"His family should come forward." King Keane called.
Yvonne lead the way, her wailing mother and a confused brother behind her.
Their heads were bowed so were the heads of every one in the palace.
Queen Mariah could hardly hold herself as she caught a glimpse of her husband's lifeless figure laying peacefully in the casket.
He had gone for a simple meeting, so why was he back dead?
She had been informed since the previous night when the other kings had arrived but seeing him so lifeless still managed to put her off balance.
"Simon!!!" She cried caressing his cold cheek.
"Mother, why is father not waking up?" Their young son asked but before she could compose herself and reply him, Yvonne snapped.
"Because he is dead. He will never wake up, he has left us."
"Yvonne!!" Mariah screamed hugging the scared boy and shielding him with her body.
"Do not dare yell at me, you are not my mother." She replied harshly, her bloodshot eyes stuck on her father's face.
Keane moved closer and announced.
"King Solomon died a hero, he died protecting his daughter and our kingdom. He deserves to be glorified not wailed on. I implore you my queen, my princess, my prince, say your farewell to your husband, your father with your head held high and as a united family. Give him the respect he deserves as the king, father and spouse he is."
Yvonne stepped back approaching her step mother, she pulled the little boy from her hold and told him.
"Do as I do."
Before he could protest, she turned back to her father's casket and prostrated before it.
The boy looked at his mother who nodded at him and together they did the same.
The whole court joined in, then the whole palace and a messenger ran out to give the command to the common people.
"Every citizen of this kingdom, leave whatever you are doing and prostrate before our departed king." He announced, running and hitting a gong he was holding.
Nobody raised their head until Yvonne gave the order and they began to rise in the order they had fallen.
"You have done well, my princess. It is time to escort the king to the ritual ground." He whispered to which she simply nodded.
***********
"Your highness, my men will take care of the border, I have always done so and I will do even better. I will reinforce security, anybody and anything crossing will be thoroughly searched and must receive approval before entry."
Aveedah nodded in response and looked towards Aaron. Every one of the 15 kings in the northern region have taken up a task.
Feeding, generation of revenue, weapons, safety houses for the citizens, guarding the border and more man power.
Aaron stepped forward and said.
"Your highness, my army is all yours just like the others and they have all taken special duties for this war which are important but we have left out the most crucial ones. We need alliances. We have the king of Ridah but he will not be enough if the water wielders collude with the air wielders and we need to find the sacred stones before they do. If Kebarah finds those stones, we are fighting a futile war."
"So your highness, like I said all the other tasks have been taken, which one of these would you appoint me to?"
Aveedah thought for a while before she replied.
"I want you to assign men to the conflux. Guard it like you would guard the palace. If they manage to invade it, then guarding the border would be of no use as our enemy will have a unhindered access to our kingdom and all other kingdoms." She replied and without hesitation, he accepted the command.
As you say, your highness.
"Your highness, you need to assign a new prime minister. The position should not be left vacant most especially in these crucial times." The minister of personnel calmly advised.
The members of the court that had stayed quiet throughout the royals conversation chorused in agreement.
"Do you have a candidate you want to forward?" She asked knowing fully well they did.
This is the palace, they had no time to mourn. Even if she died right now, a replacement will be sought right now.
"Your highness, we have been having an intense deliberation in order to pick the best candidate there can be and a loyal one at that and we have narrowed the list down to three people." The minister explained and hurriedly presented a scroll to Keevah.
Keevah collected it and glanced at Aveedah to gain her permission to which she simply nodded.
He opened the scroll and a name he saw in it made him smile slightly.
He rolled it back and gave it to Aveedah.
"I will make a decision before the day ends." She announced and turned to Velaine.
"Are you ready to sign the alliance treaty?" She asked.
"Do I have a choice?"
"I will sign it even if I am not ready." He joked, making some of the kings chuckle while the others simply grunted.
Aveedah rolled her eyes and stood up from her seat.
"I thank you all for attending this congregation, I would have loved to keep you longer but the kingdom is in a state of emergency. Some of you here have suggested you leave immediately since the water wielders have surely arrived their kingdom but I would feel rather regretful if I did that. Allow me to accommodate you for the night. Enjoy tonight and tomorrow you shall all return to your respective kingdoms, to serve your purpose and protect your land."
"Eric, Give this to his highness Velaine." She ordered giving him a scroll.
"If he agrees to the terms, he should put his seal." She Instructed.
"Your highness, is it allowed for us to be so relaxed?" Minister of finance asked timidly.
He did not want her to take offense yet he could not help the fear consuming his heart. He had never experienced a war but from all he had heard, he was not sure if they even had enough time to breathe.
Aveedah smiled widely at him like a mother would to reassure her child.
"My dear minister be rest assured, no harm will meet our kingdom. The water wielders are too busy performing a rain ritual for their king although I do not believe they are honourable enough to keep their word of not attacking during the mourning period just like I kept mine and none of our kings even embarked on a journey while we knew they were also on the road, I believe they will not skip the rain ritual and if so, we should prepare for the storm tonight." Murmurs began as they all began to understand the reason she was keeping them back for the day.
What good will travelling in the storm do for them if not either kill them or at the very least render them indisposed for days.
"Your highness, I finally understand what your father had seen when he declared you better than him or any other male child he would ever bear when we had advised to get married in order to acquire an heir to his throne. You are wise and far- sighted, you are kind and at the same time ruthless. You are proud like the royal you are yet, you are humble enough to explain yourself to your subject. Which other king will hold a one day mourning period for her enemy and a traitor, which other king will take in the child and wife of a traitor yet swear to have her uncle's head?"
"Long live your highness. I promise you the loyalty of me and my kingdom and even if I die in this war, my children will stand by you and I have died an honorable death." King Aaron declared, bowing and all the other kings and the court officials bowed chanting.
"Long live her highness."
"Long live Queen Aveedah Moorah Aarah of Vedarah."
Velaine only smiled as he collected the scroll from Eric and looking at her, he stamped his seal.
She had managed to impress him again, for even he who prided himself of being farsighted had not been able to guess the reason behind her action. He had simply thought she was given them time to rest which he did not think was wrong.
Aveedah nodded satisfactorily, a proud smile she was not able to contain on her face.
"Long live the fire wielders, the northern region and our allies." She said glancing at Velaine at the end of her statement.
He only smiled in return and handed the scroll to Eric.
This would be an alliance that history will never forget.