The Ganut

Episode 3 : The announcement

With a darkened face, a bruised heart, and regretful thoughts, Garuk wondered, "Why did I go out?" That was the question that had haunted her all night. And now the icy wind of Thursday seemed to be going away. The heat began to set in little by little as the fog dissipated.  Then at sunrise sounded the 4 blows synonymous with deliverance for some and executioners for others. 

A few minutes after the bell rang, Paul was preparing to break the news to the people. Mentally it was an ordeal because while the body of his friend Demek is still hot, he could not protect his family or the city. Physically, he had never had so much trouble putting on his announcement tunic. A tunic he has always been proud to wear. This silk woven outfit adorned with the decorations of all the kings in the history of Sifane. His initials were engraved below the right pocket just above the iron dot which is made of gold and represents the right arm of the people and the king in one person. 

Among the Volkins, Caesar waited until daybreak to tell his wife that his son had been chosen to replace his late uncle. He heard a bed creaking in the room and realized that his wife had woken up. He opened the door: 

-    Are you okay, are you awake? 

-    I heard the bell ring. 

-    Speaking of which... Bali, I know you're still crying for your brother, but I hope to put some joy in your heart. 

-    Is it about your shenanigans, you, and your colleagues? 

-    Yes, Savel offered me a solution, I wanted to talk to you about it first but he dissuaded me because he thought that you are emotions could make you refuse his solution. It was hard for me to do it without your approval, but I think it was the right decision. 

-    Go straight to the point Caesar (in a weakened and tired voice)

-    Morak has been appointed to succeed your brother. 

-    Ahh... I see. For once, you and your band served a purpose. 

This is not the reaction Caesar expected, but at least he was relieved to have told her the news and to see her get a little better. He then goes to his son's room, but he does not see him. So, he went to his daughter Zassi and asked, "Where is your brother?" The latter had told him that he had to go play with friends in the courtyard as soon as the bell rang. He must have been there. 

Caesar asked Zassi who was immersed in her drawings to go out and look for her brother. Annoyed that she always had to cover her brother, she asked her trusted servant to accompany her quickly and discreetly to pick up her brother near the lake. They went there and saw her brother. He was sitting near the calm water playing with pebbles "they didn't come today," he mumbled. Footsteps in the sand seemed to approach him: "Come on, come. Father asks you. You'll come and play with your friend's next time. You know that mother doesn't like it when you stray too far from the palace." On the way back, Morak saw a large crowd near the public square. He saw one of his few friends with whom he played outside the palace. He tried to get closer despite the reluctance of the governess to talk to him, but it was impossible to get closer to Garuk. 

Paul, accompanied by his guards, went to the public square. The journey to his desk seemed endless. He had his eyes lowered all along the way as if he was undergoing a walk of shame. As his audience approached, one could enter between whispers and low masses. Everyone was making their assumptions about the announcement. Some even thought that the King had regained his life given the time gap between the bells. Paul had finally reached his desk. Everything seemed heavy to him. Whether it was the atmosphere, or the press release he held in his hands: 

-    Dear inhabitants of Sifane it is with a heart full of sadness that I confirm that King Demek 2nd of the name left us to join the gods Last Thursday. I can read the fear on your faces. But don't worry. If the 11 exist, it is to support you in difficult times. It was decided after an exceptional assembly of the 11 that Morak young nephew of the previous King Demek had been designated to be his successor. The coronation will take place in three days and our beautiful city will be able to heal this tragic loss and move forward. Rest assured, this is the best solution. 

How could the people have been reassured when Paul himself did not have faith in what he had just said. But at the back of the crowd was a 15-year-old boy standing on a rock, his eyes glued to the desk. His life had just turned upside down. Everything seemed still around him. Just after Paul has left the platform, the possible companions of the king are escorted into the public square. There were seven people. Although Garuk already knew it, a part of him refused to accept it. His eyes showed him the reality that he was denying himself. His father could die through his fault. On his father's face, he could clearly read his father's last prayers. The hot vend that was back this morning with the sun made things even more difficult. Jadik did not see his son and hoped that he was close to the rest of his family and that they had finally been able to go home and that they were safe then the supreme made his arrival...

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