Chapter 2: Chapter II: The Arrival of the First Prince Aenes
THE NEWS OF THE DEATH OF THE KING OF BARAT SPREAD FAST. Not only in the four
Kingdoms but also in other Empires close to it.
Twelve Ministers in the Kingdom of Barat met to discuss the impending death of King Aldrich IV. They could not fully imagine what had happened to their King. In their opinion, the event that occurred on Mount Agapo was not only planned by simple rebels or robbers who reside on the mountain, but it was thought and prepared by big people.
"It wasn't just some bandits who attacked the King's group." Said Minister Sindayan, the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce. Other Ministers supported him.
"I'm sure a big man did this to our King. A group of unknown bandits blocked them? Do you think they can easily defeat the King's army or even The King himself?" The Minister of Transportation and Labor said that Minister Poeyo.
"Based on the accumulated evidence of the Agapo mountain incident in the Huba Empire. The knives and arrows used by the robbers are precious items that came from the Huba Empire itself." As the Minister of Armed Forces, Minister Dagum said, the other Ministers who were there murmured.
Because of the evidence gathered by the soldiers who were with the King on Mount Agapo, their hunch deepened that the Huba Empire might have something to do with the death of their King.
"The knives and arrows that were used may have come from them, but that doesn't mean they did it. We do have evidence, but it's not enough." Minister Sato responded to the Minister of Finance.
"From what you are saying, Minister Sato, it seems you are siding with the Huba Empire. Are you blind and unable to see the evidence held by the Armed Forces Staff." Said Minister Hamparo the Minister of Education
"I am not siding with them Minister Hamparo. Remember what could happen in the event of a war between our Kingdom and the Huba Empire. Do you think we will win? We may be known for the strength of our soldiers, but did you think that they are outnumbered against us? Even if we ask the three Kingdoms for help, will it be enough?" This time, Minister Sato could not control his anger that his fellow Minister thought of him like that.
Accusing you of siding with another Kingdom? Who wouldn't boil their blood and get angry if they told you this? Minister Sato knows how severe the crisis they are facing now but they should not judge lightly just to point something about the death of their King.
When Minister Sato said that, they murmured again. There is a point in what the two Ministers are saying that the Huba Empire may be involved, but that is not a sufficient basis to immediately point the finger at them and accuse them of being responsible for killing the King.
They continued their discussion. Every step was thought out so that no one else would be harmed if they were to dig up and find out the truth.
The Most Prime Minister Garateo raised his right hand to stop them from speaking when they saw this they immediately fell silent and faced him. The Most Prime Minister is one of the three highest Ministers who directly to the King. With him is the Right Prime Minister who is in charge of the affairs inside the Palace and the Left Prime Minister who is in charge of the affairs outside the Palace.
"It's not easy to decide. It needs to be thought carefully. Like what you said. Maybe the Huba Empire is involved and maybe not but we still need other strong evidence that can prove that they are the ones who did it with the death of our King, because a single step by us can destroy the entire kingdom." The Right Prime Minister, Augusto, addressed them.
"We don't need to rush into decisions and it's difficult to take steps if there is no one to lead. We need to create a team that will lead the investigation of what happened to the King." Left Prime Minister Marino said.
The Ministers formed a team that will investigate and investigate the King's death. Under the leadership of Minister Laurel, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights together with Captain Aquian and Captain Bartam and the ten soldiers of the Kingdom approved by the Most Prime Minister Garateo.
"We also need to prepare for the return of the three Princes from their studies in different Kingdoms. Based on the letters sent by the three Princes, their arrival is stated here. Any time now the First Prince will arrive from the Camp in Mount Imus* with General Tiago and Captain Asbar, on the day of Ligid* the Fourth Prince will come from the Kingdom of the Utara and on the day of Dukotdukot* the Second Prince will come from the Kingdom of the Selatan." Minister Ansona from the Department of Communications said.
After their meeting at that time in the Temple of Hall*, twelve of them together went to the Temple of Mourning to visit the remains of their King.
Outside the Temple of Mourning, the soldiers can be seen wearing their plain clothes, even the Helpers who are there are all plain clothes as well. When the Ministers passed in front of the soldiers they bowed one by one in respect to their superiors. The Assistants did the same. When they entered the Temple, other Helpers and Soldiers were also there and lined up. Like the previous ones, when they passed in front of them they also bowed to pay respect.
