The City of the Broken (Prince of the Broken) (22 page)

“
Thank you Seren. Your opinion means so much to me. I’ll be up before daylight making sure everything is perfect. The staff have organized the coach, the ceremony and extra security. Everything else is down to me now” he says, decidedly more confident than he appeared earlier.

Chapter Nineteen.

A New Beginning

This morning I shall be driven to the city alone by Alfred, meet Calix at the palace to wish him luck and then Alfred and I shall follow behind the Royal coach to the Black Cathedral. I feel incredibly nervous myse
lf. Thousands of spectators will witness this event which will be broadcast to the whole city on cinematic screens and live television. It really is an historic occasion. Calix has to arrive alone in the coach, and for selfish reasons I’m glad, I hate the spotlight. He must be so terrified.

Alfred and I pull up to the palace.

“Have you seen him yet?” I ask Alfred.

“
No, not yet Miss Loneheart. No one has. He’s been locked in his room all morning getting ready. He even had Jane leave his breakfast tray outside his bedroom door” says Alfred.

“
Why all this secrecy?” I ask puzzled.

“
I think he wants you to see him before anyone else” says Alfred seriously.

I walk to Calix’s room, apprehensive at his refusal to open the door, thinking perhaps nerves have got the better of him. I knock.

“
Calix ,its me Seren” I announce.

To my surprise, he opens the door instantly, ushering me in quickly.

When I see him I nearly fall backwards in amazement. He looks breathtaking. A vision. He’s wearing a long black velvet robe adorned with gold and purple jewelled collar. His hair is the best I’ve ever seen it-thick, glossy and immaculate. An appropriate base for a crown to sit. He stands confidently, noble, tall and elegant. He looks like a king, despite the fact he’s yet to have been awarded his crown.

“
Well?” he asks, as I have remained silent since entering the room, taken aback by wonder at the sight of the fairytale in front of my eyes.

“
Calix, you look so wonderful! Why didn’t you let anyone see you?” I ask.

“
I wanted your approval first. I trust your opinion above everyone else’s, but don’t tell anyone that” he winks at me.

“
Where did you get that robe Calix? Its so luxurious” I ask.

“
It was my Dads. It’s the Black Robe of the Broken. Its only worn to momentous occasions like state banquets and the coronation of course”.

I briefly recall once seeing the King in this exact robe, however on him it looked drab and ill fitted. On Calix ,it looks like made -to -measure haute couture.

“Are you afraid?” I ask him.

“
I’m a little nervous, but I feel well prepared. The scariest bit is being parted from you, riding in that coach alone” he says sincerely.

I feel so needed and cherished.

“Oh Calix, you are so romantic. Prince Charming” I blush.

“
King Charming soon ,don’t forget. I like to think of it as just another duty to be performed, that way I don’t get overwhelmed by the vastness of the occasion” he says sensibly.

Calix and I walk down the great staircase to the entrance of the palace.

“Well, this is the moment. You are going to be King” I say looking deeply into his compassionate eyes.

“
I know, its crazy. I’ll see you after the ceremony Seren” he says, kissing my head gently.

The Black State Coach is parked inside the main palace gates. Its beautiful, with golden edge
s, pulled by four glossy, black Friesian horses who are as smartly dressed in their bridles and saddles as Calix is in his black robe.

Crowds stand behind barriers, as in the funeral, only this time there is decidedly more optimism in the eyes of the citiz
ens. I can even see a few Smiley’s holding a banner reading ‘New King, New City.’

I kiss Calix and wish him good luck. He walks dignified and nobly like a lion into his
coach, flanked by security and attendants.

I locate Alfred and get into the Rolls-Royce
ready to follow on behind.

I see Calix sitting in the coach and he has become a statue, untouchable and a living hero. A prince about to be crowned. But deep inside I know that
’s not the real him, that’s his duty, his job. He’s giving the people what they expect of him, performing the role perfectly.

The gates of the palace open and the coach takes off. The horses prance gracefully to their destination, seemingly equalling the prince in their sense of duty to trot in perfect step with one another whilst l
ooking sleek and dignified.

Alfred drives slowly behind. The crowds wave miniature black flags with purple
‘B’s’. The excitement and rarity of the occasion is evident in the air. Children wear black plastic crowns. A band is playing on the bandstand. There are far more people here for the coronation than there was for the Kings funeral.

The entrance to the Black Cathedral is lined with black carpet. The coach stops outside and the attendants open the door for Calix to step out. Two attendants hold the train of his long robe as he walks into the cathedral. Alfred and I wait until he’s gone in and then follow behind.

The cathedral is packed, almost every seat is full. Alfred and I take our place. There at the front is the ornate black throne .TV cameras and c
rew slightly spoil the otherwise ancient charm of the ceremony.

Calix sits on the throne. The bishop approaches him and asks him to confirm his name.

“Prince Calix Axel Blakely 1
st
of the City of the Broken” he says clearly.

“
Calix Axel Blakely 1
st
,will you now take the oath which demonstrates your promise to the City of the Broken as the King?” asks the Bishop.

“
I will. I promise to rule the City of the Broken with justice and mercy, integrity and strength. I will protect its citizens, upholding the values of the city whilst considering the quality of human life. Equality and fairness will be my goal throughout my reign” he says boldly and truthfully.

