Legacy

Chapter 26 - Naming Day

It was nearly a week before the prince fully recovered from his experience. He was weak and tired for much of the time and was barely able to eat as the last of the toxins left his body; but his eyes remained changed and there was something different about him – he had a new confidence and was driven like never before. The prince now pursued every task and challenge with strength and a fiery ambition.

Sol Uno Kabel was surprised with the ease with which he now understood the Ancient Tongue. In a matter of days the prince could read it fluently and it was clear that there was no need for his continued tutelage. However, the prince insisted he stay on and teach him more about the Stone Library and the Archivists.

Kane kept a watchful eye on the prince; his recklessness had caught the protector off-guard. He hadn't expected the young prince to steal Keid seed or to test its effects on his own. There was little that could be done now but such a bold moved seemed so far removed from the simple days at the farm. Those days of sunshine and warmth seemed so long ago. It had only been a few months but seemed a lifetime. He had always known that the prince would need to change to pursue his goals but now it seemed as if he was prepared to run headlong into the unknown.

The estate was in a frantic state as the preparations for the prince's naming day were underway. Caladia Laura was busy overseeing food and drinks for the feast and arranging entertainment for the day. Dawn Marie had offered to help and was in Ivory Road in search of acts the prince would enjoy. Thane had been unrelenting in lessening the prince's workload and was insisting the prince accompany him to meet several other community leaders and walkthroughs of several civil improvements he was sponsoring.

With the hive of activity there was time for little else. The great hall was being decorated with the imperial colours and even a tapestry bearing the imperial symbol – a hand gripping a broken chain – was dug out of some long forgotten storeroom. There was a need for some secrecy as to who the prince really was and so to avert suspicion there was an equal number of Praxis themed decorations being set throughout the hall.

When the day finally dawned, Kane found himself staring out of the window at the fresh snow. The sun had barely crested the storm wall and the morning fires had yet to be lit. He'd awoken with the sun with a great sense of melancholy. The Protector Academy made no grand gestures of the naming day. To survive that long was an achievement in itself. He'd merely stood in front of his instructors at evening meal and announced who he was. They jotted it down in a book and poured him a glass of wine and cheered his name.

The imperial family at one time had had extravagant celebrations and their naming day was always a big holiday and festival throughout the empire. This time it would be different; Caladus had gone to a great deal of trouble but it would be a bittersweet affair. The emperor and empress would not be there to greet their only son into manhood, nor would any of friends and supporters back in the village. At least if it had been in the village all those the prince had grown up with would have been there wishing him good fortune and celebrating fondly. No doubt the prince and his friends would have gotten into all kinds of mischief, drank themselves silly, and gotten into the kinds of trouble that all young ones did when they could. But none of them would be here today, except for Barabus and his boy. Would the rest remember what today was? Would they raise a toast in remembrance and celebration?

In many ways today was the end of the long journey that Archon had begun all those many years ago on the night of fire and blood when the capital fell and the imperial family were murdered in their beds. How long the road from there to here had been. That simple quiet life was now a faded memory. Just like the ones of luxury and nobility that had come before. He had come far and what the future held was no longer certain. There were no more plans and goals.