Disclaimer: Okay, so this was my "how close can you come to being called a kender" chapter. So, firstly and foremost: any characters you recognize from published DragonLance books are not mine. I do however, own the whole crowning ceremony of the Kingpriest. I'd be happy to let you adapt it, but please ask first. Now, back to what I've taken from other people… What the dragon sings is somewhere between "Shenandoah" and "The River is Wide", but isn't really either one. The humans are singing an English folk tune, not any particular one. The elves sing a fictional choral arrangement of the instrumental piece "October" by Eric Whitacre. The Solamnics play "Gloriosa: A Symphonic Poem for Band," by Yasuhide Itoand the drummer is doing Taiko drumming. I believe that's everything I've stolen for this chapter, so now that I've given away half of it, on with the show! Oh, yes. I nearly forgot - this chapter's title was changed from Lord Byron's original poem, because Evelynn has blonde hair, not black.
Which Waves in Every Golden Tress
After the month's deliberation and mourning period for Loralon, the Cleric's Council had come to a decision, and it was time for the new Kingpriest to be crowned. For the whole month, Evelynn had done her best to avoid the mage, and had succeeded for the most part. Now, speculations about the Kingpriest were flying around the complex, unchecked by the clerics' severe rules regarding gossip.
Rumor had it that the Council had chosen a hot-blooded human for the post, but the Elven Choir had a hard time believing that rumor as truth. Even the usually fair-minded Evelynn felt that only elves had the longevity to judge situations evenly and to do anything far-reaching enough to be worthwhile. However, the Kingpriest was supposed to shed his identity at his initiation, so his background was a closely guarded secret which not even the most persistent of the gossips could discern.
Evelynn shook with excitement as she dressed for the ceremony that morning. It was sure to be an amazing spectacle. The choir was performing one of the most beautiful songs Evelynn had ever heard, and it was said that a group of Solamnic knights were coming to perform as well. It was an absolute scandal among the Elven choir, because the Solamnic group was later on the program than they. Since the last group was the one most remembered, the Elves were always last. Despite this unaccounted for affront, Evelynn was still eager for the exhibition.
Evelynn reached the formal chapel which was already packed with spectators awaiting the ceremony and the actual crowning. All of the races that generally were aligned to some extent with good were there. Naturally, there weren't supposed to be kender, but they had of course snuck in. Evelynn hurried to the front, where she descended a set of stairs artfully hidden next to the altar. The Kingpriest-to-be was already sitting to the side, swathed in so much white cloth that it was impossible to discern any of his features.
Evelynn walked down the stairs on one side of the alter where the elves' warm-up room was ensconced. There was as yet no sign of the Solamnics, but there was another soundproof practice room beneath the other side of the room, so that was not surprising. The excitement in Evelynn built as she warmed up with the rest of the group, feeling her voice meld perfectly with those of people she could not stand in any other situation. Finally, they were ready, and they ascended to watch the beginning of the ceremony from the back of the room, where they would not be disturbing the other spectators with their comings and goings.
The beginning of the ceremony was simply a performance by nearly every good race in Krynn, giving their devotions to the gods of good. Only the kender were exempt from this honor since they were not allowed into the chapel to begin with, but of course several managed to sneak in anyway.
The first performer was a dragon in human shape. Despite the fact that she was shaped as a human, she kept the multiple vocal chords of her race. Her song was beautiful and haunting, put on the program first to give the spectators a sense of awe and tranquility. Despite the fact that it was sung in her native tongue, the dragon's lovely vocalizations made the language barrier obsolete. Everyone listening knew of the dragon's joy in life, and her constant striving to be worthy of the gods of good. Despite some of the scorning snickers she heard from a few of her fellow choir members, Evelynn found the dragon's voice to be as beautiful as an elf's, though in a very different manner.
Next was a human group of performers, some singing and some playing instruments. Though the song was definitely heartfelt, it sounded coarse and bawdy compared to the musics of the higher races. Once again, Evelynn wondered why her choir was stuck in the middle of the program when a group of humans was to be last.
The elves were the next group to perform, however, so Evelynn put all thoughts of the Kingpriest aside. Nothing mattered now, save the music. The Elven song was complex, with many intertwining melodies and countermelodies that made all of the parts hard to follow. The song had an achingly beautiful quality about it that spoke of a great longing. Even those who did not know Elvish well enough to follow it in song could hear that the Elves sang of the utopia of the land of the gods of good. It was a beautiful, yet slightly disquieting song.
By the time the elves had reached the back of the room once more, the rumored Solamnics seemed to have materialized on the stage. Evelynn was shocked at how quickly and efficiently they had gotten on stage, especially considering their equipment. Along with many other instruments, there were several circular drums at least as tall as Evelynn was, hung from an odd contraption that Evelynn could not discern the function of. The reason for the elaborate harness was soon made clear as a knight in full plate armor, as all were, climbed into the contraption and bent nearly backwards on each drum. The knights were then all handed two immense mallets that appeared to be made of steel and were fashioned in the shape of a sword.
"They look rather ridiculous like that, don't they?" Evelynn was just able to stop herself from elbowing the person who had put his hand over her mouth and spoken quietly in her ear. The mage seemed to realize that Evelynn had recognized his voice and was not going to scream, and he took his hand away.
"Why are you back here?" Evelynn hissed in Fistandantilus' general direction. It wouldn't do for her to be caught talking with an evil mage, and she hoped that a human's ears could pick up the quietest frequencies of an elf's voice. To her relief, the Solamnics had begun to play, and despite the song's quiet beginning, it was still loud enough to cover her voice.
