As Athena lied upon her deathbed, the chariot race began in the streets of Illium. Hadrian carried his love to a terrace to gaze upon the contestants. The preliminary contest to determine the final racers in the newly completed arena started at the palace gates, running through the streets of Illium, into the countryside, and back again to the palace. Each driver was assigned a sand glass measuring time. The five smallest sand weights when the drivers have all returned will race in the arena tomorrow. Princess Kia started her chariot first towards the capital. Commander Felix took off second followed by Prince Jonathan. Grand Prince Rurick began next followed by his bride Nalia. Other royal family members and nobles rode out next. The cheers of the crowd touched Athena’s heart. An hour later, Felix appeared before Kia. Soon after Princess Kynthia’s sons appeared. Athena was greatly concerned about Rurick not coming right after Kia. Her heart stopped as Rurick returned with the dead body of his brother Jonathan in his chariot. From the balcony, they saw crowds gather around Rurick below. Rurick claimed to halt when he saw Jonathan’s chariot overturned in an embankment. Jonathan was crushed under the vehicle and could barely breathe due to his broken ribs. Kynthia’s sons raced by as Rurick attended the fallen racer. Rurick then claimed to hold Jonathan as he coughed and gasped his last breath. Then hauled him into his chariot. Kia went hysterical and locked herself in her bed chamber. The whole palace could hear her weeping in agony. Lagash, Sieva and Xerxes embraced each other’s tears. Empress Athena collapsed and died of a broken heart. Hadrian never forgot holding her hand as it grew colder each minute she wept. He saw the spirit of Emperor Olic come to take his wife to the afterlife. He kissed her cold forehead and announced to the family of her deep sleep.
Magicians of the court tried to revive her and accused Hadrian of poisoning her. The royal family believed the conclusion that their matriarch died of grief watching Prince Hadrian sing an elf prayer for Her Majesty. Few understood the elfish lullaby he sang to his beloved Athena.
“Amay Athena. Etsu madell quatay rus dootsoh rae damee portu. Etsu maedees quatay nas vir vaymu rus nasah Styx.”
Nalia had to show her disgust of this disgraceful singing in a primitive language for royalty. Rurick declared that when he dies he hopes this elf sings an elf prayer for him. Hadrian glanced up at the interrupting whispers, but continued unwavering his tribute spreading lilac petals over Athena’s hair.
“Etsu korday quatay tavoh kree vaymu rus famoe Roanoke. Etsu ishta quatay meirodu ite zamor asohvi oht nakaebu etuvas. Amay Athena. Tovark vaymu akeitoh.”
After the elf prayer and blessing, Rurick’s brother Xerxes asked what the elf words meant. Hadrian repeated the prayer in Blythan.
“My love Athena. May you always feel the warm sun on your face. May you forever drink cool water from the River Styx. May you forever eat crisp fruits in the afterlife hills. Forever may you love your family and pray for their souls as you wander without suffering again. My darling Athena. Sleep well in safe heaven.”
Rurick cancelled the final chariot race and arranged his brother’s and grandmother’s funerals. Nalia followed her groom around the palace and refused to leave his side. They married in a private ceremony inside the great hall during the evening meal. Prince Hadrian the Great oversaw the rite of passage for Rurick. Rurick remained dazed in his chariot robes of dark blue and silver lining, his muddy boots untouched. Nalia changed robes into a soft red robe of Anaki cotton with golden lining. Candles were lit to honor the marriage goddess Iris. Flowers were laid in front of the statue of Aphrodite. He lit incense to bless the couple. Wooden coins were burnt in prayer for the wealth god Pisos. Amalia played a song of celebration on her harp and Eurick accompanied her on his flute. The vows to each other, Hadrian thought most characterized Rurick and Nalia.
“I Grand Prince Rurick of Bradsleigh take in marriage Nalia of Anasazi. I pledge to her wealth, honor, children, patience, and my devotion to her happiness for as long as we live.” Bradsleigh is the estate of Sieva’s first husband where Rurick was born. Hadrian notices in his pledge that Rurick never mentions love or comfort.
