Ashnar

By Henri R. Sfeir

It is 384 BC, and Ashnar, prince of Byblos, does not aspire to rule his fathers kingdom.

A dreamer and a thinker, he has his own views on politics and governing. His quest for absolute values andabove allfor the utmost truth are about to lead him on a secret adventure. Although he is determined to follow a path to empowerment, Prince Ashnar has no idea of what awaits him as his ship leaves the shore of Byblos.

First stopping at the island of Cyprus on the way to Athens and Olympia, Ashnar cannot contain his inquisitive nature; he must satisfy his obsessive thirst for the truth. This difficult journey offers Ashnar the most important encounters imaginableopportunities to meet and learn from great philosophers as he enlists in Platos academy. There, he learns of the existence of the Temple of the Truth somewhere east of Babel.

Back in his homeland, Ashnar meets Maysa, a beautiful and intelligent woman who immediately captures his heart and becomes the love of his life. But now he must decide whether to leave Maysa behind or stay with her and set aside his quest to reach the city of truth.

Ashnar is a tale of enlightenment, suspense, and history as a prince on a journey to find the ultimate truth, he discovers love, adventure, and the answers he never expected.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Archway Publishing
• Release date: Sep 25, 2014
• ISBN: 9781480807655

Henri R. Sfeir

Henri R. Sfeir was born in Lebanon and pursued higher education in Paris, where he earned masters degree in sciences and economics and a graduate degree in engineering. He is a former bank chairman, television network founder, newspaper publisher, and elected official. Best known for his international relations and moderate stances, Sfeir currently resides in Lebanon.

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Copyright © 2014 Henri R. Sfeir.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without the written permission of the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

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Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0764-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0766-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4808-0765-5 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014913386

Archway Publishing rev. date: 9/25/2014

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1   Journey

Chapter 2   The Sunrise in Cyprus

Chapter 3   Road to Olympia

Chapter 4   The Encounter

Chapter 5   At The Academy

Chapter 6   Return to Byblos

Chapter 7   At The Temple of Adonis

Chapter 8   The Anchorite

Chapter 9   Babel and Beyond

Chapter 10 The City of Truth

The Ultimate Choice

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Acknowledgement

I would like to extend my thanks to the team who assisted me in this work. I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to Mrs. Najwa Arnouk in particular.

Henri R. Sfeir

Preface

In the year 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi was a prisoner at Yeravda, he wrote his first book ‘Ashram¹ Observances’ addressed to his students. In it he spoke of Truth, explaining that the equivalent word in Sanskrit, ‘Satya’, is derived from the word ‘Sat’, which means ‘Being’, i.e. God.

He wrote: Nothing exists except Truth. That is why ‘Sat’ is perhaps the most important name of God. In fact, it is more correct to say that Truth is God than to say that God is Truth.

Can man, in physical form, meet God? Wouldn’t such an encounter be terrifying? Answers to such questions are provided by Ashnar, for whom Truth became an obsession—the force that controlled his feelings and actions.

Make no mistake! Don’t believe, as you read this story, that Prince Ashnar is my hero. He is one among many, such as Plato for example, who devoted their lives to the search for Truth. My real hero in this story is Maysa, who does more justice to the reality of life and the supremacy of love. Despite her love for Ashnar—or rather, because of her empowerment by this love —she did not hesitate to share his aspiration to answer the ultimate questions. She ends up, I think, personifying the answers to these questions.

We cannot but ask ourselves: is it not best for man to dare and reach the possible rather than search for the impossible?

I hope that this book’s value shall not be measured simply by the amount of pleasure it provokes or how beneficial it is. But rather, it must be judged according to the important and meaningful questions that it will provoke in the readers as they attempt to find answers of their own.

Chapter 1

Journey

I t was the month of Adonis ² of the year 4367 of the Assyrian calendar (384 B.C.).

Three men, veiled by the dusk, slowly snuck, worried and silent, into a narrow passage near the Byblos³ castle. With cautious steps, they followed the winding road, never changing paths without first making sure they were well covered by the darkness. The void of the surrounding area meant safety.

They were heading toward the shores of Byblos, disguised as fugitives, or as men trying hard to conceal a wrongdoing they had committed. Their abayas⁴ covered them from head to toe, making them resemble invisible ghosts slightly moving, leaving barely-visible shadows on the city walls. All they had to further help their cover was their yearning to begin their journey and the way they conceded to undertake the adventure. A strong wind twisted around them, originating from an endless horizon. They knew this wind was a blessing to their quest.

One of the three men was Prince Ashnar, heir to the throne of Byblos (son of Ehab-Melek, king of Byblos). His closest friend, Kalobay, and Ahinadab, an elderly man with an imposing allure, were Ashnar’s companions. Ahinadab had served the king and his family for a big part of his life.

A few hours before their departure, the three men had gathered at the temple, where they had spent time preparing for the adventure. They remained there waiting for the sun to set and vanish between the sea and the sky. They waited for the light to fade and for the darkness to engulf the heart of the city, the time at which their determination would guide their steps through the narrow alleys.

Ahinadab was the one to identify the way to the wharf. He fully visualized a clear image of each stone on their path, each column of the temple, every turning of the walls and every bending arch. He could have walked the path blindfolded. Yet he preferred to be cautious and proceed slowly and carefully, just as if it were the first time he made his way down this road, thus ignoring his master’s will. Ashnar was in a hurry. Ahinadab’s fear of his master’s plan was also driving him to slow down.

