A Crowned King (Complete)

Chapter 1

Thin tendrils of smoke lifted from the incense and candles that burned atop the altar. Several figures stood at the head of the room atop the carpeted dais. Most were quiet save for one. A man dressed in the robes of the Faith with a shiny bald head and a white beard was speaking in a booming voice, commending the soul of the lost man before him to the afterlife to live and laugh and feast with the Gods.

This is growing tedious, thought onw of the men at the head of the room. He stood beside the Priest, and because of that, his voice kept booming in his ear. It was starting to annoy him, but he kept his features carefully blank.

He doubted thst it would go over well with the Nobles and smallfolk if the Heir to the throne of Star showed annoyance at his father's own funeral.

Looking down at the sarcophagus that his father now lay in, he furrowed his brow. He couldn't help but think that the sarcophagus matched his father's personality: simple, functional, unassuming. It was a plain coffin made of good quality steel. There were no inlaid jewels, no gold, silver, or any other fine metal. The coffin was just as his father would've wanted it.

Mako sighed to himself as he looked up and around at his subjects. He knew thst everyone in Blackreach -- everyone in Star -- wanted to attend the funeral of their much loved monarch, but that simply wasn't possible. The temple was stacked full as it was and this was considered a small gathering. The heads of the Noble Clans and those who wished to represent the commoners were in attendance, but no more. There were no weapons permitted among the guests except for the Royal Order who flanked the walls of the temple and were stationed outside to prevent any kind of attack.

As he looked around at the guard present, the Prince noted that all of them seemed tense. Dressed in their black steel armor with their gladius' sheathed at their hips they made for the imposing sight. The Order were taking no chances that the assassination of the King wasn't to be continued on the rest of the Royal family.

Mako and his baby sister Drianna were both in attendance and they were both potential targets. The Order would be sure to be on their toes during the entire occasion. He couldn't blame them. They had lost one of their charges to an assassin as well as four of their own number. They would be sure not to let it happen again if they could prevent it.

He caught his own reflection in the steel of his father's coffin. He was tall, standing a head taller than even his father, and slender of build. He had dark brown hair that fell in tight curls to his shoulders and emerald green eyes. He was handsome with high cheekbones, a strong jaw, and a short beard thst adorned his chin. Today he wore a black tunic, black breeches, black gloves, a black leather belt, and tall black leather boots.

The Heir was the very appearance of the grieving son in that moment. From appearances, one could look at him and see a mourner. But he didn't doubt that that wasn't what everyone saw. He'd heard no whispers of it yet, but it was sure to be on the tongues of everyone soon. Their own suspicions about who had hired the assassin. As the eldest and heir to the throne, he was a natural suspect. He didn't like it, but he knew there was nothing that he could do to stop the rumor mill. It would spin and turn despite what he did or said. Even if he lived out his days until his own death in peace  there would always be those who  believed that he'd been the one behind the assassination.

He balled a hand into a fist, his fingernails digging into his palm. Those that thought such things about him...he hated them. If there was one thing that he cherished above all else it was his family. He would sacrifice every single person in Star if it meant saving the life of even one of his family members.

Mako looked to the crowd, catching sight of his sister. Drianna stood among the men and women in attendance, a Queen among them all. She hekd her head high and regal, her eyes narrowed, but empty of tears. Anyone else might've thought it unnatural that she was so aloof, but he could see the truth. This was tearing her apart inside. How could he tell? The tip of her nose was red.