“I Nalia of Sarai take in marriage Grand Prince Rurick of Blythe. I pledge to him my devotion, obedience, happiness, riches in gold and children, and duty to care over the Blythan people for as long as we live.”
Hadrian read the marriage contract and announced the wedding bond sealed. He introduced the couple as Grand Prince Rurick and Grand Princess Nalia. The dinner continued with music and dancing. Soon-to-be emperor Rurick with a strained smile greeted all who approached His Gracious in congratulations. He received his guests with impeccable manners. He thanked power hungry wolves to the left and deceitful traitors to the right. The meek sheep stood silent in the shadows of eager well wishers. The new emperor-to-be appeared trusting and inexperienced of those around him, or so it seemed. The guests retired to their homes or guest chambers late into the night. Rurick and Hadrian spoke on their way up the stairs to Nalia’s room.
“I hope I am doing the right thing,” prayed Rurick.
“Right or wrong, your victories are your empire’s victories and your mistakes are your mistakes. You alone will receive the consequences to your actions. An emperor is only as good as his charisma.” responded Hadrian.
“You wish to know what my brother Jonathan said about Kia before he drew his last breath?” asked Rurick.
“If you wish to tell me, of course.” answered Hadrian.
“He told me to be careful of Kia. She can be my best ally or worst enemy. You think he was right? Do you see Kia that way?” pled the nervous prince.
“Everyone else does, but you do not. I see a girl who adores you and will be loyal unto you as long as she is kept happy. You turn against her, she will respond in kind. That is how I see Kia.” answered the wizard. “Just remember that those who you think support you can also easily betray you. Money and power are great temptations for anyone.”
“Except you, my tutor.” acknowledged Rurick.
“I have enough money and power to satisfy me. I do not need yours, my pupil.” replied Hadrian. “A wise woman once told me courage is risking hatred by one to be loved by another. Kia is full of more courage than you realize.”
The groom took a deep breath before entering Nalia’s bed chamber at this new stage of his life and opens the door to face his eager bride. All was right in the world, for the moment anyway. The grand procession that was planned for Rurick’s wedding was used for Prince Jonathan’s funeral. Hadrian marched beside Rurick and Nalia. Kia could not bear going to her betrothed’s burial. Prayers sung, incense burned, and the small wooden box placed Prince Jonathan into the floor of the Temple of Aphrodite. Even though Hadrian hardly knew Jonathan, he placed an ivy wreath on his tomb. The palace banquet brought condolences of the nobles and royal family. A grand burial crypt and gold coffin are being built for Athena. Three months later, the coffin is finished. Rurick lies to rest his grandmother. He begs Prince Hadrian to address the mourners at the temple. Athena is carried to the temple in a musical parade with her banner, sword, and crown placed on top. After the prayers and songs, Hadrian stands before the populace in Rurick’s place. Wide-eyed elves and humans alike await for his eulogy outside the balcony of the temple pillars.
“My wife Athena was born to the Lord of Alexandrial and his noble wife. Her brother soon joined her in their nursery. She loved her horse mounts and sang myths from her heart. She battled humans attacking her homeland and showed great compassion to the widowed and orphaned. She rode into Illium with her brother and won the affection of Grand Prince Olic. As Empress, she battled King Nib and King Dylan of Lotan. She devoted her life and family to the Blythan home she honored. Before the long Battle of Julia, she gave a grand speech to her subjects about to die for glory. She stated that we do not choose how we enter this world, nor do we choose how we exit into the afterlife, but by the grace of the gods we can choose how we live. We can not dictate what our children will say about us after we are gone, but we can show them who we are and let them decide which parts of our legacy to carry on. Her courageous spirit lives on in the hearts of the soldiers that let her lead them into victory. Her compassion lives on in the peace after the Elf War. We are the fortunate ones who will remember Athena as our empress. Do not despair people of Illium, Athena lives on in our hearts.”
