Chapter thirty-seven

After many moons of cooperation, Chieth, Shiro and Len adapted to life in Valdemar with remarkable speed and were even looking at the possibility of marrying a few of the local craftsmen's daughters. They learned the language, slowly but surely; and those Valdemarans who were familiar with Kale'da'in learned theirs. After much discussion and research, it turned out that this population descended from the few fragments of Urtho's army that had not escaped by Gate during the Cataclysm. It had always been the belief that no one had survived; but their ancestors had made an escape by foot and were far enough away that some of them survived the blast. They had continued on their trek through the newly-mangled Pelegiris through sheer determination and courage, and settled on the sea when they could go no further. They had killed or absorbed any surrounding population by assassinating their leaders, as they began to do in desperation for goods and inability to speak with them, and taking over the surviving population. What had begun in desperation, continued in tradition, and thus they became a population that developed enormous skill in textiles and building, but maintained truly barbaric means of 'diplomacy'. But they were learning, finally.

Once they established regular trade and minimal trust, they stopped worrying about assassination attempts; although it would be many more moons before they taught the Ur'nomi – that was the name of their tribe – how to trigger their end of the Permanent Gate. They also proved to be quick learners in the art of diplomacy; they got the better side of trade negotiations as often as Valdemar did. They were fair, though; never tried to get something for nothing. Elspeth was beginning to consider asking them to teach her their mage techniques; Jeri was considering inviting one of them to become a teacher in the collegium, and was planning to do just that during their next transaction. Elspeth was taking a bit more time; she didn't want to reveal all of their weaknesses, and their lack of familiarity with their magic style was quite a weakness in her mind. They had already shown that their best combat mages could not effectively counter the Ur'nomi mages; Taia had needed to use physical methods to end that battle, and Whitestar had barely held her ground. They had defended themselves against their swordfighting techniques, with difficulty, but successfully; Elspeth was not ready to admit to them that a mage attack would likely be successful.

The time had come for the ceremony in which Selenay would officially hand the crown over to Kris. There were mixed feelings all around Haven, and indeed all around Valdemar and even amongst their allies, about this; everyone loved Selenay. She had been a wise and much-loved Queen, and she had been their Queen for as long as most of them could remember. There were very few left old enough to remember Sendar, and they were getting fewer every day. Selenay had been through a lot herself, and had seen her nation through the end of the Tedrel wars, two wars against Ancar, one against the mage who tried to take over for Ma'ar so many years past; she had faced the threat of the Eastern Empire, and while there were a select few who knew exactly how that threat had been dealt with, they knew it had. She had seen them through the Mage Storms and through the alliance with Karse, their long-time enemy, and the recent assassination attempts had only increased their affection for her. The people liked Kris, and knew he would follow in his mother's footsteps; but they were big footsteps to follow in, and everyone knew that. Most of all Kris himself.

They decided to hold the ceremony on Midsummer's Day. There would be more people in Haven during the Festival to see it, which would be important for them; also, the city would already be decorated and in festival mood, with classes canceled and the populace ready for a celebration. It would save the nobility the trouble of making a separate trip into Haven, and therefore the businesses of Haven the challenge of keeping up; it would also allow more of the commoners, already in the city to sell their goods and enjoy the Festival, a chance to be a part of the fun. And so the hertasi of Haven got started arranging the ceremony, and the cooks got started planning the menu, and Whitestar built a Permanent Gate to k'Treva – much to F'resong's consternation, as he had not yet had the chance to learn the trick – so that their Tale'edras friends could attend more easily. Taia invited her sisters, and was surprised when they agreed to attend. An'desha came as well, as he had known Selenay before Taia did; Taia made sure to stay clear of him, but she was not upset at his presence.

Haven was quite the shock for Kiri and Andrien, much more for Bluefeather and Hawkwind. Greyhawk took it in stride; as a scout, he didn't live in a city, but he had seen them. From a distance, to be sure, but he was not easily shaken. Firesongwas there, in his most outrageous costume, as much a gift to his friend Selenay as a means to counteract the embarrassment he felt that his cousin had made the Permanent Gate before he knew how. He was certain, however, to rectify that problem immediately upon his arrival; Whitestar had grown up with him, and so was prepared for that inevitability and didn't overly tease him for his ignorance. Firesong promptly made plans to make Permanent Gates between all the Tale'edras Vales. He brought back with him Muriel, the Herald-Mage trainee Taia had sent him when she left for the Empire. She was now fully trained, and confident in her abilities; she no longer posed a threat to accidently level a city if someone startled her. She would begin her field circuit immediately following the ceremony and be granted her Whites at the end of that journey.

The cereomony was held in the evening, so that it was cool; but also because it was a full moon and the light of that moon would accentuate the beauty of the blue and white mage lights lighting up Companion's Field. There was no hall in the Palace large enough to accommodate the number of people wishing to attend Kris' coronation, so the Companions had kindly offered the use of their field, as they did so frequently for royal weddings and other ceremonies of high importance and attendance. Also, it meant they were able to attend; so their motives were not entirely altruistic. There were decorated tables set up on the sides of the field with delicious snacks, as well as pigs and beef shanks roasting at various intervals; even Whitestar had contributed to the food choices with roast pheasants, roasted with the cabbage-leaf presentation she had first tried in the Empire. The Tale'edras had brought with them a contingent of tervardi to sing and their messenger birds were flying around the air with tiny lights strapped to their legs. The whole field was alive and Taia had never seen anything quite so beautiful in her life.

All the Heralds were wearing their dress whites, and the Companions were wearing their formal tack. The Guard was wearing their full dress uniforms, and so was Taia; Whitestar and the Tale'edras wore their most elaborately beautiful costumes, in shades of blue and white and silver to honor Valdemar. They had raised a platform at the edge of the forest, and the Council members were seated in a row at the back of it. Selenay sat in her formal Whites in front of them, and to her left was Kris in his brand new formal Whites. Alaran and Caryo were on either end of the platform, in their formal tack as well as being crowned with flowers and silver bells. It was quite the production.

"I have been honored to have been your Queen," said Selenay to start the ceremony. "We have been through a lot together, and I have done my best to lead you through it and work together to build a stronger and brighter future for our children."

A cheer went up through the crowd; the people were proud of their Queen.

"The time has come to hand over the reins of power to my son, Kris, in whom I have full confidence he will lead you and work with you as I have done."

Kris stood, and walked to the front of the platform.

"Kris, my son, do you accept the burden and responsibility of this crown? Will you lead the people of Valdemar in the spirit of its founders, to the best of your ability, with all of her citizens safety and prosperity at the heart of your rule? Will you make your decisions with the concerns of all her citizens in the forefront of your mind?"

"I do, and I will," Kris said simply. Selenay placed the crown on her son's head; it was finished.

"I now pronounce Kris to be your King," said Selenay.

A cheer went through the crowd again.

"As your King, I promise to protect and lead the people of Valdemar in safety and in war, should it come. I promise to consider your prosperity and security before my own. I promise to be fair in my rulings and generous with our riches. And with that promise in mind, I further promise to focus always on what is most important – enjoying our lives. Now eat, drink, and celebrate! The party has begun!"

Everyone laughed. It was a fitting way to begin a reign.