The Ganut

Episode 7 : The coronation

By the night of the funeral, remote suburban neighborhoods had resumed their routines. The taverns and gambling rooms were as well stocked as they were noisy. The fights here, the smell of tobacco there and in the darkest corridors, you could even smell opium. But in one of the taverns was Oswald. A 30-year-old man who refused to be noticed by anyone tonight. He was dressed in black hooded coat and trousers of the same color. He had ordered a glass of "polugar" and refused the advances of the girls of joy. The tavern was a bit noisy, and you could smell the alcohol in the room. But Oswald was focused on the lady he had been spying on since the beginning of the evening. She was sitting at the back table. Even though she tried to hide her clothes under a large gray coat, Oswald was observant and noticed the outfit of the servants of the royal palace. While Oswald was asking for another glass of polugar, a gentleman entered the tavern and walked to the back table. He sat down and began to talk with the lady. Oswald wanted to come closer to listen to the discussion, but he couldn't do so without arousing suspicion.

Despite all his attempts to try to get closer to the back table, Oswald couldn't get close enough to hear what they were saying. The conversation ended and the gentleman handed a pocket of silver coins to the lady and went out and then some two minutes later, the lady out in turn. Oswald waited just a bit and went out too. In a corridor not too far from the tavern, he sees the lady being taken away by force. He runs to see what's going on! Once there, he sees the woman on the ground dying, bathed in blood. His throat had just been slit. He also sees a little further down the corridor the gentleman from the tavern jumping a fence. He first wanted to help the lady, but it was a wasted effort. She was already dead. He then set out in pursuit of the man. He ran towards the fence and passed it. But he saw no one. He heard screams on the other side of the fence. People had discovered the body and he was forced to escape before the army arrived.

By sunrise, the palace had gone from mourning to joy. Bali's face had become smiling again. Her son was going to be King in a few hours! Her daughter Zassi was happy but not that much. She has always been very reserved. Caesar put on his ceremonial attire. She was white as for all the other members of the council except for the Grand Sage. Among the Bika, only Garuk and his aunt went to the coronation. Garuk resented the royal family but part of him was happy for his friend Morak. His friend with whom he played near the lake was going to be the highest authority in the city. Morak still couldn't believe it. Although he already had servants and a very comfortable life, his life would change drastically. It was no longer "Your Highness" but "Your Majesty", it was his last night in this bed, in this room. He heard someone knocking. "Please enter." It is Paul accompanied by fifteen servants:

- From now on, I am the one who will wake you up on ceremonial days.

- Hmmm... Okay and servants, why are they there?

- To prepare you and Lidas here present, will do every ordinary day what I do today. - Ok... It's good to know.

The servants began to wash and dress him. He was just made to try on the royal tunic to see if they were to Her Majesty's measure. They then made him wear his outfit of the day and left the room at Paul's request. Paul left Morak with Lidas and headed to the public square.

Paul was checking to see if everything was in place. The army was already ready, the spirits had taken place and the crowd had made a guard of honor. The brass bands waited for the king to come out of the palace to sing. It was time. The doors of the palace opened and there he was, the young prince who was ready to cross the hedge of honor. Whenever he passed someone in the hedge, the inhabitant prostrated himself. He began his royal march from the palace on his way to the public square. The band sang the best music ever. The sound of trumpets, harmonicas, drums, and basses. The music was so harmonious and soft that Morak could be seen enjoying it as he walked. He moved slowly, with rhythmic steps, one step after another as if he had been born for this moment. Everything fit perfectly and then in the hedge, he saw Garuk. They exchanged glances briefly, and Garuk prostrated himself. Morak finally arrived in the public square. He saw on his right a regiment of the army headed by General Jérel Fizi, a man of honor and whose bravery is undisputed to this day. On the prince's left were the eleven.

The people of Sifane rose from their prostrations and the coronation could begin. Morak therefore knelt, facing the royal seat as tradition dictates. First, the supreme came to stop between him and the throne and began his incantations. After finishing them, he asked the question:

- Do you swear before the gods to honor their will throughout your reign?

- Yes, I swear (replied Morak)

- By the will of the gods, I make you king.

Then came Paul, the great sage. He stopped between the siege and Morak and recited the king's 5 main duties to his people.

- Sifane is ready to make you king on this sacred day. Are you committed to making your people your priority at the risk of your life and that of your family?

- Yes, I am committed to that.

- Do you commit to be wise and let the eleven advise you?

- Yes, I am committed to that.

- Do you commit to respect the pact of the 10 imperial cities to guarantee peace in Sifane?

- Yes, I am committed to that.

- Are you committed to treating every citizen of your people with respect and love? - Yes, I am committed to it

- And finally, swear before your people here to respect these 4 commitments.

- I swear!

It was done! Morak was now king. He stood up and sat down on his throne. Paul stared at the audience and in a vigorous and resounding voice, he shouted, "LONG LIVE THE KING!" The crowd prostrated themselves again and repeatedly repeated Paul's words: "Long live the king!" It was now Jerel Fizi's turn to swear an oath to the king in order to finish the coronation.

- Before Sifane and because of the powers that have just been conferred on you, I bend my knee (he put a genou on the ground and handed him the royal sword) and I pledge you total allegiance on behalf of the whole army.

Morak stood up, took the sword, and raised Jerel. The coronation was thus over. Accompanied by Paul and Marcel, he boarded the royal carriage towards the palace still framed by the guard of honor. Arriving at the place where he had seen his friend Garuk, he did not see him. So, he quickly slipped a few words into Paul's ear. Indeed, Garuk had asked his aunt to move to the front of the stage to better see Morak. When the coronation was over, Garuk had arrived home and had a smile on his face. He explained the ceremony to his mother who had just put her little brother to sleep, and she was happy to see that her son had found a smile after the tragic event they had experienced.

While Garuk was trying to bring the coronation to life in every possible detail to his mother, they heard someone knocking on the door. Mary's little sister who was closest to the door went to open. She opened the door and saw a messenger, not just any messenger but a royal messenger! He handed her a letter signed with the seal of the great sage and departed. All surprised, Mary's sister hurried to get a knife so she could open the letter. "Open it ! Tell us what it is," Mary said to her sister who had finally been able to unfold the letter. It was the first time she had dealt with this kind of letter. She first read the letter to herself and looked up at Garuk, and then at her mother. "Go! Speak," she said to her sister who was finally about to spit it out.

- Garuk is an invitation to tonight's royal banquet! It is written that the king wants you to come with your family if possible!

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