Kingdom of the Sun

By Ariffa Bevin

Truth. Hope. Honor. Happiness...In the modern-day Kingdom of Sooryan the meaning of these four words fade as light leaves the sky during sunset...But as reassuring and as promising that the sun will rise again each day, Helena will fight for something that most want, but are not brave enough to make: Change.

Kingdom of the Sun reflects the desire that most of us have to make a change, whether it be in the world or in our own lives, and how we may lack the strength or the courage to do it. The novella highlights the significance of what it truly means to be educated as well as the power that one possesses when they are. It questions what we may value as important and necessary, and challenges several societal conventions. In a kingdom facing political, economic, and educational turmoil, Kingdom of the Sun is reflective of today’s issues, giving its readers not only something to enjoy and relate to, but something they will never forget.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ariffa Bevin
• Release date: Oct 12, 2013
• ISBN: 9781301761272

Ariffa Bevin

From the age of 12, writing has always been a part of Ariffa Bevin’s life. At that age and through her teenage years, she became well known and frequently recognized for her poetic works. Since moving on from poetry, Ariffa continues to strive to change the world and inspire others with her words through her blog and story telling. She spends her free time with her husband, and they enjoy cooking, eating, playing golf, and watching sports. Kingdom of the Sun is Ariffa Bevinʼs first book.

Book preview

KINGDOM OF THE SUN

a novella by

Ariffa Bevin

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2013 by Ariffa Bevin

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the author.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

Cover Design by Tatiana Villa

Background Texture created by Dirk Wüstenhagen

Formatting by Polgarus Studio

Contents

Title Page

Dedication

Chapter One: Delilah

Chapter Two: Apprentice

Chapter Three: Daisy

Chapter Four: Lady of the Sun

Chapter Five: SSAB

Chapter Six: Dinner

Chapter Seven: The End and The Beginning

Chapter Eight: History-Unknown

Chapter Nine: Strategy

Chapter Ten: The Two Royals

Chapter Eleven: Kingdom of the Sun

Epilogue

Acknowledgements

About the Author

For anyone who has been subject to the constraints, stereotypes, blindness, and contradictions of society. You can do anything. With God all things are possible.

For the teachers and educators who love what they do and live to do it.

Chapter One: Delilah

Uh…Thank you all for coming out this morning. It is truly a glorious day and time for this kingdom, said Delilah, Neo Queen of Sooryan.

Delilah stood awkwardly behind the podium that was placed on a small raised platform in the middle of the large silver stage of Sooryan’s Center. On her left and right sat Sooryan’s most prestigious and honorable: the Scholars. There were six on one side and seven on the other, and all were draped in vibrant gold robes. The Scholars kept their distant eyes focused on Delilah with a smile, fake or genuine, plastered on each face.

I think this is where we’re supposed to applaud excitedly, I whispered to Sadine.

Between us, holding my right hand and Sadine’s left, was her nine-year-old son, Aria. Sadine smiled, unaware of my sarcasm, while Aria smirked at me knowingly. I reluctantly brought my hands together and clapped with the rest of the crowd in applauding Delilah. For what? I did not know. But it is a Sooryan tradition that when a new queen or king is inaugurated, the people gather at the kingdom’s Center to watch the first speech.

Sooryan’s enormous Center was completely round, covered in rich grass, and surrounded by trees so thick that it was impossible to see through them. However, it did have five distinct clearings, four of which were marked by a sign. The Southeast exit’s post said in gold lettering, Queen Delilah’s Castle. It was clearly the pathway to the castle that also housed the working chambers of the Scholars and the classrooms for Sooryan’s students. The Southwest exit led one to Sooryan’s shops, businesses, churches, and parks. The Northeast and Northwest pathways led one to the rural sides of Sooryan where the houses of my people were placed. The final pathway was unmarked because no one ever ventured there. The unmarked way was the most untouched and uninhabited part of Sooryan.

Thank you, Delilah said as the applause died down.

Delilah was a rather large woman: tall and wide with dark hair and dark eyes. She didn’t wear an elaborate, sparkling robe or dress or even makeup. It didn’t matter much to me; however, her appearance was disheveled and careless. Her only attempt to produce an authoritative and regal aura was evidenced by the four gaudy jeweled rings on her fingers and the crown on her head. Queen Daisy’s crown. The crown was made of gold and much too big for Delilah. It had four multi-colored jewels on the front and small diamonds on each of its pointed tips. Normally, the Royals designed their own crowns, but Delilah instead wore Daisy’s. Her hair was perched on the top of her head in what was supposed to be an elegant bun. But her hair was so short that it fell all about her face, leaving the bun looking puny, weak, and barely visible behind her crown.

Delilah cleared her throat to silence the murmuring chatter and proceeded to continue. The Royal’s people are to be immediately silenced when they step up to the podium. It is a test of leadership. If the people talk and mutter among themselves when they are clearly being addressed, then the Royal is not respected as a leader. But when the people are awed by the Royal’s presence and want to listen to their words, then there is nothing in the world that can turn their attention away.

