Zachania (43 page)

The Prince
meanwhile was in his bedroom surrounded by Palace aides who were
all dressing him for his crowning, he wore a royal blue garment
with gold trimmings as well as the royal jewelled sword and
shield.

“Are you ready
Arun?” Ganasis asked as entered the Prince’s room.

“Yes Ganasis I
am.”

“Remember Arun
walk with dignity and pride, you have been a good Prince now become
a better King!”

Ganasis then
proceeded alone to the throne room where he joined Lord Heikan,
Talon and Talon’s Grandfather.

“How is he?”
Talon asked smiling.

“He looks fine
Talon.”

“Will his
father be attending Ganasis.” asked Talon.

“I don’t know
Talon.” replied Ganasis just as he caught sight of Zumal who had
just arrived from Zafra walking towards him.

“Zumal my
friend how are you?”

“Good Ganasis!
I am always good when I see you.” replied Zumal before being pulled
to the side by Ganasis.

“Zumal how are
things in Zafra?”

“Lord Zalon is
a good man Ganasis, the men like him and I am certain that he will
be ready.”

“That’s good;
when you did not attend the council meeting last night I feared
that there had been more troubles.”

“No Ganasis
there are no troubles, I just thought I would be better used
overseeing the building of the boats, I will be returning
immediately after the ceremony.”

Ganasis then
smiled as he looked at all the people running about.

“ar the
ceremony! One could almost forget we are on the brink of war.”

Zumal then
grabbed his arm making Ganasis turn sharply.

“Ganasis I want
you to head the coronation!”

Ganasis was
shocked at what Zumal asked him.

“Zumal you are
royal command wizard, I cannot take this honour from you!”

“Ganasis that
doesn’t matter now, not with the war coming up, you my friend are
the senior wizard here and it would be much more of an honour to
the Prince if it was you who crowned him.”

Ganasis looked
back into Zumal’s eyes and for once he was lost for words.

“But Zumal I
don’t know what to do!”

“Nonsense! You
just put the crown on his head and say long live the King!” replied
Zumal smiling.

Ganasis still
looked a bit confused as the ceremony was about to start and to be
asked this now with no preparation and especially as he did not
want to make any mistakes and ruin the Prince’s day, he was still
lost for words, Zumal sensed this made another suggestion.

“Ganasis!
Alright I will do the speaking but you will place the crown on the
Princes head, were do it together.”

Ganasis then
suddenly relaxed and smiled at Zumal as Zumal walked away quickly
to check on the proceedings.

“Here get some
of this down you.” Heikan said jovially offering Ganasis some ale
as he returned to join them only for Ganasis to push his arm away
and screw his face up.

“I have no time
for ale drinking.” he said sounding very prudish.

“Go on, have
some, were celebrating today.” Heikan added goading Ganasis
further.

“Celebrating...
You may be, but I have work to do.”

“Have you ever
drank ale Ganasis, the taste is divine” Heikan said still holding
out the ale.

“YES! I have
tried it, a long time ago and it didn’t agree with me.”

Heikan smiled
as he looked at Talon and his Grandfather before turning back to
Ganasis and giving him a friendly nudge.

“You got
drunk!” Heikan added smiling.

Ganasis turned
sharply looking somewhat embarrassed.

“No I did
not!”

“I think you
did.” Heikan replied to the wizard’s annoyance.

Talon and his
Grandfather were now having difficulty in holding back their
laughter; Ganasis noticed this and turned to them.

“Why are you
laughing, you look like little girls! Wizards do not get
drunk.”

“But you did,
didn’t you Ganasis.” added Heikan.

Ganasis turned
sharply at Heikan now tired of his playing and was just about to
give him a piece of his mind when he saw the three men laughing
which brought him back to his senses that they were only having
some fun with him.

“Very funny
Heikan! Very funny.” said the old wizard looking as if he was about
to sulk.

Heikan held up
his hands as if to call a truce but then Ganasis turned with a
large smile on his face, and face the three men where he leaned
across and whispered.

