staring aghast at the wonderful sight—a beautiful star. How could he have missed it before? Surely it was there, wasn't it? It had to have been…stars like this didn't simply appear, or did they?
Abda heartbeat quickened as he racked his brain, trying to remember his lessons. His hands trembled—why couldn't he remember such a thing?
He bit his lip in indecision—it was awfully late to be asking for a lesson, but what if the star disappeared? What if it wasn't there tomorrow and the great masters didn't have a chance to see it?
Abda knew that would be unacceptable—a student of the great Magi simply couldn't allow that. He had to wake them.
Then he stared at the empty buckets in his hands and groaned.
What about the camels?
~*0*~
Afsar, the most senior Magi, their leader, smiled as he came to his bedroom door. He was tired and looking forward to his soft mattress. Looking down the hall, he smiled tenderly at his two younger friends, Armaan and Kerman. They were excellent men and wonderful scholars, and Afsar often gleaned wisdom from their younger insights. He knew that they were looking forward to a restful night's sleep too.
Suddenly, the three scholars heard the pounding of running feet on the soft carpeted floors. Turning, they saw their student and servant, Abda, running toward them at top speed, his face unearthly pale. The three wise men paused, waiting expectantly.
"Wait, please, my masters," the boy croaked, his hands trembling, as he came to Afar and bowed low.
Afsar smiled kindly, but ever the teacher, gently reminded the boy that he was not allowed to speak unless spoken too.
"Forgive me, my master." Abda pleaded, his face stricken, "But, I had to come—I had—there is a star. I have seen a star, my master."
"That is good, my son," Afsar replied gently, "For it is night and you are not blind."
The other masters laughed gently, but Abda looked stricken, shaking his head.
Afsar smiled compassionately, placing a gently hand on the boy's shoulder, "My son, I was only joking—forgive me, but surely you know that some ribbing is not a thing to become upset with."
Abda shook his head again, then bowed before speaking, "Forgive me, Master Afsar, forgive me, but you see, the star that I have seem is new—I am sure that it has never been in our sky before—and, oh, its size, my masters, I have never seen something so large and bright."
"Oh, wise masters," the boy pleaded, "You must come see!"
The three Magi exchanged looks of concern and curiosity.
"You're quite young to make such a statement, my son," Afsar pointed out gently, wanting to go to his bed and sleep, "But peace, my son, you are tired from your busy day. Perhaps the sky will look normal tomorrow night, after you have rested."
Abda's face turned pale, his eyes pleading, "My master, please, come look—please—I know I am not mistaken!"
"Perhaps, we should go see what the boy has discovered, worthy Afsar," Armaan spoke up.
Afsar glanced at his friend, with brows raised. The younger Magi shrugged and smiled, before continuing, "After all, our young ones have been right before, and we older ones must not be convinced that we have all the answers."
Afsar smiled ironically, remembering a time when Armaan had been right over his own objections. "Are you speaking from experience, my friend," he asked wryly.
"If the sandal fits…" Armaan replied, showing small dimples.
"Then what will it be, wise friend?" Kerman asked Afsar, hoping that their elder would choose to go out; hoping that he had not lost the sense of adventure that he'd had as a younger master.
Afsar sighed. Looking at Abda's face and the faces of his colleagues, he knew that they would not be satisfied without seeing the star. So much for a long night's sleep, he thought. "We will go out," he said, his voice wistful.
Abda's face beamed with joy, "Thank you, master Afsar!"
The Magi allowed Abda to lead the way; following him through the peaceful courtyard and beyond to where the walls around the school did not obstruct their view of the sky. Then, looking up, the Magi felt a strange tingling sensation course though their bodies and each one inhaled sharply. Abda was right—this star was new.
"I have brought nothing to write notes on." Kerman mumbled, when speech and sense returned to him.
"When I was a student," Afsar, replied, "My old master taught me to never be without something to write on or something to write with—this is the first time that I have disobeyed him."
Armaan said nothing, but there was a faraway look in his eyes.
"Then it is new?" Abda guessed, by the Magi's tone and conversation, "Oh, what does it mean, my masters?"
"It means, my son," Afsar answered, "that some great king has been born—a king so grand that God Himself has seen fit to announce his birth in the Heavens."