Thank you, Delilah repeated, adjusting her crown. Uh, I am truly overwhelmed. It is such a tough feat to be following in the footsteps of Queen Daisy. Sooryan will never have a queen like her ever again! Instead of waiting for the crowd to applaud, Delilah raised her hands and clapped frantically, expecting the audience to follow suit.

I could not and would not follow her. I kept my hands at my side as Sadine and Aria joined the others in applause. I peered behind Delilah to see the reaction of the Scholars, and my eyes immediately landed on Abel Godfrey. Abel was on the end of Delilah's left, and although he sat with his hands folded neatly on his lap, his shoulders were hunched, and his head was tilted forward, which caused his light brown eyes to narrow slightly at Delilah. His hair was short but long enough to be tied or combed back. That day, he had half of it tied back loosely so that as he sat forward, his bangs laid gently in front of his eyes. He did not immediately join in Delilah’s forced applause. He had first shifted uncomfortably in his chair and then reluctantly raised his hands to clap three times. I could not help but smile at him. To everyone else, I was smiling at Delilah and all her incompetency, willingly accepting the new queen. But my eyes were on Abel, and when his eyes met mine, when his smile matched mine, I felt that only he knew the true meaning behind it. I turned my attention quickly back to Delilah and stopped smiling. Even though the clapping was dying down, I thought about giving in and adding a few claps of my own to show that I was accepting. To have a Scholar notice my rebellion was a possible danger. Even so, I would not betray myself. I kept my hands down and looked back at Abel to let him know that I did not care if he had seen my silent rebellion. His unbroken smile and gaze answered me. I had not seen him before that day, but I felt myself being drawn to him immediately.

Yes! Thank God for Queen Daisy! shouted Delilah as the applause died down. Um…This new era of Sooryan will, uh, be great and I, uh, look forward to taking every step of the way with you all. I hope that you will, uh, support me in our journey together. I also want to thank the absolutely fabulous Scholars behind me in advance for their help as well! Delilah gestured towards the thirteen men and women behind her.

This time I clapped hard and smiled sincerely. A few Scholars nodded in appreciation, and some just continued to stare at Delilah with the same distant look on their face.

Thank you all and God bless! Delilah shouted, throwing her fist in the air and nearly tumbling off the podium platform.

With the help of two Scholars, Delilah stepped onto the stage and proceeded to exit the Center in her carriage. Sooryan is necessarily modernized, and most of our ways have never changed such as the use of the carriage. In actuality, the island does not have cars, and most of the transportation is done by foot. There was only one carriage on the island, and of course only the Royals used it.

The crowd watched as Delilah departed the Center, not moving or talking until she was out of sight. Next were the Scholars. They stood and walked single file off the stage. Some of them greeted students with hellos or see you in class, while others kept silent and to themselves. First was Hinatea Shaw, Nora Livingstone, Mandela Lani, Ken Himora, Molli Martin, then Aiden Jenson who sat the closet to Delilah on her right. Next were those who sat on Delilah's left: Jameson Radcliffe, Leana Crossli, Gerald Ramsey, Cynthia Baxtor, Howie Griffin, Johnny Doane, and Abel Godfrey. When they had all left the stage, the crowd began to disperse.

Well, time to get to work, I said to Sadine.

And time for you to get to class, said Sadine to Aria.

Yup! Aria replied. He hugged us both goodbye and went to meet his classmates.

That was a good speech, Sadine said, walking alongside me to the Southeast clearing.

It was alright, I replied.

Sadine worked with me in the castle, and I also considered her to be a close friend. Even so, I was careful about what I said around her—never really letting her into my thoughts. At times I felt guilty because she confided in me quite often, and at other times, I knew it was for the best.

On our way out of the Center, I greeted, hugged, and shook hands with many of my friends, former colleagues, and shop owners that I had come to know throughout the years. It was a good feeling to be acknowledged and give it as well. And for those that I did not know, I simply offered them a smile so that the next time I saw them, they would remember me and no longer be a stranger.

And so begins another day, I said to Sadine.

No, Helena, it’s a new era.

Chapter Two: Apprentice

Four months later, Sadine met me at my cottage, and as we walked to the castle for work, I said a silent prayer for strength to get me through the day. On the way, Sadine shared what her duties were for the morning and afternoon with great detail and passion that I was almost touched and inspired by. Sadine and I were both Scholar’s Apprentices or SAs. An SA was just as it sounds. We were supposed to be like shadows to Sooryan’s Scholars, watching and learning how they would conduct lessons, research, and do everything else that came with being a Scholar of Sooryan. We were even given our own work station in the Royal Office Chamber to enhance the experience.

At first, it was an honor to be chosen as an SA. Like other educators, our Scholars teach and give themselves to their work and their students, and they are highly respected for it. But unlike other educators, they are not expected to