The sun was now well above the horizon and it was time to make the announcement. Helicopters headed off to the various chieftans with instructions to bring them and their families to the capital. Meanwhile the large market place was being prepared for an announcement. While nothing was being confirmed to the general public at this point it was clear something major was happening. Scenes like this happened only with the deaths of important chiefs, royal marriages or births and following the long illness of the Sultan many began to guess what was going to be said. The forces from the military drawn from the Talafha tribe got themselves ready for any potential disruption of the smooth transition of power but it was highly likely that nothing much would change. By midday almost everything was in place. A tremendous crowd by Waddan standards had gathered in the dusty market place and as instructed members of the army had mingled among the crowd with small arms secluded in their robes. They knew the Seleucid had similar people but all others had been checked for weapons with the exception of small knives which were all but ceremonially religious objects. The large wooden platform that formed a stage had been erected and a white robed figure ascended. Everyone knew what this meant. Shahin Karim was "The Tribeless Man" or the "Keeper of the Book", it was a ceremonial duty that was carried out by one individual for life. They were selected from people who, for various reasons, had no tribe to call home. Historically this could have been because they were excluded or for some reason had left but in Shahin's case he had been a member of the Al Ghardaqa tribe but at the age of 12 had failed their coming of age ceremony, then again at 13 and again at 14. In shame he had left the tribe and moved to Sabhā where he had become a scholar and apprentice to the "Book-Keepers" a group of men who like him had no tribe and took responsibility for updating and maintaining several books important to the nation, most importantly the "Book of Lands" which stated which tribe had the right to which land and when they had it. Two decades ago he had inherited the role of the "Tribless Man" which put him in charge of the Book-Keepers and now the duty of updating the "Book of the Sultans" fell to him. Shahin walked up to the platform carrying a heavy leather bound book and placed it on a table. "I am Shahin Karim, the Keeper of the Book and member of no tribe except Waddan." he proclaimed for the crowd to hear. "Today I use my pen to strike through the name of Sultan Yahya IV and as I do I pray that whatever Gods he believes in show mercy and compassion to him. A space exists beneath his, my pen stands ready to write in the name of the new Sultan once the Chiefs of the tribes command me as to what to write."
The crowd whispered to each other, some about the news that the Sultan had died while others discussed what they thought would happen next. Yahya had been Sultan since 1983 and there were many in the tribe who knew of no other Sultan. A voice called almost immediately back. "I am Prince Fadil, son of Sultan Yahya IV. I nominate my brother Prince Jamshied as the new Sultan as was my fathers wishes" there was shouts from around the marketplace and while some called for Fadil as eldest son to the new Sultan many shouted their support. Shahin held up two hands and the crowd began to fall silent.
"I am Zafar Qadir, Chief of the Marar and I nominate Chief Jamal al-Din Zaman of the Anazzah to be the new Sultan." The call was meet by choruses of laughter by most. The Marar were the smallest tribe in Waddan, thought to number less than 500 people and so the support of Qadir would mean little. To add to that the Anazzah were the only settled tribe and considered strange by most of the other tribes. Qadir looked embarassed but had made the call purely for the fact that his small tribe relied on the Anazzah for their trade.
"I am Muhammed Saab, Chief of the Al Nahyan tribe and with the blessings of the Almighty Allah I nominate Chief Faruq Karimi of the Taym-Allat to be the Sultan of Waddan In sha'Allah." There were more jeers. The nation had two Muslim tribes, the Taym-Allat being the largest and everytime this ceremony had taken place they had seen their Chief nominated by the Al Nahyan.
There were whispered talks as various other tribal chiefs gathered in a circle and discussed other nominations. There was a nod of agreement from a few while others spat on the ground in disgust and walked away. One then yelled out their own nomination. "I am Chief Tarik Karimi of the Banu Lakhm and I nominate King Heydar of Royal Seleucid as the new Sultan." There were shocked gasps from through the crowd and then yells and a scuffle between several people that soon others pulled apart. The Banu Lakhm tribe were the only ones to follow Anahitaism which was the native faith of the Seleucid. There had never been a case of a foreigner being named as part of this process but Heydar had cultivated a good relationship with the previous Sultan and of course the Banu Lakhm.
Shahin held up a hand and again the crowd fell silent. "Chief Tarik has the right to name anyone of his choosing but they must be a member of a tribe and they may not be a member of their own. Does anyone here claim King Heydar." No one yelled out and Shahin spoke directly and softly to Tarik "I am afriad you nomination can not be accepted." Tarik nodded respectfully and with a smile. His intention had been to flatter the Seleucid King and show his respect to the leader of the faith he held dear. Tarik was certain that there would be a Seleucid or two in the crowd and his actions would get back to Heydar. Shahin waited and no other names were called and so he could move onto the next stage. He read a name of each tribe and their Chief and one by one they made their way to the front platform before standing in a line shoulder to shoulder. Shahin's pen stood ready and as he once more read each Chiefs name they stood forward and loudly declared their name, tribe and choice for Sultan. Many brought sarcastic comments from the assembled crowd while a few who voted in an unexpected manner got jeered. Until finally they reached Prince Fadil who declared for his brother. Shahin glanced down the list he had created and counted, it was actually pretty clear cut, 4 votes for the Islamic chief Faruq Karimi, five for Chief Jamal al-Din Zaman and 16 for Jamsheid. There were cheers in the crowd and only a few hisses of disapproval. Shahin wrote carefully into his book "Sultan Jamsheid III of Waddan" and closed his book. "I declare our new Sultan is Jamsheid III, may his Gods bless his rule."
Jamsheid made his way up to the platform and removed his head-dress as Shahin handed him a large colorful hat the symbolise his new start. "I accept the position and pray that I will be guided to make our union even greater than my father."
"You are a city dweller, the sands do not know your name. The stallions mock you and the vultures know the taste of your flesh." A booming voice from the back came loud over the crowd. "I shall make it my duty to ensure that the Wadi Qor becomes a nation in its own right. The Dahaminah believe that the Talafha have no right to our people." and with that the orange robed man and a following seemed to storm towards the stage until Waddan soldiers blocked his path. He didn't try and force his way through but instead threw a riders crop towards the stage, "Learn to use it......oh Sultan" he turned and followed by some of his tribesman left. Jamsheid made a note that he may need to deal with Chief Ziyad Hakim down the road but for now he was pleased to be done.