He never knew about it before. It all seemed so simple to him back then.
That afternoon struck a chord inside him. He knew that his efforts were not enough. He strived to make sure that the people he will be ruling over knows him, and him knowing the people.
A balance has to be struck, kept ringing in his mind back then. A phrase he later realized not only concerns the status and how the state should act, but to almost every single thing that happened within the empire. He began to see the empire as an endless combination of gears. Not only did the Imperial Council and Court made sure that the gear kept spinning, but that it spun according to the rest and all of it, in the center is one giant gear, the king spinning perfectly, so-to-speak.
He slowly began to realize this great importance that he made sure that he would be ready to take the throne for himself back then.
Within the coming days, the city prepared for the nameday of the imperial prince, it was the last day of the year, the thirty-sixth day of Domerein. It would be the grandest of days in the empire. The imperial capital city of Tamara was already prepared and decorated with signs of his nameday. It was also the day that the iron hands would be passed unto him.
The days grew longer and longer as the day of passage rites drew nearer. He was growing anxious, even more anxious than what he felt when he trained under General Sevidon of the Venis elves.
He took it as an opportunity to further enrich himself with whatever he thought he needed to be a great ruler just like his father. He studied diligently in the library just as much as his sister did. He went to the outskirts of Tamara where the Redicoc Falls were outside its west walls. There he bonded with the people, thriving on the bounties the mountain gave to them through the falls. He enjoyed the day to day lives of the people there. He enjoyed it more than his life in the palace. He was refreshed and relieved of the coming responsibility that was bearing down upon him.
The more he learned from his people, the more he appreciated their lives and their worth to the empire. The more he bonded with his future subjects, the more he learned to see them as equals. His love and respect for them grew even more.
And finally, his nameday had come.
Everyone gathered that afternoon in front of the inner city gate. It slowly opened its huge gates and in two open carriages both decorated in green and gold with engravings of their Animos God, Freinus, the Imperial King stood, covered in a thick cloak with only his head visible, and Tamiron on the second carriage, also covered in a thick cloak but kneeling down. The procession continued with the High Cardinal. He was adorned in white cloth with intricate design with images of the holy Animos God, Freinus and the Goddess herself, Arumar, topped with a tall headdress with the image of a three-horned cross, embroidered with green and gold that ran down to his waist. He sung the holy song of the Trasidar Animos, Coro Al’arzhem, the song of never ending trial.
He remembered it all as the procession slowly started to move. They were surrounded by other priests and bishops that came from all over the empire. They sang along as they moved towards the Trasidar Animos’ temple outside the city, at the foot of the Redicoc Mountains, just north of Tamara.
His heart beat hard and fast. The people held candles as they eagerly waited to see him pass by. It was already night fall when they made their way towards the temple. He had already been there many times but the view of the large statue of the majestic Trasidar Animos God sitting atop the most holy place in the empire still inspired him.
Its bronze physique imposed power and might, as it was lit on each side by six massive bonfires. The bronze statue of Freinus lit up the night in the outskirts of Tamara. There were more people eagerly waiting, as his father slowly went up the wide stairs going up to the holy temple.
He looked up to his father as he disappeared inside the temple and the song suddenly changed to Al’arzhem Hoktos, the song of trial’s end.
He took a deep breath as he waited his turn to go up the temple. He could see the anticipation of the people’s face faintly lit by the candles they were holding. They are here for me, he thought as this made his heart beat faster. He took another deep breath as the night sky presented a clear shroud of stars.
Another moment passed and the song was finally done and it was his turn to walk up towards the temple. He slowly went down from the carriage and he began his journey to the center of the temple. He took slow steps as he looked around. The great pillars that were within the stairs overshadowed him and on top revealed the great doors of the temple. He walked inside and saw most of the priests facing another statue of the Animos God Freinus, lit by fire and the night sky coming from a hole on top of the temple.
He took another deep breath and the doors slowly closed behind him. The High Cardinal sung Coro Al’arzhem again at a much higher tone. It resonated within him and his heart couldn’t keep itself at bay. He was shaken by the magnitude of the ceremony and the presence of the priests and the High Cardinal.
He reached the end of the hall and knelt on a stand, facing the priests. The High Cardinal finished the song and he started a hum. The priests inside the great temple echoed it.
“We are gathered here today, not only for the nameday of our Imperial Prince Tamiron Lluch, but also as the young prince has reached the right age to wield the Iron Hands,” the High Cardinal said as the priests continued their hum.
They took off his thick cloak revealing his shirtless body as he was made to bow before them. The High Cardinal continued on with his speech and among the priests in the front was his father and his sister bowing down like the others as well. He smiled at this as servants of the temple put beside him two huge blocks of marble with lining designs that could only be associated with the Trasidar deity.
“The prince may now put his hands on each of the marble blocks,” the High Cardinal asked as he gently put it in the engravings of what seemed to be hands and arms as well. He took a deep breath as the High Cardinal continued and the servants poured water to his hands and arms to wash them. After that, the hum stopped as halted by the High Cardinal.
