Mars Underneath The Sceptre of Eternity

The Coronation

The Grand Seer put the Crown on the King's head and uttered incomprehensible hymns to please the Scarlet Sea and the Mountain of Fire; he poured red water from a bowl over the sceptre and gave it into the hand of Ergonn. D'eimeonn passed him the king's cloak and Ergonn donned it.The cloak was depicting Karzond dynasty's royal emblem; it was made up of silk and bordered by precious stones. He was asked to cross the hundred steps to sit on the throne; as he started climbing up, the Grand Seer began explaining the inner meaning of the ritual.

"A king must have hundred virtues" He said, "Every step stands for one essential virtue."

Ergonn stepped onto the first step, the Grand Seer shouted, "The Step of Valour."

Then the King stepped onto the second staircase, and the Grand Seer declared that, he had crossed the Step of Martial Prowess. After crossing fifty steps, he started telling about the King's inner virtues like honesty, humility and the final step was for the ability of conquering the dark forces. This ordeal was very much crucial for a new king, because anytime his men could ask him to prove the quality. However, no one raised a single question regarding Ergonn's ninety nine qualities. He was also feeling strange and again thought that he had revealed the magical power of the sceptre, so, his men had no doubt on his calibre.

As Ergonn reached to the final step; Warlord Koim Garrotes raised a question, he said in a cold voice, "Pardon me, Your Divnity; but the King has not crossed the Terra Tenebris to prove his ability over the dark power." Ergonn stopped and turned back; the copper complexioned tall and muscular man with rectangular face; square jaw, hooked nose and small rounded eyes with black eyeballs was looking at him like a hawk staring at its prey. His black cloak depicting his house's emblem a red fire flame on a stack of woods.

Everyone looked at Warlord Garrotes; the Grand Seer replied calmly, "The time has not come yet; one month later, when the planetary conjunction will start, the Evil Moon will appear in the sky and the power of the Firephenys will rise again, the King will cross the Kingdom of Darkness to prove his competency. He will suppress the Dark Force forever and will be the King of Mars. The Planet will be ruled under one King."

The Grand Seer's reply was accepted by the others and Ergonn crossed the last step without any hurdle. He sat on the throne and was greeted by all. The ceremony was followed by the announcement of the royal betrothal; the Grand Seer declared proudly that Oeilna, the daughter of Warlord H'orden would be the next queen.

Oeilna was invited to live in the palace for a month along with her friends and relatives; but the wedding date would be decided after the Dark Conquest.

Ergonn looked at the sceptre in his hand; did it really possess the Power of Eternity? He never believed in all those stories; but now he realised that the myths also had some truth behind it. Suddenly he realised that his first day as the King of Terra Aquillaan had started.

"Grand Seer, High Seers and other Seers, with the blessing of the Scarlet Sea; I, King Ergonn, the son of late king Nachoa and a descendant of Karzond dynasty; wish to start my first day as the King of Terra Aquillaan." The King paused and looked across the throne room; there was a large gathering of warlords and oligarchs; who were waiting for his orders.

The Grand Seer raised the Rod of Justice; "Though you are the King now, but you have not crossed the Terra Tenebris yet."

"Then please tell me Your Divinity, how can I cross the Terra Tenebris and who will accompany me in the land of Eternal Darkness?" Ergonn asked politely.

"You have to choose your followers through three trials; the first one will be the Trial of Body; the second one will be the The Trial of Soul and the third one will be the Trial of Mind. Your followers have to pass all the three trials to prove their calibre and you can choose nine warriors or more from these trials. It is wise to keep more than nine followers; your father did not do it and he lost two in the mission. The vacant places were filled later by other warriors with inferior skills; but you should not make the mistake again. Choose your men carefully."