Luri had managed to get two seats in the ambassadors section. It appeared the Maran ambassador had been recalled home unexpectedly with his assistant, so Chlo had allocated the seats to Luri. She was now squeezing Delmus' hand so tight he was afraid his fingers might break.
"Isn't she beautiful ? I never had a proper initiation like this." She said to Delmus.
Herusher had just finished and Sikush was inviting Kittara to step onto the podium and take her oath.
"What is she doing ?" Asked Delmus.
Kittara ignored the podium and walked into the centre of the floor, to almost the same spot where Herusher had given his speech.
"Citizens of the Empire." She began.
Instantly Chlo picked up the words and amplified them. Not only that, she translated them and converted them to local dialects and accents. Each person in the chamber heard Kittara's words not only in their own language, but also spoken like someone from their own neighbourhood.
"Citizens of the Empire. I freely give my oath to protect each and every citizen of the Empire."
Kittara wanted to add a waiver about drug addled men from the Ixir slums, but decided it might spoil the tone.
"I give my oath to obey all orders given to me by The Chalné and his appointed officials."
Now she was going to go off script a little. Alyz had been working on a new oath, for the elite who guarded Sikush, so Kittara decided to include some of it. Few of the crowd had ever heard the oath before, chances are no one would notice.
"I also give my oath, of my free will, to protect The Chalné against all enemies and to give my life to protect him if necessary."
Luri gulped.
"Oh dear. That wasn't in the script." She said.
The crowd loved it anyway and the billions watching it live all over the Empire went wild. Inside the chamber the reception was somewhat cooler, but they were wise enough to know Kittara was fairly unstoppable. They all rose to their feet and gave her an ovation. Not the longest on record, but long enough for the situation.
"Thank you." Said Sikush.
He'd walked over to her and was now holding her hand as he led her along the hallway towards the crowds waiting outside.
"So brave." Said Luri as she got to her feet.
"She's just put a large target on her back." Said Delmus.