They immediately bowed to pay their respects when they got close to the King's remain. Even though it has been pacified, their respect and reverence for him as King is still there.
There were also three monks who had come from Mount Sigay* in the southern part of the Kingdom, they were going to offer a prayer for the departed King. They took the necklace they were wearing and placed it in their right hand while in their left hand were golden bell. After they waved their left hand three times and the bells sounded, the three of them sat down and began to pray.
From outside the Temple a Follower* shouted and suddenly the door opened and Third Rank Royal Consort Danih entered with Third Princess Evonne. The Ministers immediately stood up and paid their respects to the new arrivals and the Royal Consort did the same.
"Here comes the Second Rank Royal Consort Henna, The Third Prince Prince Claudius and the Second Princess Princess Chiara" shouted the Follower outside the Temple again.
"Your Highness Henna, Prince Claudius, Princess Chiara!" The Ministers saluted, while the others bowed.
"Your Highness Henna." The Royal Consort of the Third Rank greeted her senior. The Third Princess did the same.
The Third Prince and the Second Princess also bowed to pay their respects to the Royal Consort of the Third Rank and the Ministers.
They returned to their respective seats while the newcomers went straight to the seats prepared for the Royal Clans. There are four seats in the front part reserved for the Queen and her children, three on the left side prepared for the Royal Consort of the Second Rank and her children and three seats can be seen from the right which are for Royal Consort of the Third Rank and her children.
Everyone stood up except for the three monks who continued to pray when the Follower outside announced the arrival of the Queen and her two children. The First Princess Kriesha and the Fifth Prince Kaiser. When the three of them entered, all the people there greeted them at the same time. They all bowed in respect until they reached the seat prepared for them. They sat down again when the Queen of the Kingdom took her seat.
They were there in silence as the three monks continued to pray. The others will independently offer their prayers for their departed King.
"When will the Fourth Prince, Royal Consort Danih return?" The Queen asked her.
"According to the letter he sent, the second day from now he will arrive with Captain Adem and their army." The Royal Consort response to the Queen's question.
Queen Xena just nodded in response to answering her question.
Once again the silence settled inside the Temple and only the sound of the bells echoed through the entire Temple of Luksa.
YOU WILL HEAR FOOTSTEPS OF THE LEADING HORSE AS HE APPROACHES THE GATE OF SINA. Bit by bit the torches that guide them on their journey in the middle of the darkness and green flags with the symbol of a dragon. The door was immediately opened for them when the soldiers guarding the gate saw the marks painted on the flags they were carrying.
In front of them is a handsome man wearing silver armor and his inner garment is blue and a lion is carved on the front of his armor. When it passed in front of them, the soldiers guarding the gate knelt at the same time to pay respect to those who came led by the First Prince Aenes with General Tiago and Captain Asbar.
The First Prince's group went straight to the Temple of Mourning. After they arrived there, the soldiers immediately knelt down and greeted the new arrivals at the same time. The other Assistants and Followers who were there outside bowed down and greeted them at the same time. They were immediately greeted by the Chief Follower*.
"Dear Prince Aenes." He greeted the newly arrived Prince.
"Are the remains of my King Father here?" The First Prince asked here.
"Yes." He answered.
"My Mother, how is she doing, is she here yet?"
"Yes, Dear Prince Aenes. The Queen Majesty, the Royal Consorts, your brothers Princes and Princesses are already inside the Temple. The Ministers and other officials of the Kingdom are also here." The Chief Follower responded again to the Prince's question.
"Avery and Egon? Did the news of the King's death reach them?"
"Yes, Dear Prince. According to the letters they sent, the Second Prince Avery will arrive five days from now and the Fourth Prince Prince Egon will arrive two days from now."
The Prince just nodded as he continued to walk down the hallway of the Temple. The Follower at the door immediately announced the arrival of the First Prince before the two Assistants who were there opened the door to the room where the King's remains were.
Light coming from the candles was the first thing he saw before a large box placed on the altar of the room. As he stepped forward he was simultaneously greeted by the Ministers and other Officials of the Palace as well as the assistants and other soldiers guarding the inside of the Temple, even his younger brothers. He bowed to pay his respects to the Ministers, the two Royal Consorts and his Queen Mother. He immediately hugged her after standing up from kneeling to pay respect to her.
