Cockroach's abandoned wall project had restarted, and almost half of the north wall was complete. It was simply an extension of Paramael's walls, and because of the height of Paramael, the wall was more than 70 feet high, though the height reduced to roughly fifty as the wall descended into the port. It was quite a sight, as had been the building project of raising it. But November came with a new topic of discussion. One that was resonating in all of Korazin, and being announced in all the other kingdoms of Moab.
And Xaxanika too.
The Polemian was arriving. It had been gone 36 days. It had sailed north across the Azlan to fetch the royal family of Xaxanika from Zadok, along with other esteemed guests for the season's greatest event. Five of those guests, and Bekka Santillan, were standing in the bow of the Polemian. The king, Sargios, his son and Crown Prince Ghita, Governess Yrma of Fimron, and two others. For the last few moments, Bekka had been explaining to them that Moab was a tropical continent, and that even though it was November, they shouldn't expect any snow or frozen lakes and rivers or anything like that. The ship was now within their sight. There was a crowd forming up in the port waiting for them, and those with keen eyesight could see that uniformed Police officers were organizing the crowd to stand behind installed barriers. But no one missed the giant banner that was then flung from a pair of high flag masts, with the words "Welcome to New Zohaltiel."
'New Zohaltiel?' Governess Yrma was the first one to react. Even in Xaxanika, very few people knew the hamlet of Zohaltiel, but she had to know, as she was the governess of Fimron where Zohaltiel was located.
'Yes, governess. K'rar renamed it a month after the war,' said Bekka, 'it was called Cockroach before.'
'Cockroach?' Crown Prince Ghita said, just as a larger crowd formed behind them from below deck. It comprised the rest of the Xaxanikan royal family, including the queen, the young prince Asaon, and Bekka's own father, Iorgos. Others included Rubin, Chio's mother, Phylla and Ansigne, his sisters, and his little brother Silas. Ettite and Hananite governors were also on the ship, but were not out gazing. Daghan and Magritte had also come along.
'Isn't that the city where you fought?' King Sargios asked.
'Yes. That fort on the precipice. That's Paramael.'
'I have a feeling I am going to enjoy my time here,' said Sargios.
Then, just before they pulled into the harbor, a smoke signal blotted the sky to forward starboard of the Polemian. Only the knights on the ship understood what it meant. Bekka took her spyglass and walked to that side. The captain, Tuncay, was quickly by her side moments later when she said,
'It's the Paradise. Definitely coming from Shona.'
It was in fact coming from Shona, and on it was that kingdom's monarch and her daughter. They would find out shortly, but now they had to take care of the Xaxanikans. The chief of the New Zohaltiel Police, Yorgi, walked across the new concrete quay to greet the visitors. The old pier of wood had been burned during the battle for Paramael against Kai eight months ago. The war was now a distant memory for both Korazites and Kayans. In fact, although Kai's entire army was devastated in these waters, Dalot II was also invited, and was already preparing to travel to Chaldea, and so were the kings of Rabier, Ziv, Tamar and Moon Province, and the king of Arioch too. Goldora, despite its humiliating defeat, had continued hostilities with Korazin for five months albeit not military, and Korazin had continued to blockade it on land and sea. As a result, the desired effect of the Net System had sprung. Internal unrest had boiled up to the point of civil war, and that war had taken the lives of the old man Tao and his crown prince. Now, the nation was ruled by the Queen, Teara, who was surprisingly more pragmatic than her husband. She had realized quickly that Korazin was now the new military juggernaut of Moab, and the Goldoran people had chosen her to soothe Korazin's anger against them. She had succeeded, and the blockade had been removed. She had signed a non-aggression treaty with Goldora, and had herself read it to a crowd in Tyrne. The treaty was the first of its kind in Moab, because it was a written document officiated by the seals of the monarchs, rather than a verbal agreement or an agreement by marriage. It was a commitment between them that their two nations would never go to war with one another ever again. Now, she, too, was on the list of esteemed guests that would go to Chaldea along Korazin's east coast.
'Welcome to Korazin, and to Moab, majesties and friends.' Yorgi bent the knee, 'you have come five days earlier than expected. But do not worry. Korazin has been ready for you for longer than you can imagine.'
'I am glad to hear that,' said King Sargios.
'This city is not known to have nobility, Your Majesty. So it is an honor for these people to meet one. The last one to be here was Her Highness Bekka, not even the king.'
'She has told us of her military achievements in this city. That time it was named Cockroach, no?'
'Yes. That name is precisely why the city is not known to have nobles. We may go now, Your Majesty.' In fact, the city was called Cockroach for a much worse reason, and Yorgi knew it.
'But its new name, Zohaltiel,' Lady Yrma stepped forward, 'is a remote village in Xaxanika. Why name it that?'
'I have never figured, my lady.'
'It's because of its location,' said Bekka, 'it is the northernmost location in Korazin, as in Xaxanika. Shall we go now, Yorgi?'
'Of course, my lady,' said Yorgi. For reasons known only to him and Bekka, he avoided direct eye contact with her.
Two squadrons of policemen stood in the port to create an aisle for the many visitors through the crowd, all the way to the road, where a small section of the military was waiting next to a convoy of carriages and carts and horses. The king had his own Xaxanikan entourage, so the Korazites were simply supplementing them. Yorgi led the way, but he had hardly got there when the Paradise blew its horn to dock in the port. A minion came running to report to him so, just as the Xaxanikans boarded their carriages. He said,
'It is Her Majesty Rukh-shana, Queen of Shona, our western neighbor, my lord. You are arriving at the same time.'
'Oh, is that so? Then I must stay and greet them.'
'It looks like this city is now having a fair share of nobility, no?' said Ghita. He was beside his own carriage behind his parents', which he would ride with his little brother.
'Quite so, quite so, my lord,' Yorgi was smiling like an idiot. 'I shall go and inform them, my lord.'
'I'll come with you,' said Bekka. Yorgi's heart skipped a beat. He nodded, and the two began heading back down the aisle, followed by a couple of Yorgi's men. She nudged him in the side, and said,
'Why are you uneasy?'
'How can I not be?' he quickly said, 'I just saw your father.'
'That is Shaniz's father.'
'I am talking about Lord Iorgos. He is hard to miss. They look alike.'
'Not at all.'
'Well, his eyes are quite scary.'
'It is not like you are meeting Xaxanikans for the first time.'
'Well, no, but he's the father of my love.'
'Quiet!' she nudged him again, 'you are lucky, the Xaxanikan royal family does not arrange marriages for their girls, but he will not be happy I'm dating a nomadic pastoralist.'
'Are you saying, you accept my proposal?'
Bekka suddenly stopped, and gritted her teeth. She said,
'I've said too much. We still have a thousand miles between us, and we have work to do.' She meant the distance between New Zohaltiel and Chaldea, where she was stationed in her role.
'I missed you, you know,' he said, 'and don't say I already did because you live in the capital and I live here. It's different.'
Bekka struck him with a curt look, and said,
'I missed you too. But you are a bad actor. My cousin, Ghita. He's like K'rar at reading behavior. If you act like that before him, he will know.'
They had arrived at the quay, and the Hone contingent had already stepped off the Paradise. Yorgi straightened his face, cleared his throat, and walked forward to greet them. Helga instantly said,
'The king of Xaxanika is here, is he not?'
'Y-yes, that is right. They have just arrived too.'
'We will ride with them to Chaldea.'
'Well, that is what he seems to want too, my lady. It is already being arranged.'
'"The gates of the earth are open. A shoot from the south." Well, I cannot deny any of this. Why didn't K'rar tell me of this?' Helga was saying. She had just quoted from the Sacred Writ. The families were sitting together in Yorgi's stately home, having decided to do the pleasantries between them there, before setting off. Yorgi had had to suddenly set up his home out of the blue to accommodate them for a few hours. It had been frantic, but his home was a stately manor, and he had many servants now, so he had got it done.
Helga and her mother were reacting to the things they had just been told by the king of Xaxanika, the newest of these being that K'rar was the subject of the prophecy she had just read.
'Well, it is him,' said Ghita, 'because of him we know that the earth is much larger than Moab and Xaxanika. He opened the gates of the earth.'
'He never said anything about the Zenj Empire.'
