Temple of the Authority, Bingol, Packilvania.
23 January 2023.
Maui was seated at his table chatting away with important foreign dignitaries when his attaché came up to him and whispered something which the rest of the people gathered could not comprehend. He stood up and took his leave. From his stomping stride and pink ears, it was apparent that he was seething.
Like a piece of iron drawn to a powerful magnetic, he marched straight towards Prince Lohadek who was laughing and chatting with other guests and important people.
“Prince Lohadek, may I have a word with you”, Maui asked.
“But Prime Minister, I’m having a chat with our lovely friends here. Can it wait?” Prince Lohadek asked looking confused.
“I must insist, sir, the matter is urgent”, Maui said his left eye twitching from his stifled fury.
“Of course”, Prince Lohadek said and gave his apologies to his guests.
Prince Lohadek found a quiet room in which they could speak freely without being heard.
“You scoundrel!” Maui yelled, “You fiend!”
“Sir, I do not appreciate the manner in which you are speaking to me”, Prince Lohadek replied coolly.
“Apparently the Crescent reported that five Oan males have been arrested and sentenced to death”, Maui explained, “How did this case go from arrest to verdict in an hour?”
“I am not certain, sir”, Prince Lohadek replied, “You will have to assess the facts of the case and the reasons given by the judge in the verdict”.
“One thing I know about your nation is that there no independent judiciary in this nation and well know you are the Sultan’s Eyes”, Maui state sarcastically.
“I have not the foggiest idea why such an epithet would be applied to me”, Prince Lohadek replied coyly, “Perhaps the Sultan and I have a similar eye color”.
“You’re a piece of work!” Maui replied.
“Mr Prime Minister”, Prince Lohadek said and he sat on a chair on one side of the room, “Justice in Packilvania moves fast, the evidence against these five men must have been so compelling that the judge was able to make a decision quickly”.
“You’re a liar”, Maui proclaimed.
“Sir, you really must calm down”, Prince Lohadek stated. “I would recommend that you file an extradition request with Packilvanian embassy in your capital city”.
“You know that those things take forever to process”, Maui stated.
“Oh really?” Prince Lohadek asked, “I wouldn’t know”.
“Are you this petulant, that you would sabotage your Sultan’s wedding to score political points?” Maui asked, “What do you think would happen if all the representatives here found out about this?”
“I don’t know, I cannot speak to what they will or will not do; that prescience evades me” Lohadek stated, “Tell you what. This matter seems to be bothering you a lot. How about we sign an extradition Treaty that can help to resolve issues such as these more expeditiously”.
“I cannot believe that you would stoop so low to get what you want”, Maui stated, his expression and voice filled with venom. “You exploited our goodwill to your nation and our presence here to get what you want”.
“Firstly, Prime Minister, you are making allegations for which you have no proof”, Prince Lohadek stated, “Secondly, you are a hypocrite. When Ethalria attempted to assassinate King Lambertus VII and tragically led to the demise of Prince Thadeus, who will be sorely missed, what did the Oan Isles do? You called for an invasion! You wanted a war! There are hundreds of thousands of people who died at the hands of your supposedly progressive and Democratic government. Where was your supposedly independent judiciary when your forces dropped bombs over Uspalria and Ethalria and Stratarin. Do not lecture me about morals and values that you do not have!”
“That was different”, Maui stated, caught off guard.
“How?” Prince Lohadek asked, raising his voice and standing up, slowly walking towards Maui with each step, “When we found out that a citizen of your nation attempted to assassinate our ruler, we did not try to invade your nation. We have been negotiating with you people and begging you for months. We did not try to get other nations to put pressure on you. We did not lay sanctions against you. We never touched you. We were patient and gentle and understanding and yet in the end you failed to honour our request and keep the promise you made to us. You people are so determined to prove how superior your moral values are. I would recommend your dismount the horse of your so-called values lest your break your neck from the dizzying heights of your self righteousness”.
Maui was silent.
Prince Lohadek continued, “You have an opportunity to go out there and tell the world how managed to get Packilvania to sign a Treaty that brings you one step closer to propagating sentient rights or whatever it is you think you believe by signing this Treaty. I’ve read it myself. It seems like a good bet”.
“I want to read it”, Maui replied embarrassed and annoyed.
Prince Lohadek called his attache to send a copy of the Treaty from his office.
Maui sat for 20 minutes reading through its provisions.
“Thoughts, Prime Minister”, Prince Lohadek asked.
“Packilvania is willing to extradite Oans who are homosexual, transgender, found guilty of fornication, blasphemy, insulting the monarch and committing sorcery”, Maui read, “I’m surprised you are giving us this. We’ve been trying to get your country to approve something for like this for years”.
“Packilvania is under new management now and is a responsible actor in global affairs”, Prince Lohadek, “of which I am sure you will apprise the delegates out there and assuage their misgivings”.
Maui was visibly annoyed but with little room to maneuver and wishing to avoid the embarrassment of five Oan citizens being executed in Packilvania while both the Prime Minister and monarch were present, he said, “We can have a press conference and signing ceremony in 15 minutes. Do you think that can be arranged?”
“Of course, Prime Minister!”