"Your journey from the Camp at Mount Imus was good and smooth." The Queen said happily to her eldest son.
"Yes, Mother. There was no obstacle in our journey back to the Kingdom." He said. His Mother hugged him again before they sat in their seats.
The Prince held his Mother's hand as a reminder not to lose heart especially at this time because she was here and ready to support him.
Silence once again enveloped the four corners of the room inside the Temple of Mourning. While earnestly listening to every word the three monks uttered in their prayer.
Nine days of mourning are done by the Royal Family for their relative who has passed away before they send him to his final destination. From its burial, until the third month you will see no design in the whole Kingdom but a pale cloth made of silk, even their garments are of a pale color. Even what they eat will be reduced. Also all activities in the Palace contained in those three months will be stopped.
After the first part of the prayer which was more than three hours, the Ministers, Royal Wives and the Queen left the Temple while the Princes and Princesses siblings were left inside to watch until midnight. While continuing The Second part of the prayer. In the Second part of the prayer the children of the late King will light a candle and offer a prayer as a burial to their late Father. From its first child to the youngest. When the church bell rang, it signaled that it was already midnight at that moment. That's why the brothers Prince and Princess came out of the Temple together.
"How long will you stay here at the Palace Brother Aenes?" The Fifth Prince asked as they exited the Temple of Mourning.
"After the delivery to the final destination of our Father King. I will return to Mount Imus to lead our army there." He answered.
"Couldn't it be three months later?" The First Princess said.
"Sister Kriesha is right, Brother Aenes, it's only after three months before you return there." Kaiser said.
"I would like to but I can't. Especially since our Father is dead, there is no one to lead our armies on Mount Imus. This is what you will always remember. As a soldier of our Kingdom, it is my duty to take care of our subject. That is the promise I gave when I swore as a Soldier of our Kingdom. You will also know what I say in due time." He held the younger brother Prince by the shoulder as he said his last words.
"Claudius, Chiara and Evonne." The First Prince gently calling his younger siblings to the Second and Third Rank Royal Consorts.
"What is that, First Prince?" They answered.
The children of the Royal Consort still call the Queen's son Prince and Princess even though they are brothers and sisters to the King. Their position in the entire Kingdom is still based on the Rank of their Mother, except if they have permission to be called brother or sister of the Queen's children.
"I have called for carriages that will take you to the Palace of your mothers. And you two, I have also prepared with Captain Asbar the carriage you will use to go to the Palace of our Mother." He said to them.
"Thank you very much First Prince." His three siblings said while paying their respect to it.
"How about you, First Prince?" Second Princess Chiara asked.
"I still have things to take care of. I have a lot of work left here in the Kingdom. You can leave first." This was in response to the Second Princess's question.
Soon the three carriages for the Princes and Princesses arrived. They left as soon as the five got into their respective vehicles. The First Prince just watched the chariots until they disappeared from his sight.
The Prince turned his back and was ready to leave his place when someone suddenly appeared at his side to give him news.
"Prince Aenes, the people you summoned are already there." Said a voice from the darkness.
The First Prince just nodded and started walking again while the person who informed him suddenly disappeared into the darkness.
The footsteps of a galloping horse are what you hear running out of the gates of Kala. A stout man wearing a brown coat was carrying a black horse
The soldiers stationed at the gate immediately moved to block and stop that person. Four soldiers with spears were right in front of the gate door while four soldiers with bows and arrows were stationed above the watchtower. Ready to release the fired bullets. While the other two soldiers were lowering the door of the west gate. It was getting closer when the soldiers holding the bow released their arrows and the man on the horse easily avoided it. He took arrows from his back and also using his bow he quickly released them at the people guarding the watchtower. He next shot the two soldiers who were lowering the gate door before he shot four more soldiers in his path.
One of the soldiers who was going to close the door got up and immediately rang the alarm bell to know that something bad had happened in their place. Fortunately, the arrow only hit him in the shoulder.
Ten soldiers on horses chased after the man who came out of the palace while other soldiers helped carry the casualties and one soldier was immediately sent to the infirmary located in the central part of the town.
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Mount Imus - One of the Barat Kingdom's military camps.
Ligid - Saturday
Dukotdokut- Tuesday
Mount Sigay - The mountain where the monks live
Follower - call the Assistant man
Chief Follower - call the highest male Assistant
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Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone