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Nimirtha was a once great nation stretching over many terrains and vast lands, from the northern

seas to the southern ocean. Eighteen tribes called this nation home - but eventually, a nineteenth emerged and reigned over the rest. This tribe sprang from the line of the first chosen king of Nimirtha, after many wars and skirmishes had proven the need for a powerful sovereign to act as a judge and guardian. Once such a need was acknowledged, the eighteen tribe lords spent many months arguing about which of them should become king. Finally, they sent emissaries to the priests of their neighbouring country, Sarath. The priests were devotees of the god of Wisdom, Lihmn. They were greatly respected and their counsel was sought both by persons of great distinction and no distinction at all. It was said that they were a strange and mighty people, who never warred and lived in a harmony that ordinary people could never maintain. They advised the tribal lords to choose not from among themselves but from their people, a man wise and strong, able to act as an impartial judge over their disputes and an astute keeper of peace at all other times. The disgruntled lords agreed after much debate. A great test of skills of both mind and body was organised. Hundreds came from every tribe and many feats of courage and cunning were displayed and several proved themselves worthy of a rulers throne. In the end, five were chosen and sent to Sarath for the priests to decide on the final test. The priests gave each of them seven tamed monkeys on leashes. They were asked to travel through the vast Thanrav desert which divided Nimirtha from Sarath usually avoided by way of sea to reach the great gathering of tribes near the village of Salbari, with every monkey alive. All five laughed when the priests told them their task, but soon they realised that they were in earnest. They were given enough food and water to last the month it would take them to cross the desert, but heavy baggage made their progress weary and slow. The monkeys encumbered them further. No matter how docile they had begun, their behaviour turned wilder with every mile. They fought and screamed and scratched and bit. When they were hungry or thirsty there was no moving or reasoning with them. The barren, endless lands, the burning heat and the parched dryness that no water could quench from their throats every suffering was made a hundred times worse by the warriors tiresome companions. Finally, only three reached the gathering of their tribes. One had with him a single, wretchedlooking money while the others each brought forward two. The tribes were dismayed. Not one of them had succeeded in the priests trial. They sent word to Sarath and set about deciding which of the two who had brought the most surviving monkeys to select as their king.

The two warriors were treated with tremendous respect and enjoyed great luxuries while the tribes decided. Daily the two expected that one of them would be crowned monarch. Finally, the priests arrived and found the tribes still undecided. They had brought with them the remaining two of the five warriors. They brought one of the two forward, and said, He came back to us after a week of travelling through the great Thanrav. Every one of his companions was alive. The tribe lords exchanged glances. One of them said, We are ashamed to have sent such a man for your trial, great Sarathans. He is no Nimirthan warrior. The priests shook their heads. No, he is indeed a mighty warrior. He had proved himself as such in your own assessment. But in the face of immense hardship and certainty of death not his own, for he is strong, but his leashed companions he decided to return to us as he could see no other way to preserve all their lives. The tribe lords were bewildered. But does not that make him a coward? How would he lead us in a battle? He will never lead you into a battle that he knew to be hopeless, where countless lives of your men would be lost, seeking only glory for himself. The priests pointed at the three who had come out of the desert to Salbari. They for certain, cared more for their own triumph than for the lives of those under their care. The three looked down in shame. The priests then brought forward the fifth warrior. This one, they told the lords, remained with his seven charges, when no food was left and all water was gone, choosing unlike these three to die with them rather than come to you, having saved his own life at the expense of his charges. But, said one lord, hesitating, does not that make him a fool? How would he guide us? He would watch over you with a sense of duty far stronger than his sense of survival. He would guide you tend to you, even in the face of the worst misfortune. He would keep you alive by sacrificing himself. We found him in the middle of Thanrav nearly perished without food and water, even as he faithfully kept alive each of the animals in his custody. The lords looked thoughtful. It appears that we were mistaken. We thought ill of those we should have praised and lauded those we should have shunned. Not shunned, they said, nothing so severe. These may not be men destined for a throne, but there is bravery in them and that should be rewarded. They were too conscious of the truth that their companions were animals and not fellow humans. They did not understand the test. These two, however, understood that the true trial was in their treatment of the creatures.

The lords asked them, which of the two then shall we name King, good priests. Which of them is the greater? The priests answered. That, my lords, we leave to you. This one, who returned to us, is wise and humble. He will think of your welfare before his own glory. You might prosper under him. This man, who nearly perished in Thanrav, is determined and will not desert you even in your bleakest hour. You might conquer many enemies under him. So saying, the Sarathans left. The lords now faced a choice that would decide the destiny of their joined tribes and all of their lands and people. History does not tell us how this decision was finally made, nor who finally became the first king of Nimirtha. However, we do know that the man was called Khirm, and that Nimirtha entered its thousand-year long era of greatness under him. So now, I will ask you the question all Nimirthan bards ask their listeners at the end of this tale: Which of the two would you have made king?

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