Silence fell as Hadrian jumped into his chariot and drove back to the palace. The royal family filed out of the temple to the crowds tossing petals and laying wreaths of laurel upon the temple steps. Another banquet was held and Rurick thanked Hadrian for his thoughts about his grandmother. He could not come up with a speech like that. Hadrian grinned and explained to Rurick that he should start learning about his own people. He guessed all the trips to the different craftsmen taught him nothing. To be a good ruler, one must know who he is ruling. The empire consists of more than the nobles and greedy warlords who flatter His Gracious. Rurick began to speak and stopped in mid-sentence. Hadrian reminded Rurick of something Athena’s brother said. The man claimed impoverished subjects do not care how much they pay in tribute. They care what they have left to share with their family. Hadrian assured the arrogant prince that his subjects will embrace him as their emperor. His subjects serve themselves first and kiss the ring that benefits them the most. With that said, Emperor Rurick gave a gold-handled sword to the newly appointed General Kia. During her praise of her new title from the guests, Kia notices a man with two small boys. He approaches to congratulate her accomplishment and points out that he was in the chariot race behind her. He is Princess Kynthia’s older son, Darius. They talk some more about his missing wife. She had died in childbirth last winter and took their stillborn daughter with her. Kia consoles the prince and forgets all about Rurick and Jonathan. In two weeks time, he proposes marriage. General Kia gleefully accepts.
Her stepsons welcome her and Princess Tatiana with open arms. She moves into Prince Darius’s fortress named Atalissa, after his wife to the north of the Olin Mountains. He gained the estate after the Elf War and settled in to profit from all the chaos and displacement of the Lotans the war created. He paid various creatures to build the fortress, walls first, and at near completion, it looked wonderful atop a hill. He chose the banner of a raven with wings spread out atop a blood red background as his emblem. The raven is the symbol for wisdom in Lotan. New settlers poured in and soon became peasants tied to the land and owned like slaves of the lord of the estate. The violence from raiders and thieves made protection a top priority to the unarmed peasants. The peasant slaves worked for protection while outsiders working on King Rychan’s projects earned money to buy farming rights from Darius and only paid tribute for protection. The ones paying tribute soon turned into village merchants and chiefs.
During these months before he was crowned emperor, Rurick discovered a secret Athena kept from him. A guard inquired what he intended to do with Princess Madoni. Princess Myndia’s daughter was stricken blind and deaf a few years ago from a tragic fever epidemic. Athena locked her in a tower along the harbor to hide her from the prying eyes of nosy city dwellers testing if she is really deaf and blind. She weaves blankets for the soldiers and holy priests because her mother taught her well before she was ill. Rurick was stunned at the question. He thought a moment and asked to see his cousin. He was escorted to her dark room. Princess Madoni sat on a stool weaving thread back and forth. She halted when she sensed a change in the air. She screeched like a banshee and looked at the door. Rurick’s candle stick warmed her dirty face. She grasped his hand and touched his emperor ring. Realizing this was not Athena, she traced her fingers around his face and stroked his newly grown beard. She shrieked again and Rurick embraced her close to his chest. He ordered her things moved to the palace where she belongs. He proceeded to carry her down the steps and placed her inside his chariot. The blind princess looked around as if she knew she was outside and sniffed the air as if she recalled what fresh air tasted like. Eurick entered her bed chamber and placed an amulet in her palm. He created a vision in her head where she could see him. The adolescent princess gasped at hearing her voice. She expressed her frustration in not knowing what happens to her because she can not communicate. She noted that the dyes in the threads have different scents and textures so she can tell them apart from one another.
Eurick pitied her and visited the princess once a day after his lessons. He begged to let the princess live in the guest house. Hadrian said that they were returning home to the Haunted Forest. Eurick now was eager to see his cousins Pippi, Max, and Alani again. Hadrian broke the news of his departure right before Rurick was to be crowned emperor by him. Rurick looked stunned and sad, but disregarded his immediate feelings to ask why he was not happy here in Illium.
“Illium is not my home, it never has been. I do not belong here.” replies Hadrian. “I stayed for Athena and for you. My work is done, I no longer have reason to stay.”
“I wish you a safe journey,” coolly answers Rurick. “I would not wish to hold you prisoner. I chose you to crown me out of respect. I adore you like a father and try to follow in your wise footsteps. Being an emperor does not mean I stopped needing you. I want to be a great emperor long remembered in songs and tales. I invited the Queen of Kadacia to discuss a trade agreement to give my people a golden age to look back on. Please stay as my advisor, Alaric the Great?” asks Rurick.
“It is rumored that rulers wear crowns to remind them that there is always something or someone above them. In this lifetime, Rurick, that someone shall be me. Of course, I’ll stay for you. I will go home for a short while then.” answers Hadrian.
Hadrian took his children to visit the Haunted Forest until the crowning of Rurick. Eurick and Enki jumped in the summer waters. Madoni felt the wetness with her fingers and Eurick pulled her in the river. Amalia took Boudicca to the black hadria beach to meet the mermaids sunning themselves. Hadrian had a splendid chat with Alexis who had been busy brewing potions with his brownie brothers. Oden and Kali entertained the guests with squeaky tales of the forest. Hadrian also noticed a sprite built a house in his tree. The sprite welcomed the guests to his home since elf houses inside trees are so small. Alexis also adored seeing Lilia again. Hadrian told Alexis that Amalia helped control the infant’s magic in the presence of mortal humans. Eurick introduced his pet salamander he claimed to have found in Otter Creek running through Brightsburg. Alani brought his family for a visit. Eurick enjoyed holding another infant cousin. Hadrian also discovered a pleasant surprise. The ghost of Nix had been seen running through the trees looking for him. From the magic mirror of Amalia, she came to Hadrian as a ghost and then solidified into a touchable being. She claims to have a master who took her from the afterlife as he raised her soul from the dead. As the moon shined upon the river stones, Nix suddenly grew fangs and bit Hadrian’s neck. He pushes her away to view another figure in the dark forest, the very face of evil he had seen before.
“Eris, how could you kidnap my wife and turn her into a vampire?” begs the shaken Hadrian. “You know I am immortal and can not die with a bite from a vampire.”
“She refused to live again so brought her to the surface neither alive nor dead. I made sure she can not return to the golden hills of the afterlife.” answers the war god.
“Is this a twisted way to get to Iris through me and Nix,” inquires Hadrian. “Maya will not stand for that.”
“If you wish to think of it that way, Alaric.” replies Eris.
Nix and Hadrian talk until dawn when she had to leave with her new master. Hadrian immediately prays to Iris as sun goddess Petrie shined bright in the sky to break the vampire enchantment. The morning star casts a shadow of confrontation. Hadrian notices Iris with her son Kiko sitting upon the river rocks above the waterfall.
“Iris, why is my wife a vampire? Has this anything to do with you?” demands Hadrian.
“Why do you always assume the worst of me when you are in pain?” pleads Iris.
“Because you are usually behind every scheme to make me happy.” replies Hadrian.
“All I said to Eris was to think how to get Nix out of the pleasant afterlife and convince her to be reborn here,” answers Iris.
“It is all right, Iris. Your plans just have a way of backfiring and infuriating me.”
The next evening Nix comes again and the couple speaks far off from the other living creatures that would be ungrateful to see a vampire. Iris lingers in the tree branches unnoticed. Hadrian is so happy to hold his beloved again. He tells her why he stayed away from the Haunted Forest for so long and informs Nix of his marriage to Athena. He excludes the fish egg bit when she grew angry over his devotion to Athena and Rurick. He also neglects to tell her the he was the father of Amalia, but she figures it out when he mentions he was watching over Iris’s daughter. Then, to anger her even more, is seeing Iris spying on them from the treetops. He admits that it was Iris’s idea to bring her back for him. She hits her love for putting her through this terrible existence of being a vampire serving that war god Eris. With Hadrian’s nose blood on her hand, she picks up his enchanted dagger hanging from his belt and cuts off the leather pouch holding a piece of Nix’s blonde hair and Athena’s coin. She proceeds stabbing his chest as she screams at him for all her misery. Hadrian kicks the knife out of her hand and it flies into a river rock. They continue their shouting match as Iris watches the stone with blood and hair on the dagger bubble in the river to enlarge into a giant oyster. She shrieks like a hawk and the fighting couple gazes upon the appearance of the oyster. Astonishment sinks in as Hadrian removes his dagger from the shell and a tiny baby is revealed inside the oyster. Hadrian names her after his best friend, Lexie.
Upon the baby’s first bath it is discovered that Eurick’s and Amalia’s sister is a mermaid. Iris drops by to give her friend his sacred pouch he left behind. Boudicca inquires about the sacred hair and coin since she never revealed the contents of Hadrian the Great’s precious leather pouch. Eurick explains that when his father courted his mother that she gave him a lock of hair as he set off back home after his warrior training was over. The coin was traded with Athena for a coin with her father’s profile on it. Eurick sees at dusk an image of his mother watching him with a chain around her neck. Eurick is stunned at his first sight of his mother. Once realizing her imprisonment as a vampire, he holds up his magic crystal to free her and shouts the sunshine spell his father used. Nix vanishes into dust and her ghost arises to thank him for his mercy. She kisses his warm cheek with her cold lips and disappears into the afterlife. Heartbroken at losing his mother again, he weeps for days. Nothing his father said could comfort him. Eurick next paid a visit to Pippi and Alani using fairy dust that was plentiful in the Haunted Forest. Enki decides to stay with Eurick when he declared to move into Alani’s and Manda’s home in the Olin Mountains. Madoni goes with them. There he could see Pippi’s family whenever he wished. Hadrian embraces his son farewell and gives him the Mirror of Amalia so he could visit his father in Illium. Soon, Hadrian, Boudicca, Amalia, Lilia, Lanie, and Lexie return to Illium using fairy dust to watch Hadrian crown Rurick an emperor.
The spectacular coronation parade takes Grand Prince Rurick to the Temple of Athena. Soldiers march first, musicians second, and litters carrying Rurick and Nalia last. Hadrian arrived long before the procession started and awaited for their arrival. Incense burned as the royals paced in. Flowers are offered to the wisdom goddess Athena and money god Pisos. Candles are lighted to honor the great god Alano. Prayers are sung by an orphaned choir. Hadrian anoints the emperor with oil. The High Priest anoints Nalia. Then Hadrian and the High Priestess anoint the couple with milk and honey. Hadrian speaks a prayer for Their Majesties.
“I know how much love you both have for each other and for the Blythans you rule over. I pray you have the wisdom, courage, and compassion to make your empire great. I wish upon you great fortune in every aspect of life. May the gods and goddesses bless this holy couple.”
The crowds listening cheer the speaker with shouts hailing Rurick and Nalia. Hadrian places gold crowns on Rurick’s and Nalia’s heads and wraps fur-lined capes around their shoulders. Rurick is given a gold-tipped staff. The royal couple walks around Hadrian in a circle to symbolize eternity of the monarchy. In an outrageous gesture, Rurick bows and kisses Hadrian’s prince ring from Athena. Nalia follows in the gesture. The advisor Prince Hadrian the Great is afterwards addressed as Your Holiness. Hadrian thought at the time that men (and women) often bite the hand that feeds them. Hadrian did not expect this utmost loyalty to last very long. Humans are fickle creatures. Nobles often spread rumors how this gesture meant that Hadrian the Great bewitched the Emperor Rurick and Empress Nalia. The only charm Hadrian ever claimed to place on Rurick was true loyalty, which occurs only when lacking fear or greed. He leaves flowers and lit candles regularly on Athena’s tomb and gave her alabaster hands his wedding present before her wooden coffin was placed inside her gold one. In these gestures, Rurick was assured how much Hadrian loved his grandmother. He hungered for the same devotion to him. Hadrian tried to console Emperor Rurick into believing that he obtained Hadrian’s devotion long ago.
Months pass along with the seasons. General Felix took over the army of Blythe as General Kia controlled the Conquered Lands’s armies. General Vim married Kia to Princess Kynthia’s son. He conducted quite the ceremony Lotans talked about for years. The prince rode a horse with musicians and his family ahead of him. Kia followed behind in her chariot with soldiers and flower petal throwers in front of her family. King Rychan drove her chariot and presented her dowry. Queen Anneth sadly was not at her daughter’s wedding, though few noticed her passing. Upon hearing Anneth plotting to overthrow Rurick at his coronation and place Kia as empress, one of the palace guards Athena sent poisoned her under Athena’s orders to stop any attempts of changing her will of succession. King Rychan pardoned his palace guard and assumed all responsibilities of the tiny kingdom he ruled. The wedding continued with the usual candle lighting prayers to the marriage and fertility goddess Iris, flowers offered to love goddess Aphrodite, and wooden coins burned for money god Pisos. A song of celebration was sung by the High Priestess of Isis. Next came the marriage vows.
