Chapter 2: Chapter One
Princess Zahara hurried with the elegance that befitted a girl of her status. Her long gown trailed behind, flowing across the marble floor like a river on sand. She was almost late for her entrance into the Court for the Gathering. Zahara cussed. She would've loved to break into a run but Court decorum would not permit her.
A royal lady's sword is her elegance, her shield is her beauty. An heiress purpose in the Court is to learn the ways of Ruling. Her goal, to please the Emperor.
Zahara prayed to her Ancestors that she would not be late. If the Empress made her entrance before her, she wouldn't be able to enter the Court and that wouldn't be her first time. Zahara had to gain favor in the eyes of the Council and more importantly, the favor of her father, Emperor Xust.
A royal born must always endeavor to attend the Court. For an heiress, it is a necessity.
As she approached the Hallway of Emperors, her maidservants retreated. There are certain places slaves cannot go. Her two guards, Suleman and Atia , followed her though, but they dipped their heads in respect for the paintings of the past Emperors. Zahara sighed in relief when she got to the Doors.
The fourth blue strip had not yet been tied meaning Empress Zamila was yet to make her entrance. The guards at the Doors dropped into a third degree obeisance, paying homage to the princess. They opened the Doors for her and the drums sounded.
Zahara squared her shoulders and held her head high, looking every inch like the royalty that she was. She walked gracefully into the Court as one of the three priestesses of the Great Mother intoned her accolades.
" Behold Princess Zahara, daughter of Emperor Xust. Behold the favored of the Gods, Hieress to the Throne of Atamesia."
As Zahara walked down the Court, she noted just how full the Throne room was. She could see the Nobles, the Council of Elders, the High Merchants, the High Traders and a few Sungtai. Her trained eyes picked up the subtle auras around the gifted ones, notably her Teacher, Master ça- Turune.
She also noticed Panesia and his father, fe-Marock, standing at the left wing of the Throne room. Zahara knew that they'd stood together with the rest of the Court not because of respect but rather because of formality.
They detested her, especially that throne-stealing Panesia. Zahara locked eyes with him and he smirked, doing a slight mock bow. She wasn't pertuded.
As Zahara walked to her seat in the right wing, she swore. No matter how gifted Panesia was, her Birthright and Throne would never be his. The Great Mother would bear her witness.
*. *. *. *
Na-Panesia watched Zahara walk into the Court as if she owned the place. He was angry that they had to stand in acknowledgement of her Entrance. Such a weakling,he nearly spat. Zahara was a disgrace to the royal family, a tint that had to be removed. At fifteen years of age and her Coming of Age ceremony approaching, her Mark had not yet awakened. What a disappointment!!
How could the Court give respect to one so weak?He had awakened his Mark when he was six and had already proven himself as a master of his gift, earning himself the title na on his Coming of Age ceremony.
Panesia locked eyes with Zahara and he smirked, doing a slight mock bow. She simply smiled slightly and looked away. That sasay attitude of hers. She was pathetic really, fit only to be a sunti, a slave.
However Panesia knew that wasn't possible. Even if he was made the Heir to the Throne, Zahara would still enjoy a comfortable life. There was no doubt that Zahara's Mark would awaken, however, the longer it took for a mark to be a awakened the weaker her powers would be. It pained Panesia that he wasn't given the same respect as her.
He exuded his will and felt his aura crackle with energy. Panesia wanted Zahara to see that he had something she could only dream of. Power. Magick.
But she took no notice. He felt his father's elbow brush him lightly. He heeded, withdrawing his aura. Panesia promised himself that he would bid his time. Someday, that Throne would be his and he would ensure that everyone bowed and gave him and his father the homage they so rightly deserved.
The drums rolled and Empress ge-Zamila entered. She was resplendent in a cream colored gown with golden swirls, which seemed to move with her every step. Her pale green aura floated around her, enhanced by the special gems on her tiara and jewelry. Panesia liked her alot. The Empress was the closest thing to a mother he never had, well apart from his nanny. He knew his father liked her for entirely different reasons,yet, he felt very comfortable with it.
The Empress took her seat next to Zahara on the right wing. Since, it wasn't a major Gathering she would not sit by her husband, the Emperor.
The trumpets blasted and the drums boomed like thunder. Emperor na-Xust was making his entrance. The three priestesses began to sway and chant, thier palms raised to the heavens. They changed the praises of the Emperor and sung of his glory. They sung the story of creation, from the beginning when the Great Mother birthed the Gods and together they spun the web of creation, welding it with Fire and Magick.
As thier chants rose higher and higher, the Emperor's reddish aura crackle increased in brightness. His robes were made of golden thread and dyed red and white with apromatic dyes. With every step he took, the atmosphere became thicker and thicker. The Emperor didn't just radiate power, but also authority.
He made his way to the dais on which the golden throne sat and imediately that mirage that was the Throne, solidified into its glorious form.
Emperor Xust sat on it and he gasped softly. Thirty years he'd on the Throne and yet he could never get used to the power it gave him. It connected him to the Land, allowing him to see the very life force that flowed through it. It was like looking at two planes. He could see the hues and tints of the energy in Atamesia and he could also see the Court that was before him.
The Power of the Throne is like a wild horse. Majestic and immense. It is the duty of the Emperor to channel and harness this great power.
And that was exactly what he did. He used his power to rein the wild horse and channeled it into himself. It spread his awareness across the entire empire and he caught glimpses of the Land. Emperor Xust brought his focus to the Court and raised his hand. The chanting and music stopped abruptly and vin-Luiene stepped forward.
He was an old man in his seventies and he served as the Court Seer and a priest of the Great Mother. Luiene dropped slowly into a first degree obeisance in front of the Emperor and got up after he nodded. The Court Seer produced a large parchment and read out the names of the Nobles,Elders of Council,High Merchants, High Traders and Royal borns who were present.
When he finished, Luiene turned to the Emperor, his head bowed and spoke." If my Lord would permit, the first person to speak will be High Merchant Kavin, presenting the report of his trade visit to the Kingdom of Nultis."
The Emperor nodded. He already knew everything that everyone in the Court who was to speak today was going to say. It was just formalities and it also promoted transparency among the Court and people of Atamesia. Kavin stood up and walked slowly with reverence in front of the Court. He knelt , his head bowed and palms on his laps as his long grey hair fell down his shoulders.
"Rise." The Emperor commanded. His voice rippled with power and spread across the entire Court, enveloping everyone. Kavin stood up unsteadily,his head still bowed.
He said." My Lord, the trade visit to the island of Nultis yielded positive results. Not only did the Nultisian King agree to open up ivory trade with Atamesia, he also promised to facilitate the trade of spices and silk."
Emperor Xust noticed the eight Elders of the Council nodding satisfactorily. They were all seasoned men,chosen to represent the other eight kingdoms of Atamesia. Unlike the Governors of the eight kingdoms who served a fifteen year term, these Elders were to serve their entire lifetime in their positions.
Kavin continued." The king sends his greetings...and also gifts. If My Lord pleases, may I present the gifts before the Court."
The Emperor gave his assent and Kavin clapped softly. Imediately,six palace guards brought them forward. There were large chests of gold coins, gold figurines and rare gems set in various ornaments. There were also vessels of ivory and six large jars.
" My Lord, King Prezz presents gold coins and figurines. There are rare gems, ivory and last but not least, six jars of red bee honey."
At the mention of red bee honey, the entire Court gasped. Red bee honey is the rarest and most expensive type of honey. It was valued for its exotic taste and almost perfect flavor. Produced exclusively by red bees, which are equally hard to keep. On an average, it took a team of red bee keepers about a year to produce a medium sized jar of this exquisite sweetner.
Emperor Xust flicked his wrist and drew power from the Throne. White flames the shape of a drakoen shot from his hand and wrapped themselves around the golden items. They melted in their containers instantly. The vree containers held the molten gold and Kavin swallowed. Was the Emperor displeased?
Xust spoke." Gold and gems we have,.......but tell King Prezz that I'm most pleased with the red bee honey." Kavin sighed in relief. His head would continue to remain on his neck.
He continued." You've pleased me Kavin. Send two of the jars to the Great Temple of the Great Mother and keep one."
Kavin fell to his knees in gratitude." My Lord, my gratitude to you knows no bounds." A jar of red bee honey was extremely expensive and as a gift from the Emperor, more doors would open for him among the High Traders of Atamesia.
The Emperor dismissed Kavin, and vin-Luiene announced the next speakers." Elder Koojo and Elder fe-Barun."
The two Elders were of the Sonsibar and Karum kingdoms respectively. Since the Elders were the only people allowed to perform a second degree obeisance in front of the Emperor, they did just that and stood up after the Emperor's assent.
Elder Koojo, who was the older of the two spoke up." My Lord, the Governor of my kingdom wishes to unite his son with the daughter of the Governor of Karum. The two Governors are long time friends and wish to cement thier friendship with the union of thier children. We are before you to humbly ask for your blessings."
Emperor Xust turned the idea over in his head. His spies had already informed him of the intended union,and unlike some other marriages, the two young people were in love. However,he couldn't displace the fact that the two Governors stood to gain a lot from the union.
It was tradition that the Emperor give his blessings to unions between Nobles and Governor's offsprings. This was to prevent Noble families from making alliances that extended thier power and influence, in order to balance the delicate line of power. If he didn't give his blessings, the union would not happen.
Emperor Xust made up his mind." You can tell the Governors to start the wedding preparations. My blessings are with them."
The Elders were elated, and thanked him profusely." May your reign be long and glorious, My Lord."
Vin-Luiene announced the next speakers and the Emperor settled into the soft pillows on the throne.
It was going to be a very long Gathering.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone