The Magi were weary after weeks of traveling, so when they saw a great city on the horizon one morning, they rejoiced.
"I do believe that we can just make it there today," Kerman said, his eyes dancing, "Then, after we've restocked our supplies, we can be on our way."
"Which city do you suppose it is, Afsar?" Armaan asked, "It's huge and we've seen nothing but small villages so far."
"By the look of it, I'd say it is Jerusalem."
"Jerusalem?" Kerman asked, "You mean the seat of the ancient King David?"
"Yes, that's right," Afsar answered.
"Then do you suppose our journey will end there?" Kerman asked anxiously, his expression one of weariness, but also intrigue, "Don't you suppose that the King of the Jews would be born in the city where their greatest king ruled?"
"That would be nice, wouldn't it?" Armaan agreed, "Then we could get off these camels and have some time to stretch our legs."
"Going bowlegged, are you, Armaan?" Kerman teased, laughing loudly.
"No more than you, friend," Armaan replied, with a laugh, his tiredness abating slightly in his mirth.
"We will follow the star to the babe, not our selfish desires," Afsar's wise voice cut through the younger men's banter with unusual sharpness.
"Yes, of course," the two younger men acknowledged, with guilty looks. Kerman added, "I'm sorry, Afsar—I only meant to relax us with a bit of jesting."
"And I was happy to be distracted—I'm sorry," Armaan said, "The journey has been a long one."
"Distractions not only relive the pains endured on a long journey, but they also keep you from seeing your destination and therefore, sometimes make your journey longer," Afsar replied sagely, "Do not set your hearts on staying in Jerusalem—ten to one, the babe will not be there—we must follow the star wherever leads us or we will not find the babe."
"Yes, of course," Afsar." Armaan bowed his head.
"Do you know who rules in Jerusalem, Afsar," Kerman asked, changing the subject.
"King Herod," Afsar replied without taking his eyes off the distant city.
"Will we pay him a visit—for pleasantries sake?" Kerman continued.
"I don't see why we should," Afsar replied, "Many a foreigner has entered the walls of Jerusalem without paying homage to Herod. What business do we have with him?"
"Perhaps he knows where the babe is," Armaan said, speaking quietly, hoping not to draw the wrath of his friend, "It has been many weeks since Abda saw the star—the child, even if he was born in Jerusalem, might very well be in some small village by now—and with one so important, Herod might be able to direct our path to him."
"The star will direct our path," Afsar stated firmly, "Why should we involve King Herod?"
"It's only a suggestion, my friend," Armaan answered, trying to back away from the argument, "Besides, we'll have all day to decide—Jerusalem is still miles away."
"Afsar scowled, "I do not like your suggestion, my friend."
It was nearly dinnertime when the three camels ambled majestically through the city gates and the Magi were grateful to be amongst people again. They were weary from riding, and if truth were known, a tad bit weary of each other. The younger men had pressed Afsar all day, lobbying him to ask King Herod where the new king might be and Afsar could hardly stand them.
"We will not be stopping at that man's palace," the elder Magi insisted, "We don't need too—the star is our guide, not man—not that man!"
"Shh—forgive me, Afsar," Armaan said, his voice tight with tension, "I have heard that King Herod has spies in the city to keep track of the citizens and visitors."
"And this is the man whom you want us to greet?" Afsar snapped, "If I didn't know better, I'd say you were raving mad!"
"Our friend isn't mad, Afsar—just tired—I think we all are," Kerman reminded the elder gently, "And surely, the camels need a rest and supplies need to be restocked. If we stay in the city long, we're sure to be noticed—our reputation far surpasses our tiny school, after all—don't you suppose that greeting Herod would make things easier—Magi cannot move about the city unnoticed…not with those spies Armaan talked about."
"That is why we must press on and follow the star." Afsar reasoned.
"But the camels…our supplies?" Armaan asked, "Who knows when we will have an opportunity like this again—who knows how long our journey might be?"
Afsar gave him a stern look, "My friend, you have allowed weariness to cloud your judgment—that man is—"
"Excuse me!" A short fat man interrupted the elder Magi from the ground, reaching up to take hold of Afsar's reins.
Afsar gave the man a cold look, "Unhand my camel, sir—we have business elsewhere and are in haste."
"Well, you will take a halt now," the man sneered, "King Herod has heard that the great Magi have come to his city and he wishes to dine with you this evening—I am his Captain of the Guards, Erol."
"Afsar's eyes turned to ice. "You would keep us from our errand," he asked, trying to hide his fear behind incredulousness, "We, who are of high rank—you would—"
"And you would insult the mighty King Herod by refusing?" Erol replied, without irony, "No, I think that it's best that you take a few hours break—besides, perhaps my King can help you with your errand."
Erol then turned abruptly and pulled Afsar's camel after him; the elder Magi was powerless to protest, and the younger men followed silently.
Within a few minutes, Erol had guided them though the throngs of people and was standing in front of the enormous iron gates leading into King Herod's palace. He whispered a code word to the watchman and the gates parted. In another minute the Magi were able to dismount in a large spacious barn.
"You may go to the palace and refresh yourselves before dinner. Do not concern yourselves about your camels; they will have the finest care we can provide." Erol's eyed their dwindling supplies happily, before adding, "And your packs will be refilled with our finest wares."
"Your kindness is very welcome," Afsar replied, choking on his words, his face taunt with anger.
The Magi left the barn with haste, then, once outside, they slowed to talk quietly amongst themselves.
"You're not your usual diplomatic self this evening, Afsar," Kerman said gently, testing the waters.
"How could I be diplomatic, friend?" Afsar asked, "That-that pig forced us to come here—why, we're no better than slaves behind these walls!"
