Hanniver nodded.
‘He also,’ Shayne added, ‘expressed an interest in a specialised field, one which I can teach him. What he calls the path of the Shingah.’
Dun’karter laughed and smiled broadly. ‘Always the dreamer, that one, and that is why I like him so much.’ Níurthan directed his attention to Shayne, his head slightly tilted in thought though he remained silent. The old lionman continued. ‘I believe we have no reason to deny this request to him, so long as he is to maintain his duties. Also to report back after his term is up to further evaluate his position.’ The Earthmen agreed.
‘We should take our places,’ Day’kídan indicated the room which now held a small crowd; most of which were watching them. The other two UeShádarn’s agreed and rose from their seats. ‘Stand where you please Afra’hama. We will talk some more.’ The three then went to the head of the room. The people present arranged themselves to make an aisle and there they waited patiently.
Kíe came up the steps, with his friend Tayos’darka following close behind. He froze when he saw the ensemble of people lined up to the three masters. Kíe’s expression turned from his normal grin to a flat and serious look. His eyes searched the room, until they fell upon the small group standing by the window. The High Captain beamed with joy. Kíe shifted his attention to the two Earthmen; his expression softened a moment as he laid eyes upon Shayne.
‘Come forward child,’ Dun’karter gestured with one of his arms stretched out. Kíe slowly walked up the aisle of people and took the two steps that rose to the platform where the grandmasters stood.
‘From witness reports of great Ta’Orian and Fa’Orians; by the testament of your teachers; the recommendations of the villages you served and the words and events concerning the Afra’hama. It is time, bearer of the ancient cub name of Kíe, you were given your full name.
‘To Kíe: who sang songs to the star Ta’Orians, and taught stories to children, to bravery of the Wayel-Éaa where he committed to passing through the silence, and the honour you gained from the slaying of a dikean-wolf; and to the bridge that was forged, to the finder of those who possess more than they seem and the loyalty he gives to his friends. Discretion is your friend and joy your companion. You have climbed mountains and sought adventure as if you were one of the true children of Tain. May your mane grow long and you forever follow the path of Keean. We your teachers have chosen your name; may you wear it with pride,’ Kíe knelt in front of the three masters,
Dunkarter raised both his arms and said, ‘From this day forth you will no longer carry your cub name. You leave today with two names, for great are your actions and deeds that one name would not sit. So we name you Kíe’arathorne: the one who sees light and also Kíe’athraden: the wise seer.’ Kíe rose to his feet and faced the onlookers. The small crowd then cheered, filling the room with raised voices and shouts and as he passed through them they all reached out to grasp his shoulder and slap his back. The crowd talked excitedly amongst themselves, though it was not uncommon for some to have their given name changed during their lives it was almost unheard of to be given two names at the same time.
Níurthan turned to both humans as the praised continued. His soft voice slightly difficult to hear over the rumble of the scholars, ‘You must never call him by his child name,’ he informed the two. ‘It would be considered an insult. From now on he has a new name, use it,’ Hanniver acknowledged the monk with a nod. The journeyman made his way through to the Earthmen. He had an impossibly large grin upon his lionish face. He grasped Shayne in friendship.
‘Which name do we call you? Or does it not matter?’ Shayne inquired.
‘I believe it would take many years for me to become truly wise,’ the young lionman informed, ‘and I do not wish to be serious and without humour yet so you can call me Kíe’arathorne.’
‘You are to be commended,’ Níurthan addressed the journeyman, ‘but do not underestimate the power of light; for wisdom is nothing if held in the hand of a bitter heart. Your name bears a great weight, both names. I prey to the Kéaran that you will live forever by them.’ Kíe’arathorne bowed his head formally to the monk, his eyes dancing in the praise given.
The next hour the small group talked openly. Namings typically occurred in group ceremonies, with the afternoon spent feasting. The private naming was both an honour and also due to Kíe’s temporary visit. Celebrations would not be as grand, but that would not stop them from having a good time.
‘They will probably be here late into the night,’ Níurthan commented, ‘and others will come, I suggest you put the cloaks on again.’
‘That’s fine with us,’ Hanniver said. ‘We should probably get to work converting our proposition.’ The Earthmen then went to the door and collected their cloaks, wrapping them once again around themselves. Some of the natives watched; a knowing smile printed on their faces. Níurthan collected the two scribes, who were not too pleased to leave behind the festive atmosphere and they made their way down the many flights of stairs; often passing other academics who were making their way up after hearing rumour of the naming.
When they were out in the daylight Shayne raised his head to allow the warm sunshine fall upon his face. The ground was still damp but patches of dry spots were scattered along the road as it warmed and evaporated with the sun’s touch.
Shayne broke the silence, ‘What is the difference between a student of the teaching halls and a student of the Kerwin?’ Níurthan briefly glanced at Shayne; his strange eyes glinted in the sun, but it was too difficult to see them behind the mask. He thought they were blue but he could not tell.
‘The Kerwin are also warriors,’ the monk informed. ‘They spend their entire lives learning the wizards’ path, along with the skills of war and weapons.’
‘Are they wizards?’
