Visitors had been pouring into Ravan from all over the world—at least, from all over the eastern half of the world. But as Shammara looked over the lists of official attendees, she grew worried. She would normally have expected other kings to travel to Ravan to attend such an event, for Ravan was considered a pivotal point in the political geography of Parsina. Many rulers took the opportunity of an occasion like this to meet unofficially with their fellow potentates and talk about problems of mutual concern. Many were the treaties negotiated, alliances formed, and marriages arranged at such neutral gatherings. Early signs had indicated that Haroun’s coronation would be no exception to this rule, and Shammara had been looking forward to it as a chance to solidify some alliances of her own.
