Razoul watched from his position behind Jasmine's chair which was set just below her father's while the Sultan heard complaints and petitions from the people. She listened intently and when there was a dispute between two villages over crop land and irrigation rights, a whisper to her father had him issuing a decree that satisfied and dissatisfied people from both villages. That probably made it a good compromise Razoul thought.
As the chamber emptied after this last case of the day, her father complimented her. "Jasmine, I've never seen you so interested in the workings of this court before. That suggestion was brilliant."
She nodded and smiled at him. "You would've come up with it on your own."
"Well, maybe I would have. Why I guess I would have. Keep watching Jasmine you'll learn a lot." He bumbled off to play with his toys.
She smiled up at Razoul. She didn't dare take his hand in public but her eyes expressed her feelings. "I really have you to thank for that, Razoul. Our little expeditions have really opened things up for me."
He nodded. She'd kept her promise to her father not to leave the palace alone again. Instead she and Razoul went everywhere together. This morning Jasmine had presented Sarah a reward for helping save her from the assassins. That much gold would feed the family for years.
A new petitioner approached them and he was about to send the fellow off since the hours for petitions were over when he recognized him. So did Jasmine who nodded to him. "Astronomer Royal, how nice to see you again. What can I do for you today?"
He made a quick obeisance and said. "It's more what I can do for you, Princess. There's something I have to show you."
"And what is that? Olympus Mons' eruption is getting bigger?" She asked with a smile.
"This is not in the night sky, Princess but here on the grounds of the palace or I should say beneath the palace." He looked askance at Razoul. "If you can leave your bodyguard for a while, I have something you need to see."
Razoul's hand tightened on the hilt of his sword. No one was separating him from his charge. Jasmine put a gentle hand on his arm in reward and said. "I'm sorry, Astronomer Royal, but since the assassination attempts I go nowhere without Razoul."
"But, but, Princess." He began.
"Give me no 'buts', Sir." She said stiffly. "If Razoul cannot come, then I'll not go." Razoul nodded. She'd learned.
The Astronomer Royal looked like he was about to have a heart attack right there. "This, this is impossible. The committee will not stand for it. But you must see this. The future of the world may depend on it."
He looked at her and saw no yielding in her. He gave a deep sigh. "They're going to have my head for this, but the events that are coming are so important that for once in the history of the Library the rules must be put aside. Come." He beckoned for them to follow him.
He led them along a hall and then down a flight of stairs. At the bottom he went up to a marble column and twisted one of the carved flutes on it. There was a groan and a door opened. He shut the door behind them and then led them down a long, winding passageway. The passageway grew in size until it opened into a broad room, lighted with lamps and a gentle light filtering down from above them.
Two statues of women, one in robes and the other in armor, stood at the entrance to another room. "Who are the statues?" Jasmine asked. "They seem familiar."
"They should." He replied. "One is Minerva and the other is Athena, the goddesses of wisdom and intelligence for the Romans and the Greeks. They reflect the best in both cultures and are appropriate here as guardians." As he had talked he'd led them up the steps.
He was met at the door by his three assistants and a tall, older, but very fit man in a military uniform. Razoul recognized him immediately and automatically saluted. "Good evening, General Ayverli."
The older man with a receding hairline and graying hair saluted him back. "Good evening to you, Captain." He smiled. "I should say former captain. The army's lost was the guard's gain." He bowed to Jasmine. "And good evening to you, Princess. Welcome to our little cabal."
She nodded in return. "General, it is interesting I find you here with these astronomers. Is there a reason?"
One of the assistants broke in as he pointed at Razoul. "He should not be here. He has not been approved." The other two nodded.
The General held up his hand. "I'll vouch for Razoul. He will not betray any confidences given here." He looked over at Razoul and smiled. "Will you, Captain?"
Razoul swallowed. "No sir, but with one provision. That if it harms or threatens the Princess, then I'll do my duty by her and your secrecy be damned." His reward was a smile from Jasmine which promised other, more enjoyable things later.
"I couldn't ask for a better answer." The General turned back to the four other men. "Gentlemen, I see nothing wrong in continuing. I'm afraid that the days of secrecy are going to be behind us and more people than just this man are going to have to be informed as to what we have kept hidden here for hundreds of years if the world is to survive."
"And just what is behind these doors, General?" Jasmine asked. "You have aroused my curiosity."
The General smiled and gestured to the old man with the red beard. "Astronomer Royal, please do the honors."
The old man shoved inward on the two great doors which swung silently inward to reveal a room which seemed to stretch to infinity. It was lined with marble columns and statues and in the center of the room were long marble tables with chairs along their lengths about every four feet. Diffuse evening sunlight shown down from unseen openings above and illuminated the side walls lined with shelves and on each shelf were hundreds, if not thousands of books and scrolls. "Welcome to the Great Library of Alexandria!" He proclaimed proudly.