He awaited for the final stage of the passage rites and finally the High Cardinal sung the song of Kron Hordis, the song of Iron Hands.
The High Cardinal then held in his hand and the Madarick Stone. It glowed in all of its green glory as the light slowly flooded the big room. It started to dwindle and the High Cardinal walked in front of him, holding it towards Tamiron.
He felt like he was flooded by the green light from the stone. His eye turned jade green. Slowly the marble blocks began to glow of green as well and became clay-like. The carved shaped hands in the blocks grew and formed around his hand, making a tight fit and shape of Tamiron’s arms. After another moment the marble slowly made spaces between his skin and the marble.
The gauntlets hovered in front of him and it glowed of green and disassembled itself. The pieces slowly slid through the spaces between his arms and the marble. The marble then glowed of green once more, and it tightened around the gauntlets with his arms inside.
The High Cardinal sung louder and higher and then, the men with hammers swung and hit against the mixture of marble and metal on his hands. He couldn’t tell if he was in pain, he could only feel the metal being hit by the hammer pressing against his skin. He let out a scream that echoed in the halls filled with the High Cardinal’s singing and priests’ constant humming.
He then slowly began to feel a slight tingle on his arms and hands as the pain crept in. He let out screeches of pain as the two hammer wielders continued their onslaught upon his hands. The screams he let out slowly turned into mighty thundering roars. The sheer force of the impacts travelled across his body. The stone then shot a beam of faint light to his heart and his mouth began to glow of green as well, the insides of his body glowed of green, revealing the light through his skin.
Another hour had passed since the ending of the passage rites but it felt like an eternity of pain for him. The final bang echoed and the High Cardinal, al
ong with the priests, had stopped. The glow from the stone ceased and he panted as the men with hammers pulled the marble blocks from his hands. He still knelt. His hands covered with the iron and metal. They swayed towards his body as he caught his breath when the servants slowly put on his armor, then his helmet. He looked at the High Cardinal as he slowly walked towards him. He put on the stone to its place in his plate armor.
The stone upon released a wave of green light throughout his body, attaching itself to the armor, as if giving him energy.
“The ceremony of Kron Hordis is done,” the High Cardinal said as he slowly stood and walked towards the High Cardinal. He raised his head and saw the priests, his father, and his sister slowly standing up as well. He looked at his hands, now covered in iron, with huge bolts running down his arm and small rivets in his fingers as it too, were covered by metal. Another servant put in his hand the final piece of his weapon. “The Madarick Stone is no more. The stone has been passed to the successor of the iron hands, Prince Tamiron Lluch. And the stone will now be named, the Tamiron Stone. All hail the protector of the realm and beholder of the Tamiron Stone!” the High Cardinal proclaimed.
A huge applause from the priests came and he walked towards the outside of the temple. He took one more look at everyone who had eagerly waited for him. They were chanting his name. Their roars gave him a feeling of self-worth that he had never felt before. He beamed a smile to everyone and then he raised his right hand up. The metal that the previous servants attached to his hands slowly morphed and melded with his iron hands.
HE REMEMBERED THAT day very well — the day he got his iron hands; the day he received the fists that would have protected his people, and also the fists that spilled their blood.
He looked at his hand with remorse, as his other rested on the statue of the family he killed with it.
He touched the Tamiron Stone that glowed as though it was beating like his heart. He would never forget the faces of these people — the husband and wife that he killed with the very thing that should’ve protected them. He was ashamed.
He looked up to the sky. “Let their child be safe. I pray that their child is safe. I pray that if I ever meet the child, may he forgive me for what I’ve done.” Then a tear fell from his eyes. He walked towards his taranos and headed toward the Noa Melgraci.
He arrived at the governor’s palace where his royal guard waited for him.
“The clouds seemed to be creeping from the east. You noticed that?” a guard said.
“Yes, it started last year actually,” another answered.
“Let’s go. We need to head out towards Agun’Der mountains,” he said. The guards were surprised by his sudden arrival. He immediately stood and was in attention.
“The mountains, Sire? I thought we were heading towards Tamara?” the guard asked out of curiosity as they mounted their horses.
“We still have the sun with us. We need to ride now. I need to see the incident for myself,” he said then proceeded to ride out from the city, determined to know what exactly was raided from the mysterious tomb.
End of chapter V
VI: Fluttery of the High Eagle
It was evening in Bastominad and Aderon was on the balcony where the meeting between him and the others took place. He tried to think of a way on how to deal with the incursions that the Xerxecians did and how to prevent them in the future. With all of the big talk he had been saying, he admitted to himself that the enemy was prepared for war; a feat that he did not expect from such a savage race of cursed beings.
He looked outside as he thought of a way, with the view of a city under construction. This certainly is not helping, he thought then went back inside the room.
“My army has already secured and currently patrols the south-east quadrant from the camp. Maybe we can try and go for the eastern parts of Termosad, then push it a bit further northeast as well so we can at least advance,” Ravaen suggested, their eyes fixated on the map.