‘No,’ the monk shook his head; he did not often gesture, so the faint movements he did make had more impact. ‘They train in the ways of the wizards, but they do not hold the power.’ They walked past the monks’ monastery. The structure was a stark contrast to the guild buildings around it, it was plain and simple, designed for its singular purpose to recruit and train. It looked abandoned except for the occasional movement to and from and the sounds of fighting instruction from behind.
‘What do they do outside of learning?’ Shayne asked.
‘We are sent all over the lands, if a nation requests our services then someone is sent.’ Níurthan glanced briefly at him then his eyes turned to the Brigadier. ‘Slouch over more, you look too tall.’ Hanniver instantly complied. The monk then continued to look ahead as they passed the statue and the gates, turning right on the boulevard towards the palace.
‘What kind of services?’
‘Whatever is asked for and we deem as an acceptable request,’ Níurthan replied without emphasising anything. Shayne imagined that some of those requests were not very pleasant.
‘Do you often leave the country?’
‘I do not leave Kérith-Árim,’ the monk simply said and the two remained quiet for the rest of the walk. Upon entering the palace Níurthan gave his name as well as those of the two scribe scholars who accompanied them. They were admitted without trouble.
Red Rocket was overjoyed when Hanniver returned; jumping up and licking him. He scratched the striped back vigorously, causing her to thump a back leg. Hanniver, the droid and the two scholars went to another room, where they began the long progress of converting the books. Hanniver gave each of them an earpiece and the droid split the content into two and instructed them on what to expect. They were distracted at first by the strangeness of the technology along with the perfectly cut paper and the strange pens the sky Ta’Orians provided but they soon fell into a professional manner and started scribbling madly while the robot dictated. It would have been easier to have them write on an electronic tablet, but Hanniver decided this way would be more comfortable for the natives.
Shayne returned their robes to the monk. They both made their
way through the throne room. Shayne looked up at the tower, which he could see through the glass top of the dome.
‘Why is the tower forbidden?’
‘It is for those of magic. It was their domain and those of us who hold no magic have no right to be there.’
‘But they are gone. Would it not be better to use it, occupy it?’
‘It is not our way,’ the monk simply said. Níurthan turned to directly face Shayne. ‘Is there anything else, my lord?’
‘Who are you really?’ Shayne asked without thinking. The monk showed the slightest of smiles. He then bowed and made the formal hand gesture for farewell, before he headed for the royal rooms. Shayne watched him leave. He turned his eyes to the throne itself; its splendour older than the royal lineage of the lionmen. Practically everything in this city was older than history itself, even the ancient runes on the wall was lost. So much of this place was a mystery and not just to the Earthmen. He then turned to the doors of the palace tower wing to retire to his room, wanting nothing more than to polish his shoes and take a long bath.
Chapter 10
Grand Council
“Grant graciously what you cannot refuse safely and conciliate those you cannot conquer.”
– Charles Caleb Colton
The following week was mostly uneventful. They did not travel into the city again; instead they either saw the king in his room or were visited by various people. The general arrived a day before the meeting where he made his presence known. His straightforward manner was welcomed by the lionmen, they preferred humans who were to the point and many of them liked his strange, straightforward manner.
The delegates from the countries slowly and steadily came in over the week, accompanied by their own entourages. There was a buzz in the city which turned into a festival of celebration; music always played in the streets and entertainers performed upon the roads and walkways.
Everywhere Shayne looked he saw royalty and elite dignitaries, wearing their own fashions and colours, followed by their own personal guards. The new guests were often accompanied by animals of various descriptions. It was hard to ignore that many humans tended to have canis-hound animals following them and many of the lionmen had felines. Occasionally there was a crossover or the Maltat was another variety of creature such as birds and other classes of mammals. The concept of Maltat obviously traversed all cultures, the concept continued to intrigue Shayne, whether they really were bound or merely superstition he knew would probably never be confirmed, but his observations showed strong similarities between animal and person.
The first guests to arrive were mostly lionmen. The Nakáda lionmen were different to the ones the Earthmen were used to. Nakáda were neighbours to Bohaníde; their nation stood on the other side of the Great Dividing Mountain Range. They considered their country to be the motherland of the Fa’Orian; founded by Arcadia and Keean the created ones. It was also the land of the lionman hero Tain, who forged the foundations that the Fa’Orian still follow today. The Nakádanese looked more primal than their eastern brothers: They were taller and stronger looking; something that did not seem possible to the Earthmen and they always stood on the balls of their feet, as a feline animal does, this was also a contrast to the eastern lionmen who only ran as digitigrades, otherwise they were flat footed. None of them wrapped their tails around themselves, suggesting greater reliance for balance. Basically the Nakádanese were more lionish whereas the eastern lionmen looked more humanish. They were also much more reserved; they seemed to never smile and barely talked. When they did converse it was either with the other lionmen or with the delegates of the Isradian desert kingdom that lived north of them. They further stood out as each member had patterns: dyed, tattooed and shaved into their fur, with each different pattern and colour denoting a different tribe and position. Their markings looked beautiful but also intimidating in a primal fashion.
