Flames (Book 3)

Epilogue

It was an humid day in the Lessaenite city of Pylea. Being close to the equator, it was not nearly as cold as the frozen, northern city of Glaisse. Highland Hall, the Arystenn family's famed summer palace, was tucked snugly into the side of a hill. The brilliant rays of the sun touched every shingle of its roof, and its highest balcony was illuminated, naturally, in a manner splendid enough to befit its occupants. 

"Citizens of the Pylea," Raliyel Novisty announced. "I am proud and pleased to present to you...Queen Tara of Lessaenes!" 

The silk curtains that masked the entrance to the palace were pulled aside by a single Ice Guard, and the Queen stepped through, dressed in a magnificent gown crafted entirely of gold fibers. Despite its costly composition, the dress somehow managed not to look gaudy. Gasps were heard throughout the crowd that had assembled to watch the ceremony. After all, this was the first time in over three hundred years that a Lessaenite monarch had worn anything other than blue. 

"Today is quite an unusual day, for all of us," Tara began. "It brings us many feelings...anger, relief, hope, and despair. Some of us are not sure what to feel, at all. After all, my mother was Queen of Lessaenes for three hundred and three years. That's three times as long as any of us could ever hope to live. This transition will be difficult, to say the least. I am not promising that I will be able to live up to my mother. In fact, I doubt that I will ever be half the woman she was. However, I can tell you all with my full confidence that I will act with surety, and employ every ounce of wisdom I possess to hold the Empire together in this time of great uncertainty." 

The crowd, assembled before the palace gates, was silent for a long, tense moment. However, soon, it broke into applause that was first uncertain, and then thunderous. Tara smiled, relieved that her first impression on her people had been acceptable. 

"Before I discuss my plans, I would like to introduce your ruling Council," the Queen smiled. She had put many hours of thought into her appointments, in an effort to satisfy both those who wanted to see the original Six noble lines preserved, and the more progressive faction of the population. She sincerely hoped that there would not be any trouble. 

"The Chief of the Warrior Clan...Eleanna Myers." She held out her right hand in polite acknowledgement as the leader of the White Hot Flame stepped out from behind the silk curtains. 

"Thank you, my Queen," Eleanna nodded, approaching the second decorated podium that had been staged a few yards away from the Queen's. "It is my utmost honor to speak to all of you today, and to serve as your Warrior Chief. For those of you who are bothered to have a rebel commander and Iceheart as the second in command of your wonderful, new, ice-free Empire, I would like to take this moment to announce the official dissolution of the White Hot Flame." 

She allowed the crowd a moment to absorb this news, as dozens of Auraview cameras focused on her. 

"Like the other members of the late Queen Saralee's nobility, I have been rid of the burden of immortality by the brave Wielder of the Staff, Aron Faerlen." She gestured to the two armchairs directly behind her, which were occupied by a now famous pair, the Heirs of King Airel. Aron looked decidedly uneasy in his tuxedo, but Princess Viviana's smile couldn't have been brighter. 

"From this moment on, I will age normally. The prospect of growing old has certainly made me a bit uneasy, as I'm sure it has many other former Icehearts. Yet, I wish to remind you that now, we are all on the same page. The aristocracy still stands in control of the Council, the Assembly, and the throne, but we are no longer a class of supreme beings. We are just ordinary Lessaenites, like all of you, who just happened to be born into positions of great importance. It is my hope that, in the future, we will break the hostile layer of ice- if I may- that has developed between us, and become allies, working toward a common goal." 

"Thank you for your words, Chief Myers," Tara nodded. "Now, I would like to invite the other four members of the Council to the balcony: Chief Sophie Valior of the Scientist Clan, Chief Tamarius Kandain of the Mystic Clan, Chief Faunina Soren of the Keeper Clan, and Chief Araquin Yulah of the Artist Clan."

The Queen watched, her fingers crossed behind her back, as the four Chiefs entered the space in an orderly line. They stood behind Eleanna, their leader, as they waited for further instruction from Tara. 

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you, the ruling Council of Lessaenes," Tara beamed, hoping that she didn't look too enthusiastic. The hard part was yet to come. "However, this Council is not yet complete. Last night, my advisers and I discussed the formation of a sixth Clan, in order to give a very special group of people a proper place in our Empire. Please welcome Justin King, Chief of the Earthen Clan." 

The crowd fell silent as Justin awkwardly ducked through the curtains, joining the other members of the Council. It was clear that they had not yet fully accepted the presence of humans among them, as their applause was much more tepid than it had been just minutes ago. 

Yet, they had applauded. Lessaenes had clapped for a human. Now, that was definitely something. 

Tara's strategy had worked. She had selected the purest hearts from the five noble families, and had formed a sixth, stemming from one of the surviving Glitches. A kind, judicious Council had been formed, and the Six Bloodlines had been preserved. She could already taste her first great victory as Queen of Lessaenes. 

Now, there was only one thing left to say.

"I do not wish to take up too much of your time, so I shall make this quick. My final announcement will be one that, perhaps, a lot of you have been expecting. Yet, it may still come as a surprise. I would like to introduce someone without whom I may very well have died- multiple times, actually. Thorel Myers...your would-be King." 

Cheers erupted through the crowd as Thorel stepped onto the balcony. Unlike the others, who had entered from behind the curtain, he came through a small side gate, covered in trailing vines. 

"I am honored, Your Highness," Thorel bowed, before acknowledging those who had come to watch. "I was worried for a second there when you didn't announce me as Warrior Chief," he joked. 

"Thorel," Tara gave a small, wistful smile. "Try to take something seriously, for once." 

"As you wish, My Queen." 

"That will be all for this morning," Raliyel concluded. "Her Majesty will be back on Auraview tonight, with the answers to your most pressing questions about changes in Rhenan-related legislation and the rebuilding of our capital city."

Clocking in at ten minutes and fifty three seconds, Queen Tara's first appearance had set a record as the shortest Royal ceremony in Lessaenite history. Gone were the days of tedious speeches and snooze-worthy aristocratic traditions. 

Lessaenes had entered a new era. An era that was bright, exciting, and filled with unexplored possibilities. 

There was no telling what fate had in store for the Empire's new royal family. 

THE END