The Smurf Of Solomon (story)/Part 4

In the meantime, Empath was being educated in the ways of his character by his two advisers, one of which resembled Polaris Psyche and the other which resembled Brainy. It amused Empath that Tapper would have the supporting characters in the story exude personalities similar to those of his fellow Smurfs, with one adviser being plainly factual without emotion and the other just being obsequious to the point of trying to curry favor with the king, as Brainy would be desiring to do anything of importance for Papa Smurf just to be recognized among his fellow Smurfs.

Empath got a brief glimpse of the Jerusalem that was in the Imaginarium fantasy setting he was acting out, and he almost felt like he had stepped back in time to living actual history that was recorded in Tapper's holy book. Admittedly, though, some liberties had to be taken as far as its presentation, for besides the city being recreated to Smurf scale, it also had elements of the Smurf Village such as certain structures having mushroom-shaped domes. Nevertheless, Empath felt that it was authentic enough to present the story as adequately as possible.

After the morning sacrifice and a breakfast that truly made Empath feel like a king, he was taken to the Porch Of Judgment where he was to discern cases that were brought before him of various matters. This job seemed a lot like his role as the assistant counselor, having to arbitrate among his fellow Smurfs on certain disputes they have among themselves. At first it seemed like it was entertainment, but after a while of settling a dozen or more cases Empath felt like it was work and that he needed a break.

The royal adviser who resembled Polaris noticed Empath staring out into the city after all the people have been sent away. "May this one know what is unsettling you, my Lordship?" he asked.

"This smurf is the king of Israel, blessed with great wisdom and also with great wealth and honor, and yet for all that, this smurf still feels somewhat empty, as if this smurf doesn't have anything of value," Empath answered.

"What do you mean, you don't have anything of value?" the other adviser asked, sounding like he couldn't believe what his liege was saying. "You have smurfed very great works since you were king. You smurfed houses for yourself, you smurfed vineyards, smurfed gardens and orchards, smurfed trees in them, of all kinds of fruit. You smurfed pools of water for yourself, to water the forest springing up with trees."

"You have bought slaves and maids, and had servants born in your house," the first adviser added. "You also have more livestock, herds and flocks, than all were before you in Jerusalem. You also gathered silver and gold to yourself, and the treasure of kings and of the provinces. You have men singers and women singers for yourself, and the delights of the sons of men, wives and concubines."

"This smurf knows that by heart," Empath said. "This smurf was great and increased more than all that were before this smurf in Jerusalem; also this smurf's wisdom remained with me. And whatever this smurf's eyes desired this smurf did not keep from them. This smurf did not withhold this smurf's heart from any joy, for this smurf's heart rejoiced in all this smurf's labor, and this was my share from all this smurf's labor."

"You are the envy of all the nations, your Highness," the second adviser said. "The nations smurf to you for wisdom, and there's no lack of anything for you. So why do you smurf very little of everything you have?"

"Probably because this smurf has looked upon all the labor, and has seen that it was all vanity, a grasping of the wind, a striving of spirit," Empath said. "And how many wives and concubines has this smurf accumulated in all this time?"

"At the latest record, you have 300 wives and 700 concubines, which has far exceeded those of your father King David," the first adviser answered.

"All those wives and concubines...and yet they are more like servants to satisfy this smurf's desire rather than anyone this smurf really wants to be alone with for purposes other than physical intimacy," Empath said.

"But what do you want us to do with the wives and concubines you have smurfed?" the second adviser asked. "They're all smurfully bound to you as one flesh, according to the Word of the Lord."

"They're more for securing allegiances with other kingdoms than anyone this smurf truly loves," Empath said. "What this smurf should do is look within this kingdom for somebody that this smurf would truly love."

"What makes you so certain you will find somebody within the kingdom that will satisfy your heart in ways that your wives and concubines are unable to?" the first adviser asked.

"The one thing this smurf doesn't want to repeat is the mistake of my father King David, who only married this smurf's mother Bathsheba because he had committed adultery with her," Empath said.

"What do you mean, it was a mistake? You are the king of Israel, therefore you have the divine right to smurf whoever you wish to be your wife," the second adviser said.

"Not if it violates the Lord's commandments, which would have resulted in death had it not been for His mercy upon King David," the first adviser countered. "If finding the female that would satisfy you completely is important to you, then we will help you in your search and make sure that you follow the Lord's commandments completely while doing so."

"This smurf appreciates your help, the both of you," Empath said. "This smurf is going to need a chariot to take this smurf to the outer villages, preferably where the Shulamites live."

"But what do you expect to find among the Shulamites, if this one may be bold enough to ask, my liege?" the first adviser asked.

"Hopefully the one whom this smurf's soul loves," Empath said, leaving the two advisers puzzled as he walked off.