“I Prince Darius of Heidisburg, take in marriage Princess Kia. I pledge to her love, comfort, wealth in children, security, and everlasting happiness forever.”
“I Princess Kia of Brandisburg, take in marriage Prince Darius. I pledge to him love, comfort, wealth in children, security, and everlasting happiness forever.”
King Rychan presented her dowry of his kingdom upon his death and all his belongings shall go to her children and stepchildren. General Vim read the marriage contract and announced the wedding bond sealed. He pronounced the wedded couple as Prince Darius and Princess Kia. Their reception took place all over the city. Palace guards entertained the extensive crowd in the market place. The whole city gave the couple a precious gift of animal statues in the fountain that also contains a likeness of Alaric the Great. When the celebration bliss ceded and was virtually forgotten, the peasant riots longing for independence from Blythan rule returned to the dismay of the royal family. Kia and Darius visited the villages left in shambles from rioters and raiders. A great sell off of conquered real estate gave rise to war lords and ambitious landowners who sought control of the weak monarchy. General Kia raced to put down rebellions and survived an assassination attempt by a war lord. She began to gain the reputation of having war lords arrested and beheaded in the town square as a warning to others. The heads of her enemies could be found on pikes sitting by the city gate. King Rychan, General Kia, and General Vim controlled the peasant riots and gave the Conquered Lands a prosperous age despite the violence. Kia gave birth to another daughter as Nalia gave birth to a son. Felix and Kaitlyn betrothed their son to Darius’s and Kia’s daughter. Rurick planned to betroth his son to an heir of the Kadacian crown. Queen Deborah IV of Kadacia wrote back declaring to agree to forge a treaty with this new Emperor Rurick. Hadrian promised to return for the royal visit after leaving to see how his son was doing in Alani’s humble castle.
The glorious Queen of Kadacia arrived on time floating on Kadacian ships that attacked Illium during the Elf War. Queen Deborah IV displayed a pageant the inhabitants of Illium never forgot. Her entourage marched to the palace in full regal splendor. Musicians played harps, flutes, drums, and pipes. The royal guests sat upon tall hairy beasts with long necks and covered themselves head to toe with jewelry. Banners of dark blue with silver blossoms floated in the wind to impress the bleak poor watching the spectacle of color.
“Hail Queen Deborah IV of Kadacia, welcome as a guest to Illium. Tales of your beauty do not bear justice to Your Majesty” recites Emperor Rurick according to custom. Then he recites a welcome in Kadacian that Hadrian taught him. Queen Deborah’s interpreter presents Rurick with ten trunks of Kadacian treasures.
“Hail Emperor Rurick of Blythe, gracious we are of your hospitality into Illium.” recites the queen in Kadacian.
The queen of the dessert was ushered in the palace to a grand sitting room. Refreshments are offered and her entourages scramble to their assigned bed chambers and guest houses. Emperor Rurick gives a tour of the gardens and soldiers in training to amuse the queen. Her Majesty enjoys the entertainment. She is awed by Rurick speaking Kadacian fluently throughout the visit. Rurick explained that he wished to know when insults spoken in Kadacian were directed at him. The afternoon meal came next with the finest food and wine the emperor could find. Musicians and singers perform in the great hall for Their Majesties. The following day, Queen Deborah IV rides Rurick’s horses around the city and countryside. Her escort and Rurick’s most trusted advisor Hadrian follow her as she observed Blythan society. She tours every public building in the city and allows the poor to kiss her rings. As the sun fell below the horizon, the queen refreshes herself in her bed chamber and parades into the great hall for the evening meal. Rurick’s infant son Dion is betrothed that night during the gala that followed the meal. Rurick dances with Deborah and Nalia. Hadrian disappears from the gala to gaze at the stars in the sky from the highest tower. A shooting star flies by and lands far away from the palace. Looking down at the sleeping city, Hadrian prays for an agreement between the two rulers. Rurick’s dream of a prosperous empire can not occur with nonstop raids and revolts stifling the common people to fear it. Rich landowners often modify into war lords, even harming their own peasants to obtain obedience from them. The dessert queen and young emperor made the Great Trade Negotiation over the course of a week. The contract pushes the empire into a golden age of wealth, art, literature, and trade.
