Coronation

Kael lets the sound of the crowd wash over him as he walks to stand before the gathered nobles. Ria and Evie stand to either side of him, and they all bow their heads. One of the eldest of the nobles, a man named Pater Helmsmith, steps forward to stand in front of them. Pater was one of the first nobles to back Lord Greyheart’s decree freeing the slaves, and has been a staunch supporter of Kael all along. He smiles as he places his hands on the crowns resting upon the velvet pillow.

“Kael. Ria. Evie. Do you swear to uphold the laws of the land, to rule with a gentle hand, and to guide our nation to prosperity and peace?”

All three respond with the traditional response. “I so swear.”

“Do you swear to defend our nation from all enemies, and strive to protect all who love within our borders?”

“I so swear.”

“Do you accept the burden of leadership, and the responsibility we offer you?”

“I accept.”

Pater lifts a crown, holding it into the air. “This crown sits heavy on the brow, but a ruler bears the weight gladly. Will you be that ruler?”

“I will.”

Pater smiles, slowly placing the crown on Kael’s head. He repeats this for both Ria and Evie, the smile never wavering. “Then, by the will of the nation, and the blessings of your predecessors, I name thee, King Kael, Queen Ria, and Queen Evie. May your rule be long and glorious!”

The crowd erupts into cheers, louder than anything Kael has heard before. He feels Evie grab his arm in shock at the noice. He can see Pater laughing as he steps aside, allowing the new triumvirate to move to the front of the stage. Kael has a whole speech pre written, but in the light of this response, he discards it. Instead, he waits for the crowd to quiet, planning to speak plainly.

It takes some time, but eventually the cheers subside, and an expectant quiet falls over the crowd as Kael prepares to speak.

“I start each of these speeches by claiming that I’m no great speechwriter, and today is no different. But it’s a special moment, so I’ll do my best.”

The expected ripple of amusement passes over the crowd as Kael continues. “I loved Lord Greyheart. Both as a man as a ruler. He has left such enormous shoes to fill that it takes three of us to do it.”

Kael sighs. “When I suggested to him the idea of ending slavery, he shocked me by agreeing easily. But what shocked me more was the reception from all of you. The immediate acceptance of people so different from yourselves, people who had been **** into bondage for generations. And the wisdom to see that they are, in truth, no different than humans after all.”

Kael looks out across the crowd. It’s still largely human, but every time there’s a gathering like this, there’s more and more nonhumans mixed in. He looks over to Evie with a smile. “I discovered much the same, and my life has been immensely enriched.”

Evie blushes, drawing whooping from the crowd. Kael grows serious, however. “Unfortunately, there are those who disagree. Those who harbor hatred for what we’ve achieved here.”

Kael shakes his head. “I am a warrior at heart. Diplomacy doesn’t come easily to me. And so when there is a threat, I refuse to shy away.”

He stands straighter, his voice rising. “To this so called ‘Burnt Hand’, I have this message. No. You can threaten, you can attack, but you cannot **** us to go backwards. Your cult is just that, a cult.”

There’s cheers as Kael continues, his voice rising. “The people of this nation are strong, united. And I will defend them with every fiber of my being. Erillia stands, a united and proud kingdom, and I will let nothing break that apart! For Erillia!”