Standing off from the high table, near one of the exits, were Yorgi and Bekka. Yorgi said,
'The Zenj Empire? What is that?'
'The king went on a secret voyage east of the Kaffraria, and bungled into the Dark Continent. He got himself in trouble there, and we had to mobilize the knights. It is a massive continent. It took us over two months to get to its capital to rescue him.'
Yorgi's eyes bulged. He was pondering something.
'Then, the ship-building project at Botterein. It isn't for…'
'No, it isn't. The king opened the gates of the world, no doubt, but to him, three continents are not enough. After he found the Zenj continent, he found a new passion. When the king has enough ships, Korazin will spread out its tentacles to the world. Ships will be sent north, south, east and west to find and explore new lands.'
'Then, those people you came with who don't look like Xaxanikans. Are they from this continent?'
'Yes. The king brought them from San Vilgraek, the capital. It is where we first found glass, so the king brought them to help him make it and put it to use.'
'Oh, man. I feel so small right about now.'
'You think? The Dark Continent is bigger than this continent and Xaxanika put together. After the wedding, there will be nothing left on schedule but to make contact with San Vilgraek. You ought to start planning to do some trade with both Xaxanika and the Zenj.' But under K'rar's laws, a serving officer like Yorgi was disallowed from engaging in business.
Meanwhile, in Chaldea.
K'rar was himself speaking to nine year-old Ollinz on the subject of San Vilgraek and the continent at large. The child's mother, Amren, was present too. K'rar had embarked on learning the indigenous languages of the Zenj Empire, and tonight, Scovian was on the time table. However, he only needed the boy to teach him, so his mother, who was now a permanent palace resident, wanted to know why tonight was different.
'Do you know why I asked you two to stay in the palace with me?' K'rar replied in response to her question.
'I could name a number of reasons, sire,' said Amren, 'the foremost of those is that you and my son are like brothers. You are learning Scovian too, and also, we cannot live on our own in the city. I appreciate you hosting us in this place.'
'Is that all?'
'Is there another reason, sire?'
K'rar set down his pen, and reached into his cabinet to disinter a whipped up map of the Zenj Empire, Xaxanika and Moab, placed in their relative but not necessarily accurate positions. Amren saw it, and because it was obviously the answer to her question, as K'rar was looking at her, she said,
'A map?'
'A map, that's right. We're here. Korazin. This is Xaxanika, and this…'
'The Zenj.'
'Now, can you tell why I had this map made?'
'This is a map of the territories of the world.'
'Quite so. But only those that have been discovered thanks to me. Fourteen years ago, Moabians, Xaxanikans and Zenji peoples thought they were the only peoples of the earth. Now, Korazin, this palace to be precise, harbors peoples from all three continents, because I have the means to reach all these lands. Now, if I have the means…'
The lights turned on in her head. She had just understood the main reason why K'rar was especially fond of Ollinz.
'You plan to return there,' she said, 'and you want Olly to do so on your behalf.'
K'rar's lips curled up into a smile, and now he turned his attention to the child, and asked,
'To represent whose interests?'
'Korazin's,' the boy said.
'That's right. When you have grown enough, you will be called the Ambassador of Korazin. To the Zenj Empire.' He now returned to Amren, 'now, from today, you will inculcate this in his mind. Can you do that?'
'Certainly, sire. Certainly,' Amren was trying to suppress her joy. Her son had just been made a very important and powerful person. Someone like Amren knew what the role of ambassador would entail. She knew it was similar or the same as the role of a Zenj viceroy. Because she had a question, she managed to keep her tears to herself, and ask,
'Will you conquer the Zenj Empire?'
K'rar once more smiled.
'That is a subject I discuss with only a few members of my government. But I shall answer you. No, I will not conquer the Zenj, as I see no reason to.'
'You said that these three lands are only those you have discovered. Does this mean you will find others?'
'It is a certainty that I will send my ships to scour the seas. I created the Stingers and Behemoths as weapons of war. But I do not want to be remembered only as a great military leader. I will be remembered as a man who opened the gates of the earth. The man who united the brown-skinned Zenji peoples and the pale-eyed Xaxanikans and the rough Moabians. My ships are perfectly capable of doing this, and are already on course to doing so.'
