Page 115 of Midnightsong
“I will bring it to the others,” Oryma said.
One more tail kick brought them to their destination.
The cavernous coronation hall was filled to the brim with nobles. Adrielle waited in the far end with Libbi and Hadrien in her arms, and Cyrus on a flat rock bed with Raina and another healer at his side. His elder brother sat upright, two hands clinging to the sides of the bed, and a thick seagrass-fiber blanket wrapped around his tail. Beside them were Saeryn’s—now his—high advisor and messengers, and two Shangjiangs, Marron and Narea, awaited Kaden when he entered.
The long room was carved of gilded rock, with stone and coral pillars lining the sides for the mer to rest and await the new monarch’s entrance, creating a narrow hallway for him and his two Shangjiangs to swim through to the end. A large statue of their Goddess, Sanyue, awaited his offering and request for Her blessing. Her tail was wrapped beneath her, coiled like a cushioned seat, and her stony gaze pierced through him. Lovingly carved bangles, necklaces, and thin chains adorned her forearms, wrists, and waist, and Her hands rested loose on the proximal part of her tail.
Across from Adrielle and Cyrus was Saeryn, flanked on either side by Aiereka and two sentinels.
Kaden drew his head back when he saw Saeryn’s serene face, and disquieted tingles flickered under his skin.
He averted his gaze from the former king.
Saeryn’s expression gave nothing away, and Kaden forced himself to keep moving, following close behind Narea and Marron.
After this, he would be king. He never imagined he would find himself on the throne, overseeing the queendom.
Eventually he would need a queen, if Cyrus did not recover in time.
The mer council would demand a Mer-Queen for him if he wished to stay on the throne after the war.
Then what about Angie?
The thought of not having her at his side sickened him, but he would deal with that when the time came. Perhaps he could even change the law to allow Angie to rule at his side, if she agreed. He would find a way to get the mer council to see his point of view. For now, he had a monumental task ahead to regain his people’s trust and end this war.
Cyrus had told him that to be monarch, you must sacrifice for your people, and he held onto their trust by a flimsy strand of seaweed.
He maintained a tight grip on his wrist, and his scalp prickled. Time slowed. Or was the hallway much longer than he remembered? He should be more excited for this moment.
But the notion he was stealing his parents’ place nagged at him, though they must have been reunited in their reincarnated lives. Yet they were torn apart from each other and from their station much too soon.
“Provide your offering to Sanyue, and ask for Her blessing, as per tradition,” Shangjiang Narea began, and gestured with her head and hand toward the statue.
Kaden did. His offering to Sanyue was a prayer, and he bowed his head, pressing his palms together at chest level.
He prayed for Angie to be safe, and he would hold her in his arms soon. That he would unite the queendom and bring his mother’s killers to justice and broker peace between their races once more. And he would be the monarch his people and Angie needed him to be.
His gills flared as he closed the prayer. “Sanyue, I humbly ask for your blessing and protection as I become the reigning monarch.”
The hall went silent as Kaden awaited Her response, his chest tightening with anticipation.
Time stretched, and Sanyue didn’t respond. Did She not accept him?
He got his answer.
A faint whisper in the ancient mer language swept through the room and a comforting, warming glow coated him for a fraction of a second, and then vanished.
“She has given you Her blessing. Congratulations, King Kaden.” Shàngjiàngs Marron and Narea turned on either side of him and bowed deeply. “Please ascend.”
A large, smooth stone and seaglass pillar laced with gold and silver awaited him. After a moment’s hesitation, he ascended, wrapping his tail around the pillar and holding on with one hand. The mer in the room straightened, giving him another bow in tandem.
The Shangjiangs addressed the attendees, and both motioned to Kaden.
“In order of seniority, you will come and offer your words to our new king.” Marron ushered the attendees into a line.
With an uneasy heart and shaking hands, Kaden waited as first, Cyrus addressed him with Raina and the other healer, and Adrielle.
“You will be a great king.” Adrielle’s tone was soothing as she left with Cyrus, but Kaden wished he felt it with as much conviction as Adrielle spoke her words.
