A sequence of horns blew from the entrance, indicating the arrival of the crown prince.
"Prince Vesihara, firstborn of Emperor Gessar and Highlady Fenara, Heir apparent to the Crown of the Elaia, shall grace you with his presence." The herald announced.
A lean man in flowing white robes entered the garden from the western gate. He had deep olive skin with dark brown hair that were trimmed from the sides, as was the fashion. His face was shaven clean and had a regal bearing to it. He shared the same dazzling green eyes as Shihara.
Vesihara slowly walked towards the open pavilion that centred the garden, nodding and greeting the lords and ladies in the way. He had always been more skilled in the ways of the court rather than the traditional arts of war. His mother had groomed him to be a politician instead of a warlord, which was what every Elaian monarch in the past had been. This made his case quite controversial.
However, this did not mean that Vesihara was to be taken for granted. He was...well a songmaster of immense power, though he wasn't brilliant at using it in combat. For that purpose he had the Tsaedarri, the royal guard. Four figures clad in blue and red cloaks trailed the prince. Wearing a helmet plumed with dracin feathers, great axes over their shoulders, they carried circular bronze shields bearing the sigil of Elaia. It was the highest honour a military lifesinger could achieve. They were the Emperor's instruments, an extension of his strength and will. Any offence or challenge issued against the emperor could be dealt directly by them.
The Tsaedarri were a prospect Shihara or any of his fellow associates had not found a way to deal with. If things went as planned, they doubted that even the Tsaedarri would be able to interfere. Shihara rose from the seat, so did Brenedar and Therisi. Brenedar hurried to where the prince was walking and joined the other eight Elaian highlords and highladies that waited by the stairs of the pavilion. When Vesihara reached there, they kneeled one by one, touching their foreheads against his right hand, a gesture of acknowledging the prince's claim to the position of the emperor.
Then Vesihara began climbing up the pavilion, where three priests waited. They all wore ceremonial garb made of pelts harvested from feline beasts. All three of them held something. One held an unusually long scepter that seemed like a quarterstaff with a tip flanged with miniature axeheads. The second priest, who was a priestess, held a golden circlet with a lustrous black gem fixed to it. The third one held a shortsword placed in an ornate sheath. Shihara knew that two of those, the sceptre and the circlet, were Dreamsung relics, while the sword was just an ancient, ornamented but ordinary blade. Reaching atop the pavilion, Vesihara moved between them and turned to face the crowd.
"With blessing of the spirits of earth and forests," the first priest spoke, "hold Pyre Maker and shepherd your subjects to eternal prosperity."
The priest then handed Vesihara the sceptre, which he accepted with his left hand.
"With blessing of the spirits of sky and winds." the second priestess spoke, "wear Song Waker and rule with wisdom and benevolence."
The priestess then placed the crown on Vesihara's head.
"With blessing of the spirits of rain and fire," the third priest spoke, "wield the Uniter's Blade and lead your subjects to…"
"VICTORY?!" a voice shouted mockingly from the eastern gate. "YOU EXPECT HIM TO LEAD US TO VICTORY!"
An imposing figure in shining bronze armor marched into the garden, followed by...nearly hundred warriors clad in similar gear, armed with swordstaffs and waraxes. The ones in the rear held horn bows. The warriors in the front that held the polearms wore dark green cloaks, while those with waraxes were wearing shoulder capes. All of them, even the archers, had masked helms on...all except one. The one leading them. A lean woman of average height, average among the male soldiers that is, walked at the head of this intimidating procession. She looked like a typical Elaian warmaster, dark skin tanned by sun, messily braided brown hair, and fierce green eyes.
Princess Gesahara, third born of Emperor Gessar, Lady Commander of the Eastern Frontier, and hero of Lireniv and Evinkar, had arrived unannounced at her brother's coronation. And her tone was anything but approving.