'You are creating an empire. Just like the Scovians.'
'Do you disapprove?' K'rar wore a slight frown. She suddenly went mute. The words behind her lips were locked up. K'rar added, 'speak your mind, Lady Amren.'
'I have said too much, sire. You said it is government business.'
'Say what you want to say, Amren. Say it.'
'The Scovians lord it over the tribes of the Zenj, sire. They treat lesser tribes with contempt and disdain.'
'Is that what you are afraid I will do?'
'Sire, you are greater than the Scovians. Militarily, at least. But you have not treated us as they do. I hope, when you acquire tribes and nations and peoples for yourself, you will retain your values.'
K'rar now smiled again, and Amren felt at ease.
'"The one who shows favor to the lowly is lending to the Most High, and he will repay him for what he does,"' K'rar quoted from the Sacred Writ, 'Those words are from the Sacred Writ of Ihanga. The Writ also says that rulers like myself have been placed in their relative positions by God. I believe that God is Ihanga. If I acquire tribes and nations as you say, I will treat them according to his standard. I believe that is why he spared my life.'
'Then, my lord, I look forward to calling you Your Imperial Majesty.'
Barzillai opened the door of the office, and said,
'Sire. Lady Noor-shan is here to see you.'
'Send her in,' said K'rar. He dismissed Ollinz and his mother. The latter carried the boy in her arms, something the boy did not like, but he understood why she was especially happy this afternoon.
'What is it, mother? K'rar asked his mother as soon as she sat down on one of the chairs in the office. He was a bit austere. But his mother remained indifferent, and said,
'Are you still mad at me?'
'Everyone knows you were the one who was mad, who is mad at me for insisting to marry the girl that I love. You even invited three girls and prepped them for marriage to me while Shaniz and I were away shedding blood for the kingdom.'
'K'rar, I was not mad at you for loving Shaniz. She is a delightful woman, at best. She makes a good wife, and she is a royal. I was only mad because you rejected our customs.'
'I hope you are not here to push them down my throat once more.'
'I am not. So will you quit speaking to me like that? I am not mad anymore. What does it matter? The wedding will take place soon, and the guests are already arriving.' K'rar raised his eyebrows at her when he looked his way, so she went on, 'I am here to apologize.'
'Ah,' K'rar said, 'how could you apologize? There is no need to.'
'Yes there is. I cannot have you being cold to me because you think I disapprove of Shaniz. I have lost all my people. I cannot lose you too when you are still healthy and alive. Besides, the God you worship has shown all the signs of being a living God. If he saved your life, it is only reasonable for you to walk in his ways.'
'So are you saying you no longer disapprove of my decision to remove Ashtoreth worship in this land?'
'When you went to war against the Goldorans, I had some of the governors spread the idea that it was because of the anger of Ashtoreth that the calamity befell us. Yet, you decisively defeated them with less than quarter the men. Your God delivered you.'
These words took a toll on the young ruler. He walked round the office table, and sat down athwart the small table his mother was sitting on, and rang the bell. Two maids came rushing in.
'Bring us some tea.'
'Yes, Your Majesty.'
'I do not remember the last time you and I had tea, K'rar.'
'Neither do I. You had chicken though. On the ship from Tyrne,' K'rar was attempting to be humorous, but quickly wore his serious face again, 'I also didn't want to lose you, mother. Thank you for capitulating. Finally.'
One month later.
Years prior to the date, the palace was hardly a place that other monarchs would describe as fabulous, as it was way below par than their own residences. Yet, five of the kings invited had described its grandeur as more than resplendent. K'rar had mingled the minds of three worlds and had them work at giving the palace its current grandeur and magnificence. Least of the things added was glass. All but a few windows had opaque drapes for windows. The palace's surface area had been increased exponentially, and its walls extended much farther outwards. Whereas the Temple of Ihanga and an additional guest pavilion had already been completed or were nearing completion, more than a few new structures were being raised, including an exceptionally tall structure for the Nephilim, although K'rar had given to them lands in the high peaks of the Debasian Mountain. However, they were engaged in his shipbuilding campaign at Matalma and Botterein.
