Silver Skeletons: Book 3 The Rose Tree Chronicles

Chapter Twenty-Three: The King's Sanity in Question

"Slaves under the age of eighty that are not sold at the end of an auction will be put into auction a second time. If by the end of the second auction they are still not sold, they will be sent to another town to be sold there."

Polaris wasn't certain how to feel when he learned that Parliament was gathering for an emergency meeting, though he knew it could mean nothing good. As Drake had no official court title, he was not permitted to attend. This was unfortunate as Polaris had the haunting impression that he could use the moral support of his close friend at that time.

Polaris made sure to be dressed impeccably in a black glittered vest and gold shirt when he entered the foyer of the forum in the center of Helvetica. He felt the need to stand outside the doors to the Chamber for a moment to gather his strength before he managed to calmly enter and take his seat behind the cedar balustrade. Today he lacked patience completely and almost couldn't bear the amount of time he was forced to wait for the assembly to begin. It was all he could do to resist fidgeting until finally the signal was made.

"All rise for your Queen Consort, Ariana of Noelle, and the Right Honorable Prime Minister, Lucius of Noelle!"

Polaris couldn't help but notice the absence of King Darren in that announcement. He wondered if he had simply missed it and glanced over to the far-left side of the room where two Sergeants in Arms entered, each one brandishing a bejeweled glaive in their left hands. They escorted the queen, who made her appearance in a light-catching silver gown which turned everyone's heads to her as she sat in her tall, oak-wood seat. The seat beside her remained empty, leaving Polaris overwhelmed with dread. He sucked a deep breath through his nose to maintain his composure and stood his ground with his chin raised. The only other person to follow her in was the prime minister, a position which at that time had significantly less authority than is currently understood. He took his seat at the Despatch Box in front of Queen Ariana and everyone waited for the next announcement.

"And now, please remain standing for the Speaker of the House!"

Polaris prayed for no more surprises as he watched the Speaker's Parade enter the Chamber by the dull beams of winter light which shone through the windows just below the ceiling. Two more Sergeants in Arms entered in front of the Speaker, followed by the clerk and the rest of the Table Officers. The Speaker took his seat in his Chair upon the dais on the complete opposite side of the room from Queen Ariana while the Sergeants in Arms placed the scepter at one end of the Table of the House, and the Mace at the other end.

"Hear ye, hear ye," called the Speaker. "This emergency gathering of Parliament has officially begun. You may be seated." Everyone in the room obeyed, which included approximately thirty people on each side. "Please direct your attention to our Queen Consort, Ariana of Noelle, who will explain the purpose of us coming together this evening in the absence of our king."

The Speaker took his seat and Queen Ariana rose from hers to approach the balustrade which encircled her and her husband's chairs. Polaris felt his blood shoot through his veins and he could swear that the air in the room steadily increased in temperature with every word that Ariana spoke.

"Gentlemen," Ariana addressed. "I have called you here today with dreadful news aside from that of the regrettable death of my eldest son, your heir, Prince Myrdor of Noelle. I fear that my husband, your gracious King of Noelle's faculties are slowly deteriorating. This evening, he began to blame quite a number of kingdoms for the death of our beloved heir and is considering a declaration of war on all of them. I'm sure we can agree that mass war all over the continent is a disaster we wish to avoid. Unfortunately, I haven't the authority to counteract my poor husband's demands as I am no more than your queen consort. I have brought you all together to request the Crown Matrimonial in an effort to avoid all-over war. Thank you."