His bowing head revealed his guilt. His bending back expressed his wish to disappear, while his short steps were clearly a sign of old age. His head moving right and left showed his fear of the unknown. To him, the unknown was a plot yet without conspiracy or mischievous behavior—just a strong desire to gain the wider horizon.

Ashnar had no reason to doubt that Ahinadab would keep the secret, and that he would execute—with endless care—all the steps they agreed upon, for Ashnar believed that loyalty was the most prestigious trait of human beings, and that the old man was one of those who held a great amount of fondness for the royal palace. People like him were worthy of being equated to the divine servers of the temple. Ahinadab had spent a lifetime dominated by affection, patience, and devotion at the service of his master, Ehab-Melek. His life had known no betrayal or deception, nor had it witnessed any ingratitude or any sort of hesitation in fulfilling any demand.

On this very day, despite his concerns, Ahinadab submitted to Ashnar’s will. He had to oppress his worries toward Ashnar. He felt that although the beginning of Ashnar’s adventure was known, its end might be impossible to predict.

Ashnar had not said his farewell to anyone at the palace. He had revealed only part of his plan to his friend Kalobay, and together, they waited for nightfall before heading to the shores.

Unlike the old man, Kalobay was fearless, and his heart did not beat to the tune of danger. To Ashnar, he was a friend for all times, constantly present in his life. He knew well when to be unyielding and when to be lenient. He was a man of knowledge, courage, and a good companion. Kalobay was a truthful friend. Ashnar himself couldn’t be more loyal to himself than Kalobay was to him. They shared the power’s fortunate events, the afflictions of their travels, the ampleness of prosperity, and the tightness of narrow, rocky roads.

Kalobay carefully advanced, hiding in the darkness like a slim ghost, following a shadow fully covered by the obscurity. The three men managed to evade the sight of any passersby. None were able to notice anything suspicious. The road they traveled so far was safe, despite its harshness.

As they reached the wharf, an imposing man appeared below a dim light. His skin was darkened by a long life at the seas. He was the ship commander, always true to his world as he sailed, guided by the spume between raging waves and tranquil waters. He lived to convey his passengers to exotic destinies. Ahinadab shook hands with him. Their encounter disclosed that they were acquainted. The old man discreetly pressed coins into the commander’s hand, thus revealing the secret before retreating, saying his farewells, assured that his two companions were now in good hands.

The commander welcomed the two travelers as he tried to hide both his astonishment and alertness. He led them through a thin structure of wood to an isolated cabin on the ship, making sure they were hidden from curious eyes. Ashnar entered the cabin, followed by Kalobay, who carefully locked the door. Ashnar studied his friend’s features, looking for the usual signs of courage. He sensed no concerns, and said to himself, Kalobay is clearly not risking his own life in case we are discovered.

This thought made him more vigilant. He, however, did not want this awareness to affect his determination or his normal behavior. Wasn’t he the prince, after all? Didn’t his position beckon him to control his strength and his courage, leaving not a single spot of weakness through which fear or worry could penetrate his soul? A few moments passed before Kalobay said, How will His Royal Highness learn about your departure? Especially that you have kept the matter secret from His Highness as well as from your mother?

Ashnar assured his friend: Ahinadab will inform His Majesty at the appropriate moment. I asked him to wait long enough for the ship to sail.

Learning of this parting, Kalobay replied in a suddenly distressed voice, "Your parents will be surprised. They will be shocked and disappointed. They will constantly try to answer the questions: Why? When? How? Where to? After that, they will sadly hope and wish … Perhaps he will regain his senses. Maybe he will return tomorrow. If he possibly knew how we feel about this matter, he would hurry back home… They will feel endless desire and longing for you."

Ashnar was aware that his journey was far from being a simple voyage. Between two shores, his eyes were full of hope, his dreams limitless, as he thought of the obscure adventure ahead. As he became overwhelmed with joy, thinking of the unknown that he would soon encounter, he reflected on a colossal pledge to which he had committed himself.

His eyes shone at this thought. It was his pledge that drove him to leave behind his people and his promised throne and to follow a road that would empower him in an entirely different manner. It was a method of ruling that did not bear a resemblance to any other statute imposed by thrones, kings, and grand palaces.

The ship started sailing slowly. Ashnar felt the beginning of a long lasting separation. He closed his eyes as sadness suddenly invaded his heart, and he surrendered to a silent nostalgia. Deep down, he wished he could unite places. He wished he could be paired in a way that would allow him to be in two places at once, to be anywhere in the world without having to leave Byblos—his motherland.

The ship sailed away, forcing him to drop his desires. He left his cabin and started revisiting his memories, stopping for a while at the latest chapter when his name glimmered like gold when he won the athletic games in Byblos and was crowned with the olive wreath. Ashnar’s victory did not come as a surprise. He was brought up in the palace where athletics were always given importance. For years, he witnessed his own body take the shape of athletic heroes’; he gained speed, strength, endurance, and agility.

Being crowned by a particular person pushed him to take the decision to go after what was more important than the games at Adonis: seeking the ultimate. The land of the Greeks and its civilization had always made him inquisitive. The dreams of this knight whose soul embraced the sands of Byblos, molded with the vigor of the adventurous and ever seeking the utmost, headed toward Athens—the metropolis.

He left his cabin and stood by the mast. He held the wet end of its rope and squeezed it. He then looked at his palm and saw the mysterious lines and curves from which he tried to divine his destiny. What am I to expect? he wondered aloud as he rubbed the palm of his hand with his fingers and held the mat with it, as he contemplated Byblos slowly disappearing beyond the horizon.

The