Chapter 5
The ceremony was to start with a couple of rituals and then Tal's pledge and finally ending with the celebration feast. The traditional ceremony would have been much different to the one that would be done tonight. Since the fall of the old regime most of the old rituals changed or perished with the old regime. As Tal sat in the throne the inauguration began.
First the rituals began. The Icecarls' ambassador, Yukin, performed the prayer to Astyer to bind Tal to his duty as king. Most Chosen old and new had heard the prayer before. It was spell that was once used to bind shadows to make them slaves to the Chosen. Needless to say that everyone present was shocked that an Icecarl knew the chant. When that was over Tal felt a strange feeling rise up inside. He was surprised to feel it because it was so familiar and yet so foreign. Tal felt that his senses were acutely tuned to the environment around him.
He saw everyone in a different light and somehow felt his friends from his foes. Suddenly he heard a voice speaking to him.
"Sire..are you alright?"
Tal turned to see who was speaking to him. It was Yukin. Tal then looked out at the audience around him and seeing their concerned looks brought him back to reality.
"Tal.pull yourself together, man." he mentally berated himself.
"Proceed." Tal spoke softly.
After his momentary lapse of concentration, Tal was to recite his pledge to the multitude of people who came. This included the Chosen Proper, Icecarls, and the Chosen.
"I, Tal Graile-Rerem, pledge not only to be your Emperor but your friend. I accept my office with honor and promise to uphold any promises made to anyone, Icecarl, Chosen, Chosen Proper and Freefolk. If under any circumstances that I cannot fulfill my duty as Emperor, the power then falls to the light and dark viziers whom I will appoint after my inauguration." Tal took a deep breath and continued, ".To everyone present here today."
Immediately the hall erupted into a frenzy of whispers. Tal scanned the room and saw much of the noise coming from the Chosen Proper. Ebbit, who had quietly smiled to himself cleared his throat loud enough to bring the hall back to the ceremony.
Tal smiled unable to control the relief he felt when Ebbit used his natural aura of authority. When it got quiet again it was time for the Chosen's binding and acceptance ritual. The seven keystone holders of each order recited the ritual pledge of honor and duty, starting with the red keystone holder and progressing through the other orders.
"Do you Tal Graile-Rerem pledge to honor the duties of a strong leader?" asked the red keystone holder Lokar.
"I do." came Tal's reply.
"Then I, Lokar red keystone holder, as representative for the red tower pledge my allegiance to you." said Lokar with a smile.
The ceremony became faster after the first pledge, and when it ended each keystone holder offered their light and Tal's sunstone answered with a flash of violet light then the light washed over Tal and bathed him in all its glory. When this was done the crowd chanted.
"Long live King Tal!"
Tal felt everyone's love and support and felt a little easier about being Emperor and as first act as king he invited everyone to the Feasting hall for a celebration to remember. At that point everyone had moved swiftly out of the hall towards the Feasting Hall.
"Oh dark take it!" Tal swore.
"What is it?" asked one of the guards.
"I forgot to announce the names of my Viziers," answered Tal.
"Would you like me to bring everyone back into the hall, sire?" asked the guard who Tal knew to be Ethar's sister, Sathar.
Tal thought and he concluded that it was going to be embarrassing if he ordered everyone back to the hall to correct a mistake.
"No Sathar, I think I'll tell them when they want to hear it but for now let's enjoy the party." said Tal.
Sathar nodded and left to round up her men who were trying to get people back into the hall. Tal sighed and sat in the throne a little while longer thinking about the same thing he thought a hundred times a day.
"Will I be a good Emperor?"
The Feasting hall was large. It could fit the host of people and more. The hall had already been set by underfolk who refused the offer to freedom and worked as servants. In the middle of the hall there was a dance area and in the corner there was a host of musicians Icecarl and Chosen alike.
Food and drink were set and the aromas of it were in the air along with the music. All guests were in the hall and the party was in full swing by the time Tal had got there. He made his way towards the front of the hall to his table where Yukin and various other important representatives were eating.
As he made his way to the table many who were dancing conveyed their congratulations to him as he passed. People Tal knew and people he didn't alike congratulated and patted him on his back as he passed. A few minutes later he arrived at the table and was greeted by the various representatives. As he sat at his seat he noticed the seat next to him was empty. Yukin followed his gaze.
"The castle/clan ambassador will be arriving soon." Yukin informed.
Tal had never heard of that office and was about to ask who the ambassador was when he saw someone come in the door. Tal held his breath and could swear that he felt time stop as Milla walked through the door.
The ceremony was to start with a couple of rituals and then Tal's pledge and finally ending with the celebration feast. The traditional ceremony would have been much different to the one that would be done tonight. Since the fall of the old regime most of the old rituals changed or perished with the old regime. As Tal sat in the throne the inauguration began.
First the rituals began. The Icecarls' ambassador, Yukin, performed the prayer to Astyer to bind Tal to his duty as king. Most Chosen old and new had heard the prayer before. It was spell that was once used to bind shadows to make them slaves to the Chosen. Needless to say that everyone present was shocked that an Icecarl knew the chant. When that was over Tal felt a strange feeling rise up inside. He was surprised to feel it because it was so familiar and yet so foreign. Tal felt that his senses were acutely tuned to the environment around him.
He saw everyone in a different light and somehow felt his friends from his foes. Suddenly he heard a voice speaking to him.
"Sire..are you alright?"
Tal turned to see who was speaking to him. It was Yukin. Tal then looked out at the audience around him and seeing their concerned looks brought him back to reality.
"Tal.pull yourself together, man." he mentally berated himself.
"Proceed." Tal spoke softly.
After his momentary lapse of concentration, Tal was to recite his pledge to the multitude of people who came. This included the Chosen Proper, Icecarls, and the Chosen.
"I, Tal Graile-Rerem, pledge not only to be your Emperor but your friend. I accept my office with honor and promise to uphold any promises made to anyone, Icecarl, Chosen, Chosen Proper and Freefolk. If under any circumstances that I cannot fulfill my duty as Emperor, the power then falls to the light and dark viziers whom I will appoint after my inauguration." Tal took a deep breath and continued, ".To everyone present here today."
Immediately the hall erupted into a frenzy of whispers. Tal scanned the room and saw much of the noise coming from the Chosen Proper. Ebbit, who had quietly smiled to himself cleared his throat loud enough to bring the hall back to the ceremony.
Tal smiled unable to control the relief he felt when Ebbit used his natural aura of authority. When it got quiet again it was time for the Chosen's binding and acceptance ritual. The seven keystone holders of each order recited the ritual pledge of honor and duty, starting with the red keystone holder and progressing through the other orders.
"Do you Tal Graile-Rerem pledge to honor the duties of a strong leader?" asked the red keystone holder Lokar.
"I do." came Tal's reply.
"Then I, Lokar red keystone holder, as representative for the red tower pledge my allegiance to you." said Lokar with a smile.
The ceremony became faster after the first pledge, and when it ended each keystone holder offered their light and Tal's sunstone answered with a flash of violet light then the light washed over Tal and bathed him in all its glory. When this was done the crowd chanted.
"Long live King Tal!"
Tal felt everyone's love and support and felt a little easier about being Emperor and as first act as king he invited everyone to the Feasting hall for a celebration to remember. At that point everyone had moved swiftly out of the hall towards the Feasting Hall.
"Oh dark take it!" Tal swore.
"What is it?" asked one of the guards.
"I forgot to announce the names of my Viziers," answered Tal.
"Would you like me to bring everyone back into the hall, sire?" asked the guard who Tal knew to be Ethar's sister, Sathar.
Tal thought and he concluded that it was going to be embarrassing if he ordered everyone back to the hall to correct a mistake.
"No Sathar, I think I'll tell them when they want to hear it but for now let's enjoy the party." said Tal.
Sathar nodded and left to round up her men who were trying to get people back into the hall. Tal sighed and sat in the throne a little while longer thinking about the same thing he thought a hundred times a day.
"Will I be a good Emperor?"
The Feasting hall was large. It could fit the host of people and more. The hall had already been set by underfolk who refused the offer to freedom and worked as servants. In the middle of the hall there was a dance area and in the corner there was a host of musicians Icecarl and Chosen alike.
Food and drink were set and the aromas of it were in the air along with the music. All guests were in the hall and the party was in full swing by the time Tal had got there. He made his way towards the front of the hall to his table where Yukin and various other important representatives were eating.
As he made his way to the table many who were dancing conveyed their congratulations to him as he passed. People Tal knew and people he didn't alike congratulated and patted him on his back as he passed. A few minutes later he arrived at the table and was greeted by the various representatives. As he sat at his seat he noticed the seat next to him was empty. Yukin followed his gaze.
"The castle/clan ambassador will be arriving soon." Yukin informed.
Tal had never heard of that office and was about to ask who the ambassador was when he saw someone come in the door. Tal held his breath and could swear that he felt time stop as Milla walked through the door.