The Four Chimes

Chapter 13 - LERA

"God," I said. "It's too hot for this."

"Why did we get here two hours early in the first place?" asked Tsano.

"You agreed to it."

"Yeah, because I wanted to see it with you."

"Well, we actually got here a lot later than a lot of people; just look in front of us."

"Guys," Ari said. "The line's moving."

We slowly proceeded into Hanging Square. Despite its name, it was actually an oval-shaped stadium, capable of seating thousands. It was open-air, which sucked on days like this, and as we filed into our row, the body heat of the people packed near us didn't help either.

"At least we have good seats," said Kurie.

He was right. We were in the middle of the stadium, right in front of where the procession was going to face. Two large, black iron gates remained closed, guards standing by each gate ready to open it at the slightest command.

"Five minutes until the procession arrives here," said Ari.

"Have either of you seen Zale?" Kurie asked.

Tsano and I shook our heads.

"He was such a cute baby," said Kurie.

"I wonder how he looks now," said Ari.

"He's probably aged from all he's been through," said Tsano.

"Little kids all look the same," I said. It was true. I could hardly tell my own cousins apart.

"Zale's not so little anymore," said Kurie.

"He's not? I thought he was, like, nine or something."

"Try again."

"Ten?"

"Thirteen."

"Still too young to have a whole nation in your hands," said Tsano.

"Lhartaon's screwed," I said.

"It probably is," said Ari. "But because of more than just a teenage king."

"I still need that proof."

"Paile and Tanta are probably finding stuff out right now," said Kurie.

"I sure hope they are."

"How many vos would you bet Zale stumbles on his own speech?" asked Tsano.

"I would bet a whole tali on it," I said.

"It feels weird that we are going to be subjects to a literal child," said Kurie.

"Yeah. It does," Ari said. "And as for the speech, most speeches are mere formalities. 'I am so proud to be leading this nation, my reign will be so amazing, we will do so many insignificant things that we will never stop talking about, etcetera etcetera' until the whole Square is fast asleep. Zale could probably pull the whole speech out of his ass and no one would know the difference."

"Guys, be quiet," Kurie whispered. "They're opening the gates."

The murmuring of thousands of voices slowly thinned into complete silence.

After several moments of stillness, Ari leaned into my ear. "The trumpeters should be here my now."

"I wonder what's wrong," I replied.

There was a loud clicking noise coming from behind us. Above us? I looked up to find small metal triangles unfolding from the rim of the Hanging Square, tessellated in such a way that they started to block out the sky. Slowly, the triangles, humming and whirring, folded out to the very center of the Square, covering the sunlight completely. It was noon, and yet Hanging Square was pitch black. I wanted to say something to Tsano, but I was too awestruck to do anything but watch. What kind of magic was this? Slowly, little dots on the triangles started to light up bright white, as if they were stars, illuminating the center of the stage.