Nodding, I back away as Hector steps forward, and the coronation begins.
Chapter Eight
Kassandra is right. Hector speaksfor over an hour in a gruff monotone voice that has the High Fae nodding to stay awake. He starts at the beginning, with Lucan the Wanderer.
Lucan, a High Fae of the celestial plane, took pity on the brutish beasts of the earthly plane who devoured and destroyed one another. He brought a piece of the celestial plane with him as he descended, losing his wings, and planted celestial seeds into the earth, spawning a new plane: one of magic.
Lucan’s Tree spread magic through the air with its sap and seeds and roots. He and his descendants used their geniuses to access magic, and to guide the beasts and humans into the light. Children of the humans and fae became the faeries, those with little genius. The humans, diseased and distrusting as they were, began dying off. Even the mighty fae could not help the unclean.
As the centuries rolled over, the High Fae fine-tuned their magic until each House could control different areas of the body and soul while faeries merely plateaued in power. It was only logical, then, for the High Fae to govern themselves and the faeries. It was benevolent, truly. So, the Houses divided up the valley of Amyria and governance for the good of all, establishing the system of debt and labor.
House of Death disagreed, and so began the Dark Rebellion. And the rise of General Gregor Vandorne and his Lynx of theLowlands, Iros Morella—Kassandra and Dominik’s father. Together, they raised armies to defeat even Death itself, banishing the House to the desert as repentance.
“The four Houses perceive the genius differently,” Hector says, nodding to Lord Eli. “For House of Healing, it is like a muscle; Illusion, another sense; and for Death, our essence. But the House of Reign never mixed with the humans, and so their geniuses remained pure. In this light, we understand it to be the most important element in all of Amyria: inheritance.”
I place a drink in Kassandra’s gloved hand, and she knocks it back faster than I can blink.
“Tonight, Prince Maxian Cornelius Vandorne will prove the power of purity. Tonight, the only living descendant of the Sun King, Gregor the General in life and Gregor the Great in death—may he wander well—”
“May he wander well,” the crowd echoes.
“—will claim the title of king of Amyria and display his testament. Just as his father did, and his father before him. He will once again prove that the Houses stand longer when they stand together, and guided under one, they can prosper on the same land. So, with great pleasure, I call up the son of the Sun King, the Mountain—Prince Maxian Cornelius Vandorne.”
The male rises from the throne. With every step, energy ripples outward, the High Fae swaying. He drops to his knee before his uncle, facing the crowd.
Hector waves his hand. Between one blink and the next, a lacquered box appears in the advisor’s grasp. The crowd inhales, murmuring. It is as if Hector pulled the box from the plane itself. He lifts the top and retrieves a golden crown, speckled with rubies and sapphires and diamonds.
“Do you, Maxian Cornelius Vandorne the First, vow to protect and serve the realm until your last breath?”
“I do.”
“Do you, Maxian Cornelius Vandorne the First, vow toimprove the lives of all under your protection until your last breath?”
“I do.”
Protection?I raise a brow.
Hector turns to the other males on the platform. “Will the representative of the House of Illusion please step forward?”
Dominik does, then drops to his knee. Hector repeats the oath of fealty to Eli, representing the House of Healing, and the king’s executioner, representing the House of Death. Then he turns to the crowd.
“Do you, noble High Fae of the realm, accept and swear fealty to Maxian Cornelius Vandorne the First, and the House of Reign, should he ascend to the throne?”
A collective “We do.”
“We do,” I mutter.
“Then”—Hector beams, weathered face crinkling—“as we are all in agreement, I declare Maxian Cornelius Vandorne the First as the head of House Reign and king of Amyria.”
He places the golden crown on Maxian’s brow.
As the new king rises, he gestures for everyone to do the same. He gives a small smile, almost self-conscious, but mostly endearing. Dominik sweeps up to him, bowing. The king nods in approval and the Heir of Illusion faces the crowd.
Kassandra stiffens as his gaze lies upon her, then slips to me. He raises his fist in celebration or in warning; I am unsure.
“Houses Illusion, Healing, and Death propose an additional title that shall be used in reference to your new status and life as king, and that shall be called upon until your death, when granted a new title.”
The king smiles fully now. “And what is this title befitting the life of my reign?”
