A Way of Honor (Champions of the Crystal Book 2)

Chapter 9.1

Sabrina and Selémahs walked behind Mara as they followed a pair of guards through the halls to the Throne Room. Sabrina whispered, "Do we go first, or last?"

"The oaths?" Selémahs said. "The Prime Minister will go first. Technically he swears for all those in the ministries, but it is considered a high privilege to swear personally to the monarch, so there will be several others. There will also be provincial governors and principality rulers. You will come last, with other members of Her Majesty's household."

"What about you?"

Selémahs smiled. "I am not, in fact, in the Queen's service. I am chief attendant to the Guardian. There is a difference. I swore my oath of service to the Guardian after Transference. You will be the Queen's chief lady-in-waiting. The protocols are completely different, and so are the duties. It is traditional that all attendants are Miahn, but there are no requirements for the Queen's household."

"Oh. I just assumed...."

"Your role has been informal, of necessity. And I have been performing some of the duties of both Chief Attendant and lady-in-waiting," Selémahs admitted, "because they have been so light, and because the formal household for Her Majesty had not yet been appointed. But now that has occurred, and you will have to perform the duties."

Sabrina swallowed. "You mean...helping her decide what to wear and all that? But I don't know anything about any of your ceremonies."

"I know," Selémahs said. "But I will assist you. Though I have never been in a monarch's service, I served Shariara for many years, and she was closely connected to the monarchy. I have some idea of what is involved. The Royal Chamberlain will also assist you—she settles all questions of protocol within the palace. You will be responsible for the Queen's household, which falls within the Chamberlain's responsibility for the palace as a whole. You will make decisions about the Queen's servants, their schedules and duties, and settle any disputes among them. You will oversee the Royal Household expenditures and the Queen's wardrobe and jewelry. You will also help determine her schedule and help her to keep to it. However, she will also have a personal secretary to deal with that, and also with her non-official correspondence."

"Oh, lord," Sabrina groaned. "I had no idea what I was getting into."

"I am sure you will perform admirably," Selémahs said. "As it happens, I will be swearing an oath, for the lands which I hold, but that is different from the oath of service you will take. It is an oath of fealty instead."

They reached the Throne Room, and Mara paused so that Selémahs and Sabrina could adjust her short train and assure themselves that her appearance was perfect. Then they entered.

The room, a long, wide hall with a lofty ceiling, was filled with people, all at a respectful distance from the throne. The throne itself was on a dais covered with scarlet carpet, a gilded, carved chair with scarlet velvet upholstery. Mara climbed the dais steps and turned to face the audience for the Oath of Sovereignty. "I, Maratobia Aehari ya Tassan nar Miahn, appointed heir of King Baldaran II, hereby swear to uphold the laws and customs of Praxatillus. I pledge myself to the citizens of Praxatillus and promise to rule to the best of my ability. I will not misuse my power for personal gain. I will turn no subject in need from my door, and I will protect those under my rule to the utmost of my ability. I dedicate my life to this task in the presence of this assembly. This I swear by the Trees."

The audience responded, "Hail Queen Maratobia!"

Mara seated herself regally, a vivid picture in her deep purple gown with its single scarlet and gold sash holding her orders.

Prime Minister Rassir stepped forward, and the oath-taking began.

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Scotty sighed as he trailed Tirqwin around the Khediva, checking everything. He'd seen more of the Ship than he'd ever dreamed in the past few hours—even the brain core, which he'd never expected to set foot in. But Khediva and Tirqwin, worried about the likelihood of Wayfarer involvement in their present difficulties, agreed that Scotty should stay within sight of Tirqwin at all times, for their mutual protection. Khediva seemed unwilling to trust her internal sensors after the previous night's fiasco. Scotty thought he'd never seen her so subdued.