by D. L. Kramer
While Bear set his sword down, Nahtan turned, then sat on the throne. He felt uncomfortable immediately and almost kicked Bear when he chuckled quietly. The robes were exceptionally hot and smelled musty so close to his face. He didn't doubt they were the same robes worn at Tomaz's coronation so many decades ago.
Isak appeared next to him, reading from a scroll in a language Nahtan hadn't heard before. After several minutes, he stopped and rolled the scroll back up, tying it with the silk ribbon fastened at the top. From the looks on the faces of those in the central chamber, no one had understood the language. He made a note to ask Meda about it later.
Isak turned and placed the scroll carefully back on the altar, then picked up the pillow holding the jeweled gold crown. Isak carried the pillow over and held it while Mo'ani and Bear carefully lifted the crown. They slowly set the crown on his head, making sure it was balanced evenly before taking their hands away. Isak once again spoke in the unknown language, then turned to face the audience.
"I would ask those nobles and officers in attendance to swear fealty to their king," he invited. "Should you choose not to, know that the line of Nahtan will view you as an enemy until the day you kneel before him."
Isak stepped back as Mo'ani stepped to the front. He knelt before the throne and swore to uphold Nahtan's laws and decisions and to support any actions of war he might take. Bear followed, then the others. When the last lieutenant had risen from the dais and returned to the pews, Leisl rose from her seat and carried Valry forward. She smiled at Nahtan and handed the child to him then stepped back.
"Would the church now recognize the heir to the throne?" Bear asked Isak, assuming his first duty as Captain of the Guard. As tradition dictated, Valry's protection was his responsibility.
Isak nodded. "The heir is recognized," he said. He looked back at the crowded chamber. "Any who wish to present him or herself to his king may do so now."
Nahtan sighed inwardly when he saw the line start. Knowing he was going to be there for quite some time, he handed Valry back to Leisl and tried to make himself comfortable. He started by pushing the crown robes off his shoulders.
Epilogue - "It's been taken care of"
Nahtan paced back and forth in front of the window. Behind him, Valry played with a wooden spoon, banging it against a small pot.
"How can you stand that racket?" Bear asked, dropping into a seat by the large table.
"I just don't pay attention to it," Nahtan answered, pausing to smile at Valry. The girl smiled back at him and continued her banging.
"They're waiting for you," Bear said after a couple of minutes.
"I know." Nahtan stopped pacing and picked up his sword. "I'm still not happy with it."
Bear stood up and offered Valry his hand. She took it with both of hers and he swung her up onto his back, eliciting a squeal and giggles.
Nahtan took the lead out the door as they walked back to the large office where Mo'ani and the others waited. Nahtan had left the room while the others debated, and that had been nearly two hours ago. Rial wanted to go after the garrison in the southern lands immediately, but Nahtan had reservations about sending him alone. If anyone had the capacity to be a warlord, it was the youthful lord of Valin Hold. Unfortunately, the casualties had been heavy for all his allies, so he couldn't decide who should go along to keep an eye on Rial.
As they approached the office, the Mo'ani standing guard outside opened the door for them. Everyone sat around the large central table, maps of the southern lands and Valin Hold spread out in the center.
"I assume you've settled down somewhat?" Mo'ani asked Nahtan.
"I couldn't think with everyone arguing," Nahtan said. He paused by the table while Bear dropped Valry into a seat and took his own. "We don't have the capacity to transport even one army by the river," he started, then held up a hand to stop Rial's argument. "Yes, the Valin armies are going, but let's remember that three hundred of your army are from Takis. Brijade lost three quarters of her forces in the battle on Devayne Field, I won't endanger the rest of her army. Besides, those men and women have been away from their families and homes long enough. If you two want to take the time to rotate soldiers, then work it out, but I'm sending armies south this week."
He turned to Lord and Lady Corydon. "You said you still had close to eight hundred?"
"Probably closer to seven hundred if you don't count the wounded," Sevanha replied. Her shoulder and arm were still heavily bandaged and secured to her side, limiting her use of it. The healers had all said it was going to be many months before she was would regain use of her arm again .
"All right," Nahtan did some quick figuring in his head. "With Rial and a hundred and fifty of his Mo'ani, I'd like to send along four hundred from Corydon with one of you to lead them." He turned to Lord Bavol. "I'd really like a thousand men, if you can come up with another four hundred and fifty for me, I'd appreciate it."
"Tonek can lead them," Lord Bavol nodded. "Neither Evaine nor I should make that trip right now."
Nahtan nodded. "Then they can leave this week. Have the Mo'ani from Bavol join with those from Corydon at the farm road. When they reach Valin, you can fight it out with Rial about using the river."
"I can be ready to go long before then," Rial said, his eyes dark as he watched Nahtan. "With the Mo'ani from Valin and Lady Takis' men there," he paused to motion to Brijade with his head. "We can have them at the garrison within weeks of my return if we use the river."
"Nahtan's right," Brijade argued. "Those Mo'ani from Takis need to get back to their families. I'm not going to risk an uprising in my hold just because you want to cut more throats."
