Figurehead

thirty-nine

Standing in a line with Tui, Lus, High Healer Ret, Tri and Yef with a long line of palace guards a few footsteps behind us, I can't help but think of the crowning.

Almost three months ago. So much has changed since last I heard the people chanting the name of our empire and its leadership.

"Escatin! Escatin! Escatin!"

The paved and cracking streets of brick and mud, sand and dust are lined with people of all ages, heights and sizes, almost all with at least one arm raised. The chorus of noise arising from the crowds echoes in my ears. They chant, in rhythm, our empire's name, the name of our king, of the royal crest.

It is almost a pulse, a wave, running through my mind like a current. I can't hear my own voice amid the noise.

Noise which fades as soon as the king raises his hands in the air.

On either side of him at the palace entrance are guards. Gri and Kep on one side, Oed and Juk on the other. There is another line of guards at the bottom of the steps, keeping civilians from ascending them.

"People of Anshakim, of Escatin. My people." His words, carefully spoken, are clear and loud. Laced with an underlying sense of power. Strength. "I am honoured to stand before you as your king, but I know that so many of you have thought the crown a useless ring of gold." Said useless ring of gold rests on his head, glinting in the half-day light.

"And yet, blood has been shed for this crown. There are people who will stop at nothing until this crown is on their head and they sit on the throne, ruling over you and using you to serve themselves instead of you." He drops his hands to his sides. "It is they who attacked me and those loyal to me. They are the reason for the battle that took place right here." He gestures at the snow-covered area where the guards alone stand.

"It is with sorrow and regret that I inform you that many of these were of the Sirdiu. Those who were appointed to serve you in whatever way possible committed treason, aiming to kill myself and my two appointed heirs. But we stand here still." He glances back at the two of us and his gaze softens a moment before he turns back to his people.

"I never wanted the blood of my people shed for me or for the crown, and yet that is what happened." He glances back at us and Tui hands him a piece of parchment.

"I hope that this will never happen again. And to show you, my people, that I am king only to serve you and not myself, I have written a new decree." He unrolls the parchment and takes a breath.

"For Dre, many of the Sirdiu, people trusted by the empire and by the palace, have hungered for the crown. It is my intention that the crown will appeal less after this decree takes place, and that you, the people, will once again become the most important part of this empire.

I decree that the Sirdiu as they are now, will be no more. I have not discussed this with them yet, choosing instead to consult with those who I trust. You, the people, should be able to trust those who act as the leaders of your provinces, as local judges and as those who bring solutions to most of your problems. Those who act on my behalf because I am only one man and there is only so much I can do.

Once this degree comes to pass, the ink worn by each of the Sirdiu will be meaningless. Pay it no heed. Instead, your courts will be emptied and filled with people who you, the people, deem worthy. In the next few days, I will send messengers I trust to each province, accompanied by palace guards for their safety. Each province will choose up to four people of any role, age or other. Choose people who can be trusted, people who will give themselves to serve you as true leaders.

You may decide upon these people however you wish, whether by holding city meetings and voting or by choosing from a number of people. However you wish, my people, choose up to four and I will bring them to Anshakim to form a Council. This Council will serve you in place of the Sirdiu.