Kadacia pays Blythe 1000 cubits of gold coins for permitting a colony to thrive on the east coast of Blythe. 100 merchant families were permitted to settle in Blythan cities Sarai, Bradsleigh, Ronace, and Kara devoid of tribute to Blythe. The merchants though must obey Blythan laws and may be punished by Blythan soldiers. The queen’s granddaughter Kazaria (princess) Persephone is betrothed to Prince Dion. Blythe would provide Kadacia with 500 trees to make ships and serve as rafters in temples in exchange of a colony on the Island of Jaymee. 100 merchant families were permitted to live in Kadacian cities Adea, Noor, Olga, and Island of Larsa devoid of tribute to Kadacia. The merchants must obey Kadacian laws and may be punished by Kadacian soldiers. A priest or priestess would accompany the settlers to their new homes to act as ambassadors and interpreters. Many of these translators were well known merchants and did little holy duties for their companions. Despite that known fact, the interpreters were addressed as Your Holiness. Thereafter, the queen returns home and Rurick’s golden age begins.
Trade flourishes and merchants earn more than the nobility. New laws are made to keep the rising landless wealthy middle class from obtaining too much power. Reforms in taxes crimple the cash flow. Merchants are forbidden to neither wear cotton from the country Anaki nor carry weapons in public. Cities are sectioned off to the merchants and positions in government are prohibited to commoners. Despite the reforms, merchants pay to educate their children, protest unfair treatment in courts, and learn to battle attackers. Many common soldiers and sailors rise in the military ranks to the effect of having more power than the commanding leaders from the nobility class. General Vim and General Felix are regarded as heroes of the rising middle class. Judge Hadrian the Great proceeds over a murder case of a noble man accused of mercilessly killing one of his peasant slaves he was suppose to protect. He listens to the man abhorred over the allegations of his cowardice to torment defenseless peasants. He denies causing the peasant man’s death. He accuses the victim’s family profiting by blaming a nobleman of a crime. A vile confrontation between the victim’s widow and the man on trial led Hadrian to show his magic powers to separate the adversaries. After all the testimony, Hadrian the Wise brews a potion in his cauldron to summon the victim’s spirit to the courtroom. The raised ghost admits to drowning in a stream when his horse was spooked by a water snake and he fell onto river rocks to be knocked unconscious. His soul walked to the afterlife and saw the nobleman dash through the river without noticing the dead body further downstream. Hadrian clears the nobleman of all charges. The victim’s brother jumps at the freed man to stab him, but Hadrian turns the attacker into a statue. The judgment and attack spread like wildfire to the ears of the emperor. He ponders during an uneventful ride and notifies Hadrian of his confidence to give the heroic elf the position of High Priest of Illium. The elf humbly accepted the honor.
He moves out of the palace and into the Temple of Athena. He commits to his holy duties of prayers and rituals. Felix, Kaitlyn, and their son had already have moved out into a guard house near the palace from Felix’s promotion to general. Hadrian’s guest house was used as a meeting point where the emperor could discuss his troubles ruling an empire with his wise hero without the prying eyes of servants or guards. Hadrian most favorite part of his new position was visiting Empress Athena’s tomb. Amalia walks around the temple asking the priests and priestesses questions about tales of the gods and goddesses. She found stories about her mother most intriguing. Humans knew nothing of her father’s relationship with Iris. She was most amused about that. Kiko was talked about still galloping in the Haunted Forest waiting for his rider Alaric to come back. Boudicca missed the guest house, but adjusted to living in the priest quarters. She kept up with her studies and eagerly learned Rurick’s new writing form that was less pictographic and more phonetic. She wrote her first play in the new phonetic writing form that was performed in a theater for the emperor. Lilia felt great comfort around the statues of gods and goddesses. Her pet salamander followed her everywhere she went. Lexie was written about in a play and was made immortal by the great god Alano.
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