“I did get
drunk, very drunk!” he said just before breaking into laughter as
he remembered the time.

“Oh goodness! I
was with Apollo and I got so drunk I turned three men into pigs.”
he

added now
laughing but trying to hide his laughs like a young boy who had
been naughty. Ganasis noticed a few people looking over at the four
of them laughing so he straightened himself up and spoke again
wagging his finger.

“Keep this
between us, it was only one occasion and I shall never drink ale
again!”

Talon smiled
again just as Zumal returned.

“Ganasis the
Prince is making his way, we must get everyone seated.”

They both then
walked off calling for everyone to be seated and then the far doors
opened and in walked King Tanah followed by Queen Pokhara and
Princess Su-Maria, the whole room rose to its feet in respect, it
had been some time since the King had made a public appearance. At
first the guests sighed at how frail and weak the King looked but
they then began starting with Heikan to applaud him. The King
smiled and walked slowly to his throne helped by his wife the
Queen, everyone could see he was in pain but the old King still
walked with his head held high, as the King got to his throne he
stumbled and the Queen quickly tried to help him followed by two
Palace guards but the King held out his arm resisting any help.
This was his last day as King and he wanted to be remembered as a
King with dignity and strength and after what seemed an
uncomfortable eternity he finally made it and sat down on his
throne. He nearly collapsed with exhaustion as he sat down but
somehow he kept his composure and sat erect with his head held
high. The Queen and Princess took their seats next to him and then
Zumal walked over and placed the crown onto the Kings old grey
head. Talon was seated at the front and was busy looking at the
Princess who in turn could not help glimpsing back at him, Talon
caught her eye and smiled to which she smiled back before turning
back to the King.

Talon’s
attention was then interrupted by the sound of the doors opening
again and a Palace aide made an announcement.

“BEHOLD PRINCE
ARUN VON KOH-SAMUI!”

Everyone stood
and turned to see the Prince enter the room walking proudly, he
looked magnificent dressed in a royal blue sleeveless garment that
went down to his knees, he was also wearing a solid gold belt with
matching bands around his arms and his boots were matching blue
fastened by golden twine and he adorned the royal ceremonial sword
with his family shield.

He walked
slowly towards the Prince’s throne where he took his seat next to
his father, the King looked at him with pride and Arun smiled at
his father as once again the guests were asked to be seated
again.

Zumal then
walked over to the King and held out a candle which the King lit,
the wizard then placed the candle on the table before him and then
addressed him.

“I Zumal,
humble servant and wizard to the royal house of von Koh-Samui
present the royal candle of Kings!”

When Zumal
finished the guests were asked again to stand.

“Do you King
Tanah von Koh-Samui agree to extinguish the holy flame?”

“I DO” the King
replied proudly but still with a crack in his voice.

Zumal then
passed the candle to the King where he put out the flame with the
palm of his hand.

Zumal then said
a few words in wizards tongue as he held the candle above his head.
The candle was an ancient artefact used in all coronation
ceremonies since the throne began, when this King was first
pronounced King his first task was to light the candle as only a
King could light it or put it out, there was only two ways for a
King to put out the flame, with fresh snow from the Zachanian
mountains or if a King extinguished the flame with his palm then it
means that the King abdicates.

Zumal then
turned and offered the candle to the Prince.

“Do you Prince
Arun von Koh-Samui take upon yourself the responsibilities of
lighting the flame of Kings and with it embrace the
responsibilities of Zachania.”

“I do!” replied
Arun proudly.

“Then light the
flame.”

The Prince then
proceeded and lit the candle then Zumal placed the candle back on
the table and called for Ganasis who in turn walked over and
removed the crown from Arun’s father and then stood behind
Arun.

“BEHOLD THE
CROWN OF KINGS!” Zumal shouted loudly.

Ganasis waited
for Zumal to give him the sign to place it on Arun’s head, Zumal
nodded and Ganasis placed the crown on his head giving him a smile
as he did so.

