As I only discovered shortly before Tamzi's own execution, he and Sardanapalus had been holding meetings with some of the satraps. Many of them had become fearful or jealous of Daniyyel, and they had resolved to destroy him. The meetings had begun the very day after Daniyyel had been named second-in-command.
Still sore from his attack by the lioness, Zaidu gingerly seated himself on the softest pillow he had been able to find, leaning forward to avoid touching the chair with his back. "I'll come directly to the point. We must rid ourselves of Daniyyel before his knowledge of our deeds has us all executed."
"I concur." Izdubar stared at the bandages around his wrist, recalling the loss of his hand for dropping pottery, causing it to shatter. "But how will we do it?"
Several methods had been attempted by the unsuccessful Maskim. After his death many weeks later, the other men became discouraged. Perhaps the perfect moment to strike would have been while I was away in Persia before Maskim was hired as an assassin, but even these fools were intelligent enough to realize I would know at once that any "accident" was in truth deliberate murder, so none dared to harm Daniyyel in my absence.
"Never has Daniyyel broken the law," Tamzi stated. "He's even too meticulous to do so by accident."
"It's that God of his!" Asardin exclaimed. "He causes an 'excellent spirit' in Daniyyel. King Darius trusts him as a brother."
"I'd like to see Daniyyel's God thrown to the lions!" Naramsin retorted.
Sardanapalus gasped. "That's it! If Daniyyel won't break the law, perhaps there's something about his God that conflicts so drastically with the Persian gods that the king will have no choice but to forbid him! Without his God, Daniyyel is nothing!"
The other men began quarreling at once. Some immediately shared their opinions concerning the blatant foolishness of such a plan. How could any god be put on trial? Even if it were possible, how could anyone sentence a god?
Others vehemently protested the danger of such a plan. Anyone plotting against a god was sure to face severe consequences in this life or the next.
"Simpletons!" Sardanapalus scolded. "We are not going to sentence Daniyyel's God! We're simply going to forbid Daniyyel from communicating with him!"
"The king will never allow it," Izdubar stated. "He already knows of Daniyyel's religion, and he believes Daniyyel's God is responsible for the characteristics we so despise in Daniyyel."
Deep in thought, Naramsin stroked his beard. "Perhaps rather than exiling Daniyyel's God, the king will simply send him on leave. King Darius may consider a temporary ban on religion if he believes it benefits his kingdom."
Asardin crossed his arms. "And when Daniyyel's God is absent, we'll be able to find a reason to execute our enemy."
"No!" Zaidu exclaimed. "It would be better to have Daniyyel's God be the reason!"
He then explained his plan to the other men. As Babylonia had a vast array of ethnic groups and the Persians and the Medes had only come into power recently, there were divided loyalties among the people. A unifying religion would draw the people together, giving them something in common.
In order to ensure this unity did not become a cult that sought to overthrow me, the religion must also draw subjects to their king. When my people had come together for the sake of looking to me, I would have a better control of my realm. Thus, my people should ask nothing of any god or man except myself.
As people may become angry with a government that dictated their personal beliefs, this time of unified religion would only be temporary. When it had passed, all people would be free to return to their usual habits of worship. Thirty days would be long enough to enforce unity, but not long enough to cause outrage.
There was also an unforeseen benefit to this unification. Some of my enemies no doubt prayed to the Chaldean gods that the Medes and the Persians might be driven out of Babylonia. If they refused to forsake their gods, I would at once be able to identify any traitors in my kingdom and punish them appropriately, thus freeing myself of any risk of rebellion.
"And what is the penalty for treason?" Naramsin queried.
"Death, of course!" responded Asardin.
"But how?"
"The lions!" answered Nergal.
There could be no form of execution more perfect, for the lions symbolized the strength and authority of Babylonia. Those who would not submit to the king would be fed to the lions. Either by will or by force, they would be brought under the power of Babylonia.
Hidden deep within the evil intentions of their plan were traces of wisdom, so when presented with the idea, I suspected nothing. After all, Zaidu and Asardin had thus far fulfilled their duties as satraps with integrity, and they were the ones who requested an audience with me. With them were the other satraps and governors.
Asardin proudly explained their idea, assuring me that all satraps, governors, military officers, and advisors were in agreement with them. He stated that all men would make their petitions to me, and I would pray for the sake of the entire realm, thus ensuring that the gods would still hear the prayers of my people.
"I don't know," I began. "What about the people of Yehuwdah? They pray to only one God. They'll never worship a mortal man."
"They'll simply write their prayers rather than speaking them," Zaidu explained. "When the thirty days have passed, they will burn the written prayers on their altars as a sacrifice to their God."
I was still hesitant. "Did you consult Daniyyel about this?"
"He was our inspiration! We never would have thought of such a brilliant idea without him!"
May the God of Daniyyel forgive me for not understanding the true meaning of Zaidu's words!
"I'm pleased to see you're finally coming to your senses and working with Daniyyel for a change," I stated. "Bring me the edict, and I will sign."
The only wise decision I made that day was having the governors and satraps sign the law as well. When I consider the grievous error I committed against the innocent that day, all I can do is beg Daniyyel's God for forgiveness and hope that when my time comes to cross into the afterlife, the bridge will not become a razor blade and cast me into Hell, no matter how deserving I may be of such a fate.