Maji Born

37 - A Speech For The People

The city was in chaos.

People peered out of doorways and stood around shops looking nervous and disoriented. It was just after dawn by the light peeking over the tops of the house.

Zehara, on Carsire's suggestion, had kept the carriage curtains drawn. She glanced out the edges curiously. The snow was still thickly coating the streets but seemed to have stopped falling.

The carriage came to a halt at the entrance to the cities most central square.

Zehara removed her hand from the edge of the curtain, letting it fall back into place.

"I guess this is it," she said, speaking to Lavinia and Carsire. The others had been guided into a separate carriage.

"I suppose it is," Lavinia murmured. There was a click as the carriage door opened, letting in a blinding streak of morning light.

The three figures exited into the streets and were led up onto a raised platform by soldiers.

Zehara gave her surroundings a looking over, taking in the faces of the people gathered in there. It seemed that most of the city was packed into the square.

As she gazed around she spotted Eirian, Devarak, and Erissa standing off to the left.

They watched with excited anticipation as Zehara took her place at the center of the platform. The crowd quieted and Zehara began to speak.

"Good people of Midas. Thank you for gathering here today. The disruption from this morning will not have escaped your attention, as such, I would like to start by filling you in on what took place."

"Who are you!" someone shouted from the center of the crowd. Zehara smiled, "I am Zehara Xeara Belestine, rightful heir to the Midas throne. I am the granddaughter of King Axilis Aribis Belestine."

The crowd exploded into loud discussion. Zehara was unable to tell whether these were cries of outraged or excited.

"Silence!" Carsire bellowed, stepping to the front of the stage. There was a pause in the noise and Carsire stepped back allowing his Queen to continue.

"Early this morning my soldiers retook the throne from the Usurper Radek Tazarine. Not only was his seat of questionable claim, but he himself was also unfit to rule. Radek Tazarine is responsible for the death of his father, which his sister," Zehara gestured to Lavinia, "has given testament to."

Whispered broke out among the crowd. Zehara let the discussion proceed this time and waited patiently for it to subside. She grasped at the stone in her right hand and bid her time. Once the crowd had returned to a manageable noise level, she removed the stone from the inside of its pouch and held it up.

"Behold the Ardaer stone and see my claim to the throne."

Zehara funnelled her energy into the writhing stone and propelled it towards the grey sky, as she did it began to glow lighting up the sky above and splitting through the clouds.

Zehara concentrated on retaining her grasp the stone while gazing down at the people below. Many appeared to be struck with awe while others looked more conflicted by the source of the majik. But it was undeniable, Zehara Xeara Belestine was their Queen.

After a few minutes of stunned stillness, the people began to kneel. It began with Carsire and the guard, then her friends, and finally one by one the city folk. Zehara lowered her arm sucking the energy back into her body, letting the radiant glow retreat back into her skin. She returned to the stone to its pouch and gazed around at the people before her.

"Rise," she commanded, gesturing to the crowd. They did so, some stumbling as they attempted to recover from the shock. Zehara glanced at her friends, Eirian and Devarak grinned at her encouragingly. Lavinia's usually impassive face was mired with glee. Zehara pushed on.

"Let it be known that majik will as of this moment be accepted as part of our cultural identity. 

The ban has been officially removed and those who have been affected by this tragedy shall be granted an audience with myself and council." once I have one... "My coronation will happen shortly." 

With this Zehara gave the crowd a small dipping nod and turned to let Carsire guide her back to the carriage. The crowd exploded into loud conversation and movement sprung up all around the royal party.