“
Prince Calix Axel Blakely 1
st
,I will now hand you the Black Sovereigns Orb, the Black Sceptre of Truth and the Black Sceptre of Peace” says the bishop, handing Calix these artefacts.

“
Prince Calix Axel Blakely 1
st
,I will now crown you King of the City of the Broken” says the Bishop, taking the large black crown(which the former King always wore) from the stand beside him and placing it effortlessly onto Calix’s head.

“
King Calix Axel Blakely 1
st
,of the City of the Broken” says the Bishop and an orchestra sounds, playing a victorious anthem.

Calix looks magnificent, poised and dignified, wearing the crown wi
th ease and instinct.

Calix exit
’s the Cathedral and is carried back to the palace by coach. The crowds scream and cheer loudly, much out of their ordinary character as the newly crowned King drives past.

On returning to the palace, Calix stands on the highest balcony to watch a flypast of black planes and a parade of military personnel. Alfred and I arrive five minutes behind him and run straight up to the balcony to join him.

When I stand next to him on the balcony I
feel slightly awkward and don’t really know what to say. He’s more intimidating now he’s got a crown on his head ,even though I know he’ll be humble about it. He looks so noble and grand and more mature. But he’s still my Calix.

“
Oh Calix, you are a King” I say breathlessly.

“
I know! It wasn’t as scary as I thought. The bishop did most of the talking” smiles Calix with a childlike zest that puts me at ease and makes me realize he’s still exactly the same person as he was this morning.

Planes zoom loudly o
ver our heads and we watch enthralled, holding hands and occasionally exchanging a glance of approval towards each other. The crown gives Calix an air of authority he never had before, but its also highlights the difference between him and his Father. He carries it with far less pride and anger than his father did, wearing it for duty’s sake only and not to give himself a sense of superiority.

Calix also gets a gunfire salute, this really is a day all about him. I don
’t think I’ve ever got this much attention, not even on my birthday.

After all of the pomp and pageantry, Calix and I head back indoors to the palace.

“That was amazing, its been such a wonderful day” says Calix.

“
I know, everything was timed to perfection. The whole day passed without a single hiccup” I say.

Mrs. S approaches Calix as we head out into the corridor.

“Your Majesty, congratulations you were simply splendid. Your father told me to give you this on the day you were crowned King” she says formally, holding out a white envelope with a black seal.

“
What is this?” asks Calix bemused.

“
I have absolutely no idea, Your Majesty. I was only instructed by your father to give it to you on the day of your coronation, long before he fell ill you understand” she says.

“
Okay, thank you” smiles Calix graciously.

“
Well open it” I say to Calix, after Mrs. S has left.

“
Okay, lets open it in my room. So I can have some privacy” says Calix, who’s surrounded by palace staff and well-wishers.

He
’s still wearing his crown, but takes it off as soon as he gets to his room, revealing his casual attitude to being King.

He sits on his bed, and tears open the letter eagerly.

‘To my son and rightful heir, if you are reading this then you are now King. I have left in your possession the key to the room which holds the secrets of the city. You’ll know of what I refer to of course. Rule despairingly and sorrowfully my boy, Your Father.’ says Calix reading out loud.

He searches in the envelope and pulls out a tiny black key.

“Oh Calix, we can enter the room now!” I say, excited to discover the secrets that lie behind the door in the library of the Broken.

“
Wow, I think my whole life has been leading up to this moment Seren. I always have longed to see what’s behind that door ever since I was a little boy” he says, his eyes glinting excitedly.

“
Lets go now Seren” he says abruptly.

“
What? Calix, you’ve only just been crowned King, lets bask in this celebration for today. The room can wait until tomorrow” I say, thinking that Calix is even more intrigued than I am at this secret room.

“
No Seren, it cant wait. I have to know now” he says ,running off down the corridor.

“
Calix, wait” I say, running to follow him.

He
’s ditched his royal robe and crown. This is Calix the curious, Calix the explorer, Calix the young boy again.

We run all the way to the City of the Broken public library and I’ve become incredibly out of breath. Nearly every person we pass remarks

“
Isn’t that King Calix?”

“
No, it cant be him. He’s just been crowned King. It must be a look-alike”.

I think that no
w that Calix has a crown to prove his royal identity, his going without it may make it easier to blend into the background.

We rush up the stone steps at the entrance of the library and a further three flights of steps inside. When we reach the final floor
, my chest is heaving and I’m gasping for breath, sweat dripping down my forehead. Calix, remarkably seems totally unaffected by our mad sprint here, remaining cool and composed.

“
This is it Seren. Moment of truth .I finally get to see what Dads been hiding from me all these years” he says passionately.

He pulls back the tapestry and begins to put the key in the lock.

“Wait Calix! Are you sure you want to go through with this? What if that room reveals something you didn’t want to know?” I say urgently, thinking that the room may reveal further devious and corrupt plans by the deceased King.

“
I have to do this Seren. It’ll play on my mind forever if I don’t” he says looking pained, turning the key in the lock.

We both walk in. The room is surprisingly empt
y and echoes. The wooden floor boards creek, as we walk over them. The beams of the ceiling and the single window are dusty, no one has been in here for years. In the exact middle of the room, mounted on a stand, there is a solitary black book.

“
The secrets of the city” says Calix, stepping towards the book.

“
Are you nervous about opening it?” I ask him.

“
Yes, very. More nervous than I was at the coronation” he smiles.

“
Hold my hand” he requests and I do.