King Ahasuerus sat motionless on his throne, one of his hands covering his face, the other touching an ornate crown on his lap. Before him stood several members of the royal household, shifting uneasily in their places, not daring to look at him.

The king stood abruptly, his left fist clenched and the crown grasped in the other. 

“Me-mu-can!” He shouted, his voice starting as a low growl, and ending as a shout that filled the room. 

The man addressed dropped flat on his face, trembling violently, his voice barely audible. “Y-Yes, My lord King.”

Ahasuerus moved closer to Memucan, shaking the crown at him. “How dare you rob me of — of my queen!” the king’s voice quivered, and he quickly turned his back on the small group assembled. 

Memucan, the king’s wiseman who had suggested the banishment of Vashti, and the confiscation of her royal estate, cowered on the floor, now fearing for his life. 

“Why can I not call her back?” the king boomed once again. “I will call her back!”

Carshena, another wiseman, gasped.“You can’t!” he blurted, then reddening and starting to shake, looked back down and dropped to his knees.

The king swiveled around. “How dare you say I can not! I am the king!” The roar was too much this time and most of the king’s servants rushed out of the room tripping, falling, scurrying, moaning, and practically trampling one another in their desperate attempt to escape the king’s wrath.

 Carshena remained, frozen by terror, on his knees, and Memucan lay prostrate beside him. 

“My lord king,” Memucan rasped. “You know that Persian law can not be changed.” He flinched as he felt the king step closer towards him. “But I have a plan that will give you a queen, a beautiful queen, a most wonder -” 

King Ahasuerus reached down and yanked Memucan to his feet, gripping his collar firmly, and watching the wiseman squirm in anguish. Carshena jumped up to aid his friend then fell back down to his knees under the king’s deathly glare. 

“I will give you one more chance, Memucan, you dog,” the king growled between clenched teeth, “But if you disappoint me…” 

He dropped Memucan, who plummeted painfully, gasping for air. Turning away, he slowly walked toward his throne, seating himself with a pungent air of dangerous superiority.

Supported by Carshena, Memucan shakily found his voice.