The Alabaster Throne (The Fall of Atlantis Book 1)
Page 26
The men had hanged several soldiers who had been part of the attack on King Fa’amuil. Several others had taken refuge with Praset as he left with the entourage headed to Atlas. Jubaas was named captain of the bowmen, a new position Tal felt was necessary and a fitting reward for the service the young scout had given. It was revealed to Tal later that Toli, Jubaas’ cousin, was one of the eighty-six men who died as a result of Bator’cam’s chariot attack on Tal’s camp.
The young couple reached the bottom of the wide steps and went to the head table of the feast which was set up in the square. Janu would sit at Tal’s right hand while Siande sat at his left. Siande’s mother and sisters sat next to the new Queen. With her husband off to Atlas, Anilisa was not sure how secure her situation was in the kingdom, but Siande assured her mother Tal held no ill will toward her, and she and her daughters would have rooms in the royal apartments.
Tal raised his hand and the people in the square quieted as they waited for the words from the new king.
“People of Mestor,” he said. His voice carried far in the morning air. “Today I have wed and present to you, your new queen.”
A loud cheer erupted and Siande blushed through her smile. She knew the people felt real affection for her, as she felt for them.
“And so we will start our reign in peace and happiness. But today, on the happiest day there can be, I must take action on a situation which is intolerable in the kingdom.”
Murmurs buzzed around the square as the king’s face became serious and hard as stone.
“From this day forward. No, even from this moment onward, no man, woman or child will be fed into the pit of Ochtur. No sacrifice of a man, woman, or child will be offered to Balket.”
The murmurs became gasps and shocked words of disbelief.
“You have no authority,” High Priest Faldrir said. “You don’t have the right to prevent the rituals from taking place!”
“I do have the authority. I have studied the laws. The temple must stand and the people are never to be prohibited from making sacrifices of animals and plants on the altar, but there is nothing which prohibits me from preventing the sacrifices which are made in the pit of Ochtur. The law is silent on that point, and as king, I can proscribe any law not prohibited from me.”
“Without the pit to provide sacrifices, the temple serves no purpose. The priests of Balket refuse to acknowledge this edict.”
Tal let go of Siande’s hand and walked near the High Priest.
“Did I hear you state you intend to disobey the law of the king?”
“The will of the gods is above the decree of a boy king.”
“Then you intend to keep the pit of Ochtur burning and sacrifice people to Balket as you see fit.”
“Yes, I do.”
Tal motioned for another priest to step forward.
“Rellos,” he said. “You are chief among the priests of Hondre. And as of this moment you are the High Priest of Mestor.”
Rellos bowed to the king. “Yes, my lord.”
“Go and order the temple guards to remove the personal belongings of all priests of Balket from the temple. Secure wagons and oxen. Take any servants who wish to go and all slaves Faldrir has bought with temple money and take them to whichever gate Faldrir wishes.”
Tal looked back at Faldrir. “Not only do I have the right to close the pit of Ochtur, I have the right and duty to banish all who would openly defy my commands. To not do so would embolden any who opposed me. Since you speak for all priests of Balket, by the time the sun sets this evening, any priests of Balket found in the city of Mestor will be executed by hanging. In two days’ time, the same fate extends to all lands I have dominion over.”
“We have ownership of things which cannot be removed from the temple. You can’t banish us.”
“The items of your ownership will not be displaced. You may send three priests once every moon to tend the items which must be left behind. They will not be under the penalty of banishment for five days. This is my command.”
Tal turned to Yelsit. “Spread the word to the royal guard and to the gate commanders. I will have order in my city and that means we will not have the priests of Balket who oppose me.”
Faldrir left the square without Tal’s leave and stormed up the steps.
Rellos watched Faldrir and then looked back at Tal.
“Go after him and command the temple guards. Set my commands before them and then join me at my table, High Priest Rellos.”
Rellos smiled and bowed. “As you wish, my king.”
Tal took Siande’s hand again and motioned to the servers to bring out the food.
“Today we celebrate my wedding, my new queen, and a new beginning for Mestor. Come, eat and drink in joy!”
Tal and Siande sat down and the others joined them with laughter and happiness. This was a day of great joy for all of Mestor and the start of the reign of King Taldirun.
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR
Thank you for reading the first book in The Fall of Atlantis series. The legends of Atlantis have always fascinated me. I tried to model the world at an early bronze age level of technology and based a lot of the ideas and concepts from what we have from Plato’s Critias and Timaeus. I am planning two more books in this series, and they will take us right to the point where Atlantis disappears from history. Look for more conflict between Tal and the High Queen Jala and for the stakes to grow for everyone involved in the next book, tentatively named Crown of Glory.
If you enjoyed this novel, I encourage you to leave a review where you bought it. Your opinion will let others know that this is a book worth spending a few dollars on and will be of great benefit to me.
I would also invite you to join my VIP Fan Club. This club is free to join and you will be kept up to date with up to two e-mails a month concerning new releases, what I am planning in the future, giveaways and promotions. You can head over to my website as well, but the easiest way to stay in touch is through my VIP Fan Club.
Thank you,
Wilson Harp
www.wilsonharpbooks.com
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