“RISE KING ARUN
VON KOH-SAMUI!” Zumal shouted as the new King rose followed by the
guests who all cheered and applauded.

“LONG LIVE THE
KING!” Ganasis shouted repeated by the crowd three times before
they once again took their seats and Zumal once again offered Arun
the candle and a box where he removed some snow and put out the
flame, Zumal then signalled Arun to step forward and address the
room.

“Lords and my
brave subjects of Zachania, it is with great honour that I become
your King. I will lead by example and adhere to the laws of
Zachania, I will not be above any law or subject in our great
realm. A time of great change has fallen upon us; a time for us to
show courage and conviction, times where we must rise like our
forefathers rose and answer the sound of battle. Hardship and pain
will soon reach into every subject’s life and I mean every subject,
I myself will eat my food from the same plate as my soldiers at the
front, I will walk in their footsteps and will live amongst them
and die amongst them if that is what the gods decide. But we will
be victorious! We will fight, we will win and we will have our
revenge! Zachania must be free.”

As he finished
one of the guests rose to his feet and began to applause.

“KING ARUN!”
shouted Lord Heikan acclaiming the new King where everyone began
clapping and cheering even Arun’s father the old King rose to his
feet and applauded.

The new King
then led everyone to the dining hall where they all sat around a
huge table, once they were seated Arun rose with a jug of ale in
his hand ready to make a toast.

“VICTORY!” he
shouted followed by the guests repeating it back

The men tucked
into the feast until Arun called for Talon and Ganasis to join him
in the next room Lord Heikan also joined them.

“Talon we must
leave now, before darkness sets in.”

“As you wish
sire.” replied Talon.

King Arun then
turned to Heikan.

“Heikan we
leave for the border but I want you to stay here and take care of
things till my return.”

“Of course
sire.”

The Prince then
turned back to Talon and Ganasis.

“I will meet
you by the stables after I change clothes.”

The King then
left the room where Ganasis turned to Talon.

“He will make a
formidable King.” Ganasis said.

“He is already
showing signs of change.” replied Talon.

“Yes I think
the responsibility of King will suit him well, I already sense a
meaning of purpose in him and his uncertainties in his own
judgement will disappear when peoples respect for him as their King
grows.”

Talon then
smiled and took hold of Ganasis’s shoulder.

“I feel in
confident mood today Ganasis, almost as if we have taken a giant
step forward to victory.”

Ganasis
smiled.

“I see our new
King has already stamped his presence on you young Talon.”

Talon smiled
back with pride in his piercing blue eyes.

“Indeed! I have
just witnessed a friend become a man.”

“But what about
you Talon, you became a man a long time ago but you still never
cease to amaze me.”

Both men smiled
until Ganasis slapped Talon hard but friendly on the back.

“Come! Today
has been a day of mixed emotions, let’s get to our duties, I will
see you at the stables.”

“Ok Ganasis I
will be there in a moment.”

Talon then
walked back into the dining hall and sought out his
Grandfather.

“Grandfather I
must leave for the border.”

“When, is
everything alright?”

“I am going
now.”

“Shall I come
with you?”

“No you have
your duties to attend.”

“Is the King
going with you?”

“Yes Ganasis as
well, I will see you when I return.”

“Then take care
my son” Zalon said as he stood up and embraced him.

When Talon
arrived at the stables the King and Ganasis were already there with
a patrol of twenty royal guards who was accompanying them, Talon
wasted no time and got on his horse then the men rode from the
Palace. As they rode out into the streets of Zachra they were happy
to see thousands of people who were celebrating the Kings
celebration, the crowds cheered the men as they rode by which made
them all feel like heroes. The journey through the streets took
longer than usual which had a mixed feeling as the King enjoyed the
acclaim but still he knew that the journey to the border was and
arduous trip made even more treacherous by the massive Zachanian
mountain range.

When night
began to fall one of the soldiers who was leading the party fell
back to speak with the King.