"I'm sure you would have had an uprising before now," Rial shot back.
Brijade started to stand, but Bear grabbed her wrist and pulled her back to her seat.
"We don't really want him to leave again," Bear pointed out, motioning to Nahtan.
Nahtan sighed and looked at Mo'ani.
"As long as everyone agrees on whose armies are going south and when, I'm adjourning this meeting," Nahtan said. Picking up Valry, he turned and left the room. Rial and Brijade had seemed to get along while planning the battles while at Herridon Hold, but Nahtan had to remind himself that then they only had one objective--to put him on the throne. Now that there was some slack, their personalities could clash freely.
"Care to go to the library?" Nahtan asked Valry.
Valry giggled and nodded her head. She started rambling, and Nahtan could only catch a few recognizable words. She, however, seemed convinced she was carrying on a full conversation with him.
The library doors swung open easily and Nahtan set Valry down on the floor inside the room. Meda looked up from the scroll she was reading as the doors swung shut.
"You look like you're about to declare war again," she noted, setting the scroll aside. When Valry approached her, she picked the girl up to sit on her lap.
"I'm about to force a peace treaty down Brijade's and Rial's throats," Nahtan leaned against the lectern. "Things were so much simpler when I had no idea who I was."
Meda smiled. "But it was so frustrating for those of us who did know," she commented. "I can't tell you how many times I wanted to turn you and point you in the right direction."
"So why didn't you?" Nahtan asked, meeting her eyes.
"Because you had to find it for yourself," Meda answered. "Every mortal does."
Nahtan nodded, understanding. "Of course, if you had, I probably would have lost Rena sooner."
"She--misses you very much," Meda's voice was hesitant. "If you visit the altar to Jensina in the Grand Cathedral, you might be able to feel her."
"Speaking of the Grand Cathedral," Nahtan paused. "I meant to ask you what language Isak was reading and speaking."
"The language of the gods," Meda answered. "It's the same language of Jensina's symbols--the same language embroidered on your cloak."
"I guess that explains why no else understood it," Nahtan said.
"Mo'ani understands it," Meda assured him. "As does Yenene."
"So what did Isak say?"
"He reaffirmed that you are the son of Jensina in mortal form and that by taking the crown and throne, you've accepted the destiny Halona wrote for you. Your children are also to be considered descended from Jensina and so long as your bloodline holds the throne of Herridon, Jensina will bless the city."
Nahtan stopped as something clicked in his mind. "If defeating the Archbishop was my destiny, and it's finished, shouldn't I be at the end of my life?"
Meda smiled again. "Actually, I'm sure you figured out that you were there to confront Zared in one of his mortal forms." Nahtan nodded and she continued. "Zared is a god, just because that body of his is dead, doesn't mean he's finished with the mortals yet. I suspect he'll still cultivate followers, just not from a physical form."
"I don't understand," Nahtan shook his head. "If that's true, then I won't ever die because some aspect of his newfound power with the mortals will always be here."
Meda's eyes looked troubled for a moment. "No, you'll grow old and die," she said after a moment. "I think Halona has more written in your destiny than anyone knows yet."
Nahtan turned when the library door opened.
"The merchant Calan says he'd like to talk with you," Bear said to Nahtan, his tone official. "He was the one who talked to us at the camp."
Nahtan nodded to his friend as Calan appeared in the doorway.
"What brings you here?" Nahtan asked. "I thought you'd be busy with all the celebrating that's been going on."
Calan dusted some lint off one of his sleeves. "You really ought to have this place cleaned," he noted. "And business has definitely picked up in the last couple of weeks, thank you." He still wore the gold-hilted sword on his hip, and Nahtan briefly wondered if there weren't some law about wearing arms in the presence of a king when you weren't a member of the king's army or personal guard. There was far more to this than he really wanted to deal with.
"What did you need?" Nahtan asked.
"Several nights ago, several of us realized that you have yet to present a coat of arms," Calan pointed out. "You can't be a proper king without one."
Nahtan shrugged. "I told you my father was a smith," he reminded. "Common folk don't have a coat of arms."
"That's why we took it upon ourselves to come up with one for you," Bear said. "You'd go your entire life without using one if you had anything to do with it, and it turns out Calan here has a basic understanding of how to make one."
As Bear spoke, Calan pulled a folded piece of cloth from his pouch and handed it to Nahtan. "We talked to your captain here to find out about your history. An acquaintance of mine stitched it for you."
Nahtan accepted the cloth and raised an eyebrow at Bear. "Does your father know you were in a tavern?" he asked.
Bear smiled. "He's the one that started the whole discussion," he replied.
Nahtan sighed and shook his head, then unfolded the red cloth. In stitches so small he could barely make them out, two lions stood on their hind feet and bared their teeth and claws as they faced each other. Between them was a crossed axe and two handed longsword. In the lower center was Jensina's symbol for "witness".
Nahtan was surprised at the emotion the coat of arms brought up in him. The things that had made him what he was were all represented. Zared and the Wardsman fighting, Alsynder's axe that had taken the life of both lions, the symbol that told all what he was, and the sword that had enabled him to take his destiny.
"It looks like you've covered it all," he said, looking back up at Calan and Bear. He didn't try to hide the emotion in his voice. "Now if you can recommend a good goldsmith, I'll gladly accept it on a ring," he paused. "And a pendant for my daughter." He supposed he'd have to get used to wear a signet ring, besides everything else.
Calan smiled. "It's been taken care of," he assured Nahtan. "They should be ready the first of the month. I hope you don't mind my taking the liberty--"
Nahtan shook his head, studying Calan for a moment. This merchant was proving to be something of a mystery. "If you think it's going to give you advantages the other merchants don't have, forget it," he said evenly.
Calan looked insulted, but his eyes shone. "Would I dare try such maneuvering?" he asked.
"I'm just warning you," Nahtan pointed out. He offered the cloth to Meda and she examined it closely.
"Very nice," she said, handing it back to Nahtan, then pausing to look at Bear. "Though I shudder at the thought of you becoming friends with a tavern owner."
Bear smiled and offered his hand to Valry. She took it and he lifted her off Meda's lap, up and over the lectern and onto his back.
"Don't worry," Bear assured her. "I can't corrupt him," he motioned to Nahtan. "I've been trying for ten years now." He glanced over his shoulder at Valry. "I might stand a chance with this one, though." Reaching behind him, he poked her, making her giggle and squeal as she held onto him, squirming to try to get out of his reach.
Nahtan looked over Bear's shoulder when the library door opened again. Adie remained in the hallway, her eyes haunted as she looked from Nahtan to Bear and Calan, then back to Nahtan.
"Can I talk with you for a moment?" she asked, her voice quiet.
Nahtan nodded while Bear and Calan moved out of his way. He pulled the library door closed behind him and fell in step with Adie as she began walking. Nahtan saw she was holding something in her hands but he couldn't see what. When they reached one of the upper studies, she opened the door and stepped inside, closing it behind them.
"I think--I need to leave for a while," Adie began, meeting his eyes. "It's just been so hard for me here."
Nahtan nodded. "I understand," he said. Adie had accepted his offer to live with them in the castle, but even then days went by without anyone seeing her. He suspected she was still spending most of her time up by Kile's grave.
Adie was silent for a moment, her hands shifting over what she held. She turned and walked to the window and Nahtan followed her.
"It could be a beautiful city," she commented, looking down on the grounds that surrounded the castle. People were coming and going, some quickly and some taking their time. Nahtan was sure more than a few were hoping he'd notice and it would earn them some sort of benefit for being reliable.
"I'm not sure any city could be beautiful," Nahtan returned. "But I've always been partial to forests myself." He paused for a moment. "I wonder if Mo'ani would trade me?"
Adie gave him a sideways look. "Did you get hit on the head in that last fight and we just didn't notice it?"
Nahtan smiled. "I must have," he sighed. "I let them make me king."
"I don't think you're doing that badly," Adie commented. "But I don't exactly have a good frame of reference."
"No one but Mo'ani does," Nahtan pointed out. "I just figure as long as he doesn't start smacking me I'm not making too many mistakes."
"That's probably the best way to measure yourself," she agreed. Adie fell silent for a moment, looking down at her hands. "Paki?" she asked quietly.
Nahtan turned to look at her. It seemed like forever since he'd heard that name. "What?"
She turned and took his hand, pressing something into it. "Keep this," she asked.
Nahtan recognized Kile's Dwellers' flute immediately. The silver instrument was cold against his palm. He swallowed. "For what?" he asked.
"For Kile." Adie turned to face him. "He asked you to send a message to his cousin?"
Nahtan nodded and took Kile's signet ring from his pouch. He handed it to Adie when she held out her hand. There was no need for him to tell her what the message was; the ring already spoke it.
"I'll take it," she offered. "I always wanted to see Olorun."
"Do you know where it is?"
Adie slowly shook her head. "Not exactly," she answered. "But Kiril does, and he offered to show me the way."
Nahtan nodded slowly. He would miss Adie and wondered if
she would come back. He knew she mourned Kile as deeply as he mourned Rena.
"Be careful," he said, pulling her into his arms. "I've lost too many people." He honestly didn't know what he'd do if he lost her. She had become one of the people in his life he counted on to always be there whenever he needed a friend, advice or just an honest opinion.
"I will be." She returned his embrace. "I promised Evaine I'd be back to see her baby before it was old enough to pick up a sword." She smiled faintly. "Besides, I'm taking Nicho and I can't keep him away for too long. Jaron wants to breed him in the next couple of years."
Nahtan took her hand and kissed it. "I'll miss you," he said. "But I understand why you have to go." He did understand, and he hoped that maybe seeing Olorun and meeting Kile's cousin would help her heal.
Adie smiled faintly. "I knew you would," she replied. "Of everyone here, I knew you would."
The story continues in:
Edgewind - Book 4 Chronicles of Nahtan
Olorun - Book 5 Chronicles of Nahtan
Basiyr - Book 6 Chronicles of Nahtan
Herridon - Book 7 Chronicles of Nahtan