"I cannot imagine one so great," Abda murmured.
"Do you suppose the star announces the birth of the one that is King of the Jews?" Kerman, asked his elder, raising his brows.
"What do you think, my wise young friend?" Afsar tossed the question back to him.
Kerman grinned, knowing that he should have expected as much from his older friend. He nodded an ascent. "I believe it is, Afsar," he murmured.
"And you, Armaan," Asfar asked, turning toward his other young friend.
"I concur," Armaan answered, still staring at the magnificent star. "And, what's more," he continued, "I suggest that we should find this child and present him with gifts that befit his authority—I am sorry, Afsar, if I have overstepped my authority by being so bold, but that is my suggestion."
"Not at all, my dear friend," Afsar smiled lightly, "It is a fine suggestion. Besides, are we not all masters? You have not overstepped your authority."
"So will you take my suggestion to heart?" Armaan asked.
Afsar smiled, "Of course, my friend." Turning to Abda, a twinkle coming into his eyes, he continued, "Prepare the camels, dear boy! We will leave as soon as everything is prepared."
An hour later, the three Magi gathered where Abda was finishing up with the last preparations for the long journey ahead. He longed to go with them, but knew that it was not his place to ask such a thing. There were times and places in which the masters must forge ahead and the student must remain behind.
"You have done well, my son," Afsar praised him, "Thank you for your haste in preparing for this journey."
Armaan patted the boy's back, "Thank you for seeing the magnificent star and coming to tell us—without you, we would be snug in our beds at this hour."
The three wise men laughed at his half-jest, but did so joyously; none of them wished to return to his bed now.
Kerman bid Abda farewell, saying, "Thank you, lad, for your persistence in getting us outside. Not one of us is disappointed to be going on this journey though we might have been disappointed to leave our beds just an hour ago. You are an astute lad."
Abda's ears rang with their praise and his face lit up with joy. He bowed to them, saying, "I wish you God's eternal blessings has you go forth in search of the one whose birth He has seen fit to announce from His Holy Throne."
He bowed again and the Magi mounted their camels, then slowly left the school behind.
As they traveled, they kept the star in front of them; it proceeded before them, leading them westward.
After several miles, Kerman asked Afsar a question. "Wise friend, what gift did you pack for the babe?"
"Gold," Afsar answered, readily, "He is a king, and what could be a more fitting gift for a king than gold."
"And you, my friend?" Kerman asked Armaan, "What did you bring for the babe?"
"Frankincense," Armaan replied, smiling tenderly, as if he could see the babe in his mind's eye.
"Why frankincense?" Kerman asked.
"What better gift for one whose birth is announced by God Himself," Armaan answered, "Surely, as one so close to God, the babe will one day don the robes of a priest—someone to lead God's chosen nation closer to God Himself."
"I don't know of anyone who could know the mind of God better than God Himself." Afsar mused, "Do you mean that the babe is God Himself, coming to earth to lead His own people?"
"Perhaps it is something like that," Armaan replied.
"And you, friend?" Afsar asked, turning to Kerman, "What did you bring for the babe?"
"Myrrh" Kerman answered quietly, his eyes downcast for a moment.
"Mrryh?" Armaan questioned, his brows rising, "As in the embalming oil?"
Kerman smiled sagely, a twinkle in his eyes. He replied, "We are all required to leave this world for the next, aren't we?"
Then continuing, he said, "Perhaps, upon his death, the babe will be sacrificed to save many—and God, knowing everything that will happen, has chosen to honor his coming sacrifice by announcing his birth from Heaven."
Afsar closed his eyes in thought for several moments. Swaying with the motion of his camel, he mused, "King and God and Sacrifice."
Author's Notes: The four people in this chapter all bear Persian names. I'm sure that someone could argue me into the ground as to why the Magi aren't of Persian origin, so I'll just say that I like Persian names—sue me.
Abda means "servant". I named him that for obvious reasons.
Afsar means "leader" or "commander". I hope no one is offended, but upon closer examination, Afsar is listed as girl's name. Opps, I'll have to be more careful next time as to what line I'm looking at. I'm not going back now.
Armaan means "wish" or "longing". I thought that was a good name because people were longing for the Messiah.
Kerman is named for a city in Iran.