As the week ended and the appointed time neared there were still some nations unrepresented by a formal member, their nations being too far away to travel in time. These included the Island nation of Idos, and some more remote coastal lands. These places still had their residential ambassadors to speak on their behalf, and if they held no permanent figure in Kérith-Árim than an ambassador from a friendly country was used. By the week’s end the number of humans far outweighed those of the lionmen. The southern humans had lighter tans then the middle kingdom humans, but their skin was still rather dark compared to Níurthan; who hailed from the colder southern continent and not Dífrun.
During the week the grand dining hall was filled with the voices of the guests. Scholars of the Teaching Halls came and entertained, some of which were greater than Kíe in voice, with each displaying their own preference of style. Some of the guests also had entertainers with them, and the teachers happily shared the stage in cultural exchange.
The atmosphere appeared friendly and joyful. In most respects it was, but not all nations held goodwill towards each other, or to Kérith-Árim. The most paranoid countries did not send their royal dignitaries as was customary upon request. Some did not even send a member of their royal family instead sending formal letters of apologies. Some countries avoided sending dignitaries for fear of their safety; due to their relations with their neighbours or just plain unwarranted paranoia. There were also those who refused to come; acting in defiance and deliberate mockery of Kérith-Árim’s power as the peace-keeper. The most obvious absences were from the four nations who were involved with the disputed region; one of these countries were generous and brave enough to send their crown prince; a reasonable and striking young man that many hoped to initiate peace in his reign. Daleflan also used their ordinary ambassador, but that was expected. Their embarrassment involving the Wayel-Éaa territory claim was only a few years ago and they still suffered under harsh restrictions as well as their own pride.
The day of the Grand Council brought Shayne for the first time, to the doors leading to the left wing of the palace. The amount of people present in the palace was staggering. Imperial Shytardas were out in force, guarding entrances and guiding special guests. Shayne and the Earthmen were accompanied by some high ranking guards who were considered amongst the most skilled fighters. There were also Kerwin monks stationed amongst the crowds with their plain swords hanging from their sides. Normally they would be unarmed themselves but their prowess and attention to detail made them valuable additions to the shytardas. They treaded carefully when sharing duties making sure not to put themselves before the proud palace guards. Most of the people were afraid of the monks, their reputation reached the furthest lands and often they were given a wide berth enforcing their infamy.
The Earthmen waited in a side room while the delegates were seated. A constant murmur grew as the hall filled. After the apparent anarchy of seating hundreds of people, the Earthmen were finally ushered in. They walked through the double doors to a short passageway which opened up to the Grand Council Hall. The light was not ideal; the council auditorium was gloomy compared to the bright and open throne room. It had no windows and the only light came from oil-lanterns mounted on the walls and upon the dignitaries’ tables. The main entrance was wedged in the middle of the delegate and public seating, with a mezzanine-balcony behind the doors for the public. A barrier rail separated the entrance from the lower seating designated for the delegate dignities which arched in a semi-circle; meeting the far wall where the king’s balcony-box rose. From the entrance a path split left and right, joining two aisles for the lower seating. The room dipped down, following the seating until it reached a central table for the main speaker.
The Chancellors were also present; most of them were at the back of the embassy area. The Master Armoursmith Fagin’daulor was now present. He was a large and strong human with a great black beard. His stature was enough that people often said he had a sprinkle of Fa’Orian within him. Deep in the past his chancellor’s position belonged to the third UeShádarn but a wise person decided better representation wou
ld occur if the three Teaching Hall allocated positions were also shared not only with the guilds but also with other nations teaching halls. Every five years their seats were elected: one designated for the scholars from any of the Dífrun halls, one a guild master and the third member rotated with each pass. All of the Chancellor positions were rotated. It was required of every member to remain active in their area of representation. The governing system ruled that it was not possible for any given Chancellor to be both professionally active in their field and to help govern, as such none can extend their position for more than two terms and no one individual can serve more than five terms.
One of the main focal points of the Grand Council Hall was the king’s box raised above the delegates. The UeVarda was accompanied by four lionmen. He sat in the middle, flanked by the two highest ranked counsellors: The High Imperial Shytarda Far’galanmír and UeShádarn Dun’karter, with two Imperial Guards standing ominously behind them. The box-seat was only accessible via the Barracks section of the Guard’s Wing, separating them from the rest of the room.
The crowd grew silent when the Earthmen stepped into the room. Every head turned to their direction. Shayne took the left side of the barrier; silently walking towards the aisle to take them to their seats. They turned down the aisle, passing the delegates. As they made their way down to the table the noise slowly returned, as the natives began to talk about the strangely clothed Ta’Orians.
Shayne sat in the middle chair; as instructed. The General Thorn Hendingson and Brigadier-General Christov Hanniver sat on either side of him, both Shayne and the Brigadier wore their fur cloaks over their dress uniform, while the general wore his own highly decorative uniform with its medals and buckles. The two communication androids stood behind them giving the appearance of metal guards. Despite being surrounded by a room full of finely dressed natives the Earthmen seemed proud and intimidating in their strangeness. Shayne in particular looked kingly sitting in his seat and glaring coolly to the audience before him.
The Book of Ominiue: Starborn Page 30