Page 85 of Dead Crown
The next here must go without and make do.
If blood runs because of greed,
Your people will suffer a time of need,
If the future buds don’t understand,
You’ll see death and the destruction of your lands.”
The man was one,
The crown was one,
The buds would go on,
And the land will always see a new dawn.
And the fairy agreed so all could enjoy the beauty of the white lands,
The sky would always remain clear blue and grey,
And the blessings would continue to rain from Elira’s hands,
The fairies would get their wish to stay.
And with an heir, the Goddess Elira would bring a blessing to grant,
The bed of white roses must bear the crown of gold,
And with love, children, and the ability to plant,
The fairies will thrive in this land of cold.
Chapter Nineteen
“It has to go back,” Lumi whispered as the workers talked among themselves. “I was right. Elira had a moral, and she never intended for women to be secondary in the Royal Family.”
The High Mage must have found his voice again. “How did you know this was there?!”
“Give us a minute.”
“I expect an answer!”
“I expect you to give us a minute!” Jaki waved him off and drew Lumi back a little so they could speak without being overheard. “You were right, Lumi.”
“There’s a moral.” Lumi had reread each line over and over as they were revealed, and he was sure he had the gist. “Passing something on is big in families. It might be a title, money, or something like a sword or a necklace. For royalty, it’s a crown. People often look forward to inheriting a thing even if they’re sad about the death. Maybe they need the money, or they’re proud to put Grandpa’s sword on the wall to remember his bravery in battle, or-whatever.”
Jaki nodded. “Rinder wasn’t to pass the Crown to his son. He was to keep it forever even after his death.”
The concept was a bit strange because in death, materialistic stuff ceased to matter, and the dead couldn’t take anything with them. Typically, people weren’t buried with anything except for clothes at most. In the majority of Kingdoms, the dead usually only had a shroud. A valuable item like a crown certainly wouldn’t go to the grave with the ruler.
“Leifur would have received it in normal circumstances,” said Jaki. “Besides getting the throne, the Crown would be quite an inheritance since it lives with an heir, and it can keep you warmbesides ensuring the lands live. I’m guessing the moral was more for Leifur and everyone after. They wouldn’t get a fabulousitem, but they’d have the position and power. By letting the Crown go, Leifur would have ensured the Kingdom and the lives of people he’d never live to see. Be happy with what you have, and do something for others, even though you’ll never live to see them all. Be unselfish.”
“Yes! Elira gave them a lot so they could stay in such a beautiful land. Being able to grow food and hunt means you can live. If you live, you’ll likely love and have children. The children will eat. The cycle will continue. Those are the most important basics in life, and while Elira’s not forbidding anyone from fancy stuff, we don’tneedgold or even a crown. It’s truly not a necessity for life, and you can be happy without it.”
Jaki’s eyes traveled to the words as he patted Jacqueline through her sling. Her little hand stretched out and went back in. “I guess Leifur wasn’t happy with what he had. Perhaps the later speculations weren’t a lie. He killed his Father because he knew Rinder planned to take the living Crown with him to his grave, and that wouldn’t do in Leifur’s eyes. Since he went against Elira’s wish, the only way to keep the lands alive is to continue passing it to someone of Cleel blood.”
“If Rinder had taken it with him, Iceland would have remained alive. We wouldn’t have the physical gift, and we’d be okay without it.” Lumi drew his cloak tighter about him. “It wouldn’t matter if a woman sat on the throne, or even if our line had died out. Leifur was greedy for an item, so he spilled his Father’s blood, and while it took ages, we’re now suffering the consequences. Tivar wanted the Crown to live again so he could ‘prove’ he’s the real heir.”