"All the more reason for diplomacy, my friend," Armaan said, gazing steadily at his older friend, "A calm head is what we all need to get out of here—and I still don't see the harm in asking Herod where the babe was born. Surely the birth of the new king, with his star in the night's sky, has been gossiped about all around town. In fact, I wonder why we didn't hear chatter about it already."
Afsar stopped short, closing his eyes, as if defeated. "Alright, fine—have it your way, perhaps you are right," he sighed, "Perhaps you are right…Alright, we will ask—I just hope that King Herod doesn't harbor ill will against the babe."
"It is an honor to have the esteemed Magi at my table," King Herod said, his voice oozing with fakeness, as he chewed a bite of mutton, "What has brought you to Jerusalem?"
"Have you noticed the bright star that has graced the night sky for the past several weeks?" Kerman asked, careful taking the measure of the King.
"The bright star?" Herod questioned, "No, I'm sorry, but I do not spend my nights gazing at the heavens, though I understand that that is your trade."
Keeping his gaze steadily on the King, Kerman continued, "It is a truly beautiful star, your majesty—very bright and the most enormous that we've ever seen."
"Is this so?" Herod questioned.
"It is," Armaan joined the discussion.
"And what does your elder say?" Herod asked the silent Afsar, "I have not heard your voice grace our discussion yet."
"I concur with my colleagues," Afsar said, treading lightly.
"And you have come this far to study one star," Herod asked, perplexed, "Do you not have all the materials that you need at your school?"
Armaan could not look at Afsar, knowing how much his old friend would not like what he was about to do, but they had traveled so far already, and Herod might possibly know something—he had to ask, he had too. He said, "We believe that the star is a new one, never before seen, and that it announces the long awaited birth of the King of the Jews."
Herod visibly stiffed, as Armaan continued, "We are interested in finding the babe and presenting him with gifts that are befitting of his authority."
Kerman broke in, forcing himself to ignore Afsar's scowl, "We were hoping that the babe might possibly have been born here in the city—after all, Jerusalem is the ancestral capital of Israel." He took a sip of wine before continuing, "However, we had assumed that such a great event would be much talked about, and we have not heard even a whisper of it."
"How disturbing," Herod acknowledged, "How very disturbing indeed—I'm afraid that I too am in the dark about such an event taking place in the city, however, after we have finished our meal, I will be happy to inquire about the matter with the chief priests and teachers of the law. Hopefully, they will be able to shed some light on the matter."
King Herod closed the heavy wooden door softly behind him, his face thunderous, as he looked at each of the men gathered around a long table in the palace library.
"Well," he growled, "Have you got an answer for me? What shall I tell those star-gazers?"
"We do, your majesty," a priest replied, swallowing his nerves, "We do."
"Well?"
"It is said that the babe would be born in Bethlehem, in Judea, your majesty," the priest continued, holding out an old scroll, "See, the prophet Micah wrote, But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel."
Herod yanked the scroll from his outstretched hand and read the passage for himself, then stood, seething with rage for several moments. Then, abruptly, he tossed the scroll carelessly on the table and strode quickly through the door. Once outside and alone, he stood shaking almost uncontrollably for several minutes, muttering to himself, "Why me?"
Finally, regaining control of his emotions, Herod called for the Magi to be summoned and strode down the hall to meet them. Once everyone was seated and a fire was blazing in the fireplace, Herod began. "I assume that you are in great haste to find this child?" he asked.
"That is quite right," Afsar spoke as diplomatically as he could, "Have you discovered any news on his whereabouts?"
"I have," Herod said, smiling, his teeth glinting like the fangs of a hungry wolf in the firelight.
"If you please, your majesty," Kerman said, "but will you not tell us? We are in a—"
"You are in a great hurry, yes, I am aware of that," Herod said impatiently, "But I would like to know something in return before I give you the information that you seek—agreed?"
Afsar shifted uncomfortably.
"What information is this, your majesty?" Armaan asked, carefully.
"I want to know when—" Herod said acidly, "when the star first appeared in the sky."
"It has been several weeks, your majesty," Kerman replied easily.
Herod nodded, the wolfish smile reappearing slowly across his face. "Good," he purred, "Very good."
"And the information that we seek, your majesty?" Afsar reminded him, his pulse quickening.
"Yes, yes, of course—it is written that the babe is to be born in Bethlehem."
"And may we take our leave now, to continue our search for him?" Afsar asked, increasingly anxious to be far away from Jerusalem. The Magi began to rise from their seats.
"Peace, you wise men—peace," Herod said, gesturing for them to keep their seats, "I have but one more request."
"Yes?" Afsar asked, hardly daring to breathe.
"I ask that when you have found the babe, you would return and report his location to me—I too wish to bow my head and worship him."
Less than an hour later, the Magi were once again swaying with the slow rhythmic steps of their camels. The lights of Jerusalem began to fade away and the star once again shone out brightly, leading them on.
"Well, I must admit," Armaan sighed, "that was a very uncomfortable exchange."
"I agree," Kerman said, "Following the star brings me much more peace and assurance then Herod did."
Afsar said nothing for several minutes, worry lines etched on his face.
"Afsar?" Armaan asked, "Will you not speak on the matter?"
"What have we done?" was all their elder said.
Author's Note: One more chapter! Thanks to all readers/reviewers. You're the reason I do this. I'm really hoping to get this one done on or before Christmas Day, so keep checking back. I'm also working on another Christmas=themed Bible one-shot that I want done within the same time frame, but it's not as far along. I think I'm going nuts.
Erol is a name meaning, "strong" and "courageous". I thought that would be a good name for a Captain of the Guards.