Inspired by the 70-foot statues of San Vilgraek, K'rar had also had statues installed in the entrance, though not statues of humans but of animals. The red-billed Urdian eagle such as the one over his throne was installed on top of the entrance, and at the foot, on either side of the gate, sat two statues of military wolfdogs. The Hassendrale had been increased by 80 new soldiers, and some dogs, including just three females including Hazael the archer. The queen-to-be would maintain many of Kishra's old Women's Pavilion rules, including the no-male entry into the pavilion, except the king. The three female Hassendrale were the only armed people allowed to waltz in the pavilion. As they were doing on the day of the wedding. Two of them, Hazael and Lydae, were present as the court ladies performed the final touches on Shaniz, including gleaning up the white and red wedding dress and its concomitant items. They would not miss any part of it. They stood in the entrance of her chambers and waited until the two chambermaids finished and stood off to marvel at her. She stood up and turned around, and the reason for their marveling was clearly manifest to the two Hassendrale.
'I believe I should let the king say this, but my lady, you look stunning,' Lydae said.
'Well, I'm a foreign queen with starry eyes. All foreign queens with starry eyes look stunning.'
'Relax, my lady. You're not yet united. Be patient.'
'I cannot. Did you not say it is time? Let us go.'
The union was to take place in the hall in the King Ordec II Square, so that after the union, the king and queen could be presented to the crowd of subjects assembled in the square. The Women's Pavilion was quite some distance from this, and Shaniz couldn't be allowed to step on the ground until she was there. Thus, she was carried in an open palanquin by male Hassendrale. They encountered less than five unarmed people until they arrived at Ordec II Square at the entrance to its great hall. King Sargios and Queen Myrios and their people were waiting for them. The queen was understandably more excited than Sargios about Shaniz's looks, but it would be the latter to take her hand and lead her down the aisle. All he said was,
'Let's go make you queen of Korazin.'
The hall hosted all the distinguished royalty, the Grand Council, and many other esteemed guests. Right at the entrance sat the two Nephilim leaders, still ever so intimidating, yet even they were clearly joyous about the occasion. When everybody stood up, they remained seated. Governess Yrma was already shedding tears even before the real business began. Bartle Frere in his military uniform stood next to her. At the culmination of the hall just under the platform, the new Lord Chamberlain Pliny stood next to Amren, his love interest, and her son Ollinz. Ollinz was now treated as a highness, and was dressed as such. The prefect Daghan and Magritte were also in the hall, and so was Chio and his family. The surprise attendees were no doubt three of the original Kaffrarian Knights' senior training officers, including the crippled Morriffere. K'rar was already in the hall, waiting for his wife on top of the steps with a Xaxanikan priest. They would begin the religious ceremonial talk quickly, and he would then unite them. The priest spoke a few words, mainly words of praise for the two, and then went on about how they were not only uniting two great houses but also entire nations. After blessing the union in the name of the Most High, he concluded by quoting the deity's writ,
'Two is better than one. For if one of them falls, the other can help his partner up. If two lie down together, they can keep warm, but what will happen to the one if no one is there to help him up or to warm him. Thus, let us rejoice for this two-fold cord, and unite these two young people. Please, you may exchange the rings.'
They did this simultaneously. Both gave each other gold rings, and once this was done, the marriage was complete. There was one more implication, one more event, so the audience in the hall did not declare their applause just yet. The priest brought a pillow with two crowns on it. Both of them were new designs, not one that his father and mother had worn. His crown had a Kayan emerald in its center, while hers had opal. As with the rings, they took each other's crowns, and placed them on each other's heads.
'I now present to you, King and Queen of Korazin.'
Now the audience cheered and cried and hugged and clapped. Soon, they all had to move out and assemble in the large square along with the larger throng of eager subjects, including 500 Kaffrarian Knights. The newlyweds stepped out onto the platform, and one said to the other,
'And so it begins.'
'If you mean empire building…'
'I mean us. We have begun.'
The crowd could now cry, several times,
'Long live the Majesties!'
Hundreds of them also began to prostrate themselves, while others began sang several folk songs from long ago. in one of them, the king was depicted as an axe that cuts down oak trees but also restores them. his wife had to prevent him from laughing at this.