"They don't like me much up there. The knights especially would not approve." Despite his teasing tone, Evelynn could hear a hint of something more serious in the mage's voice. The young cleric turned slightly, and noticed that the cowl of Fistandantilus' robe was drawn even further down his face then was normal, shrouding his face in complete darkness.
"Why are they last?" Evelynn ventured to speak a little more loudly as the music took a crescendo that brought the harmonies just shy of dissonance. The humans' music intrigued her with its raw power, intensity and energy, as it revolted her for the same reasons.
"Well, I've heard," Fistandantilus' tone made it clear that he'd heard something by magically eavesdropping. "That the new Kingpriest is a lot more militant than Loralon was. They think that he's going to tighten some of the rules and come down hard on those he deems 'evil.' " By the mage's tone, Evelynn could tell he wasn't very worried. "Likely, the knights are just setting the stage for whatever tripe the newly crowned Kingpriest is going to spew once he's been initiated."
"That's not very nice," Evelynn said archly. "And, it's not polite to speak while they're performing!" She turned back so that she was facing the performers once more. Though the piece was completely instrumental, save for a chant in Solamnic at the beginning, it was clear what the music was saying. The piece was depicting a great battle between the gods of good and their followers, and those of evil. With a violent finish, the first movement was over.
A large knight stepped to the forefront, and it took Evelynn a moment to notice the tiny flute held in his gargantuan hands. Had the tone of the flute not been so pure, so beseeching, she might have laughed at the surprising sight. Evelynn was surprised at how much the rest of the piece moved her, despite its warlike origins. The end was a loud climax of conflicting forces that left the side of Good as the clear winner. As she clapped, Evelynn noticed that Fistandantilus' arms were motionless at his sides, perhaps even clenched in anger. She wondered why he was so upset; it was in his personality to be amused, not angered by Good's attempts to assert their dominance over Evil.
Finally, the celebration before the ceremony was over, and the ceremony was going to begin. Clerics of all of the gods of Good stepped forward, and aided the shrouded Kingpriest-to-be to the front of the room. Galacia and Oren, as the leading clerics of Paladine, were to conduct the ceremony while the other head clerics witnessed and the people watched.
"You have been called to the service of Good. You have been commanded to throw away your former name. You have been charged with the mission to do your best by the people of this holy city. Before the people and before the gods, do you acknowledge these demands?"
As Oren fell silent, the man who would become the Kingpriest took off one of the layers of fabric shrouding his body. "I do so hear and acknowledge."
Galacia began to speak. "You have been called to a position of holiness and power. You have been commanded to relinquish all ties to this earth. You have been charged with the mission to sanctify this holy city in the name of all that is righteous and Good. Before the people and before the gods, do you accept these precepts?"
"I do so hear and accept." Another layer was shed.
"You have been called to be the champion of Right. You have been commanded to throw away all petty thoughts and mortal concerns. You have been charged with the mission to lead the people of this holy city along the path of Goodness. Before the people and before the gods, do you acquiesce to these obligations?"
"I do so hear and acquiesce." The figure was finally taking on the shape of a man, rather than a white blob.
"You have been called to become the most exalted mortal in our land. You have been commanded to be just and fair to all. You have been charged with the mission to dispense the justice of the gods upon this holy city. Before the people and before the gods, do you agree to these tasks?"
"I do so hear and agree."
Now, Galacia and Oren joined hands and spoke together. "You have been called to a position of divine humanity. You have been commanded to remember that you are mortal, and as such, be humble. You have been charged with balancing your humanity and your divinity, being a fair overlord of this holy city while not presuming more power than the gods. Before the people and before the gods, do you consent to these regulations?"
"I do so hear and consent."
With those words, the Kingpriest had been crowned, and he threw back his final layer of white cloth. The five layers of swaddling cloth had been hiding a strong human man, now in a simple white cleric's robe. That was all that even Elven eyes could see of the man, however, because almost as soon as he spoke the final affirmation of his vows, the Kingpriest was enveloped in a blinding white light. Evelynn remembered the soft glow that had surrounded Loralon, and she shuddered. She doubted highly that Loralon's aura was softer because he was older. With a feeling of trepidation, Evelynn wondered what the high clerics had unleashed upon Istar as she watched the Kingpriest address his people.
"People of Krynn! A new Age has dawned. No longer will Evil be tolerated in our blessed city. In the past, we believed that Evil must be appeased by being allowed to exist on this plane. Now, we realize that Evil should not be tolerated, and it shall not, to any extent. A new Age is upon us, an Age of content and prosperity. An Age in which Good will reign!"
Evelynn had to admit; the man was a good public speaker. She seemed to be one of the only ones not completely captivated by the man's stirring speech. She turned slightly, and saw that Fistandantilus was the only other being in the room who was not clapping furiously. Though she hated to agree with anyone whose alliance was so completely opposing hers, Evelynn had to admit that the Kingpriest's speech sounded rather boastful and foolhardy. When Evelynn noticed the Evil mage's ice-cold eyes, she became even more nervous.
A/N: Okay, people. I think its rather pitiful that I had to beg my wonderful beta Valgoruth for the third review. Speaking of, shout-out to Val, and thanks for the awesome beta-work in this chapter and the last one. Anyway, please, please review! Thank you to the two of you who did! Of course, if reviewing is too much trouble, you don't have to and I'll just die of sorrow and neglect over here and you'll never see how it ends… Seriously, it's not that hard. Just press the button and write something with a semblance of intelligence!
Oh, yeah - I also created a blog! Go check it out, it's about science. It's entered as my homepage.