Part 8 (4)

The radiant maids guided Babida the lumberjack accompanied by his aide-de-camp Baba through the long corridors of the imperial palace.
As they marched forward, the woodsman began to feel the weight of his soon-new charge.
He entered a deep daydream, for he suddenly had the impression that he was advancing alone to the ceremony's venue.
Everything around him ceased to exist. There was only him and the unknown in front of him.
A cold wind commenced blowing and fear took hold of his body. He trembled like a leaf and his five-kilogram axe was now too heavy for his frail right hand.
The solitary moment lasted till...
"My Commander!" A man whispered.
"My Commander!" The man repeated with more intensity in his tone.
"Yes?" replied Babida as he came back to himself with flurry eyes.
"That's His Majesty! You may bow." The man advised, astonished by the lumberjack's sudden trouble.
The woodsman looked at his interlocutor once again and realized that was his henchman Baba who was talking to him.
He then glanced in front of him and recognized the charismatic and huge man who was wrapped with the most valuable fabric of the empire and was sitting in a golden chair.
The imposing individual was no one else but His Majesty Batang V.
Therefore Babida precipitously threw himself on the ground and bowed before the most powerful man of the land, causing the laughter of the Emperor and the hundreds of subjects that surrounded the place.
"You may rise, Commander." then said His Majesty Batang V to the lumberjack.
Babida did as he was told. He changed his prostating position and took the kneeling stand.
The Emperor ordered that they played the trumpets to open the woodsman's elevation ceremony as the new Governor of Okunde.
Once the musicians were done. The imperial Ruler got off his gilded seat and read a long speech in which he lauded the bravery of Babida first in his time as a civilian and then as a full-time military before enjoining that they brought him the majestic sword.
The supreme Leader laid the weapon three times on the head of the lumberjack, then declared: "I, Batang V, fifth Ruler of the Batang dynasty, I hereby proclaimed Babida the lumberjack, Governor of the province of Okunde. He has my total trust and all the subjects of the land shall treat him and respect him the same way they would do to me."
"You may now stand up, Governor." The Emperor then told him.
Babida did as he was instructed and the crowd acclaimed him joyfully.
The first part of the elevation ceremony was over. The second part then followed.
Emperor Batang V ordered that the banquet for the new Governor of Okunde, Babida, started.
So the servants brought rolling tables filled with varieties of food and beverages.
They strolled around the venue and the guests served themselves. They picked whatever they desired and ate and drank happily.
The Emperor invited the lumberjack to his private eating space since according to the superstitions of the land, it wasn't good for the Ruler to eat in public and risk embarrassment in front of his subjects such as dirtying his magnificent garments with sauce or whatever aliments.
The Ruler had to always distill in the mind of the people that he was a half-god. He had to be feared, though he could be kind.
His Majesty Batang V and his guest, the newly appointed Governor Babida, arrived at a small but sparkling room and there was a gilded table that contained nearly all the marvels available in the empire.
There was notably a big lamb that was toasted and was also the favorite meal of His Majesty.
"You may sit by my side, Governor." uttered the Emperor as a maid pulled his massive chair so he could sit.
Impressed, the woodsman remained speechless. He wasn't expecting such a degree of attention from the half-god.
The new Governor sat on the right of the Ruler who was at his ease contrary to his guest.
Babida was intimidated. However, he tried the best he could to conceal his nervosity.
The Emperor with a silent look at the maid on his left side ordered that the latter serve him the lamb, which she hastened to execute.
She cut a big chunk of the meat that she then put in a golden plate that she laid in front of the Ruler along with a silver fork and knife.
Unexpectedly the Ruler passed on his dish to Babida who was shocked by the gesture.
"But Your Majesty..." The woodsman said with a shy and shaky voice.
"Good appetite, Governor!" His Majesty Batang V wished him.
And with another silent look at the maid, he commanded that she serve him once again, which she did.
The servant took another gilded plate and gave a bigger piece of lamb to the Ruler.
Then with his guest Babida who was waiting for him, they savored the tasty and mellow flesh of the sheep.