“The problem with your plan is we are going to need to mobilize the elven armies. We still need time to recover. We can’t do that,” Glaivel said.
“We already have the imperial army and the High army at our disposal. We can easily secure these slabs of land,” Ravaen argued.
“The problem is that the High army can only take out the Xerxecians, specifically the armedigors if we do a complete dive. Using speed and strength to our favor would certainly give us an edge. But we can’t keep doing that. You of all people should know that. Add to the fact that the armedigors are not the only creatures in that wretched continent,” Aderon intervened, though he considered that Ravaen did have a point about the lands to the east.
“Huh, first time I’m actually hearing that the High prince not boasting about his army’s strength,” Ravaen mocked him.
“My army is strong – given the right situation. A good general and commander should know his army’s strength and where it lies,” he fired back and smirked at the clearly annoyed Ravaen. “But what you said does bear merit. However, we can’t just move forward if the only army that can stand toe-to-toe with them is the imperial army,” he added then he looked over the map again as he leaned both his hands to the table.
“How long till the reinforcements from the elven kingdoms arrive?” Aderon said.
“About a month or two from now at least,” Glaivel answered.
“And the Iron Kingdom is still debating what to do with themselves, correct?” he asked again.
“Last time we heard from Graveloth, they are still arguing whether to join the Unibeltrasian Forces or not,” Sevidon answered.
He gave a look of confusion and frustration and said, “Wait — I thought Graveloth have already convinced the Iron Council?”
“Not yet. They just finished their kingdom’s political disputes, with the help of the Orderians of course,” Kaira answered this time and he sighed upon hearing about it.
“The Orderian. Tell me again, where and why Evangeline is not here?” he annoyingly asked them as he rubbed his forehead.
“We don’t know either. I’m really not sure how to answer that. All of us are in the dark. What we do know is she is with the Orderian army doing something in the Deep South. Even my scouts are unable to see where they are exactly,” Ravaen said.
Aderon took a deep breath and closed his eyes for a second, then returned to study the map.
“How about if I have my armies secure the northeast quadrant then? It is a forest of unbalanced terrain. My army should be able to secure that,” Kaira suddenly suggested as she pointed to the Wyaen Forest, quickly changing the subject.
“The Tigris certainly has speed in land. Hmm, are you sure about that?” he asked, a bit concerned.
“Yes, I’m sure my army can handle it,” Kaira answered.
“Is your intel about the terrain of Wyaen Forest enough then?” he asked.
Kaira nodded, “It should be enough for us,”
“Well certainly not enough then.” He quickly rebutted, “I’ll give you the go ahead once you do another intel gathering. We need to be absolutely sure before moving in. We can’t let ourselves be surprised like last time,” he said, trying to point out what happened at the fresh battle of Termosad.
He wanted Sevidon and Glaivel to feel bad, to feel like it’s their fault. To teach them a lesson, to make sure they remember what they did wrong. Well he thought it was their fault, but of course he had no way to know for sure.
“You’ve been quiet an awful lot of time now. Speak your mind,” he asked. He waited as everyone seemed to look at each other first.
“We are just curious as to what happened in the empire,” Kaira answered.
He looked at her as she continued, “Imagine what kind of situation the empire is in, if it warrant’s the need for their Crown Regent’s presence,”
“I’m sure not all Trasidians are as smart as him,” he said.
“Are you saying Tamiron is good then?” Glaivel asked, as if trying to catch him off
guard.
He only looked at Glaivel and gave a sly smile, “Oh please, don’t make me laugh. Tamiron is not that good.”
Glaivel only shook his head out of amusement.
“Aren’t you curious?” Sevidon then asked him.
He was curious. But he did not want to admit it in front of everyone. “I’m too busy making sure that people won’t die again.” Then he looked Sevidon in the eye and said, “So no, I am not curious in any imperial squabbles that are going on right now. My focus is to keep our forces in working order,”
“Bravo for that then,” Ravaen said then leaned on the map as well as he got a bit close to him, “Maybe we should take into account now that the Kra’ens will heed our request?” he added.
He thought about it for a little bit and Ravaen had a point. “Are you confident that we will be able to get what we need from them?” he asked.
“Tamiron seemed to be sure of Graveloth. No reason to doubt the man,” Ravaen answered confidently.
“Okay then, maybe we should consider that now,” he said when a messenger suddenly handed a scroll to Ravaen. He then proceeded to read it and Ravaen’s face went pale. His annoying smile slowly turned sour and his hands began to shake slightly. Ravaen then slowly crumpled the paper.
Aderon noticed it and quickly asked, “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Ravaen then immediately grabbed his belongings inside the room and told the messenger, “Send a message. Tell them I’m going back.” Ravaen hurried and prepared to leave and grabbed his cape and sword.
Aderon was completely annoyed now because he was being ignored. He signaled to the guards and blocked Ravaen at the doorway.
“Let me through!” Ravaen shouted to him.
“Not until you tell me what’s going on,” he said as everyone was a bit stunned with Ravaen’s sudden change of mood.
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