Seated next to Surath, Xendus glares around the table, as if making sure everyone is attentive to his wife. Satisfied, he looks up toward Surath and beams.
Now that Surath’s been named Queen of the Dragons and All Mages, she’s technicallymyqueen, although the only person I would ever yield any form of authoritative power to is Rosomon.
I turn toward my love, sitting beside me, and her radiant beauty and composure fill me with joy. Thinking back to the young, naive woman I met less than two years ago, and how much she’s grown, my heart nearly explodes with love and gratitude.
From the moment she walked onto my recruitment field, I knew Rosomon was special. I knew it even that day in the forest, but I had no concept of her extraordinary power to lead others—talents that belie her age and have only begun to bloom.
Zogar’s seated on Rosomon’s other side and Tynan’s next to me. Our chairs are placed back from the main table, directly facing Surath at its other end. The four of us were appointed as temporary advisors to this committee.
Rosomon and Zogar abdicated their respective crowns. Rosomon abdicated the crown of Achotia first—a surprise to me, and especially to Tynan.
Rosomon assured me that, while she’d spent her younger years envying her brother’s position as heir, as soon as the crown landed upon her head, she found it constricting.
Zogar struggled with her decision, but it soon became clear that his struggle was less about Rosomon’s choice, and more about his own. After several discussions with Surath and Xendus, Zogar passed his crown to his sister, claiming he’d only ever been holding it until she was ready.
Time will tell how the proud dragon shifter adjusts to his loss of authority—but I suppose that process began for Zogar the day Rosomon climbed on his back.
I can’t help but grin at how much this young woman has impacted us all.
As for Tynan, once his father was sentenced to a life of imprisonment, the crown of Khotor did pass to Tynan—or so we all believed. He told Rosomon that he too would abdicate—clearly wanting to follow her lead—but it turns out that one of his older sisters survived her punishing upbringing and the marriage their grandfather arranged.
Tynan’s eldest sister, Karina, is now Queen of Khotor and is seated about halfway along one side of the table. Next to her is Rosomon’s brother, Alfryd, the young King of Achotia.
This committee was hastily formed in the weeks after the former Prime Klerick and Tynan’s father were removed from power. Word of the Prime Klerick’s and the King’s unseating quickly spread.
Inter-kingdom communication is now greatly facilitated by the messenger service Treacher and Ersot quickly organized, using dragons and riders to carry news. While dragon-shifters nolonger require riders to fly in the Light, most prefer it, given the advantages of enhanced vision and hearing.
As word of the changes spread around the Light, representatives were chosen from each Kingdom. They met frequently for the first few months and now meet only once a moon cycle.
Across the Seven Kingdoms, most banners and statues glorifying Othrix have been removed, and while the temple in Catha and all the chapels remain, public meetings and discussions are now held in those spaces instead of worship.
This committee’s primary aim is to restore order, then to recreate the original Council of Sovereigns and develop a new list of Founding Principles. Already, goods are freely crossing borders, without barriers or tariffs, as each kingdom trades their unique products.
“Queen Glorya what have you to report?”
Glorya, the eldest daughter of the former king of Catha rises. “We continue to question the prisoners held in the temple,” she says calmly. “While not every klerick in the Seven Kingdoms knew of the deceit, it’s clear the senior klericks in the temple knew that Othrix was a construct, and that Vanora was using the manticore to retain her longevity and power.”
As the four of us sit quietly at the back of the room, the group discusses the fates of the klericks. Many lower level klericks were not privy to the big lies that lay at the heart of our religion. But those at the top—including the Head Klericks from each kingdom, including Kaelus—are now imprisoned. Some are cooperating, openly answering questions in hopes of gaining their freedom someday.
“Prince Alfryd,” Surath draws my attention back to the room. “You have a motion to present?”
Alfryd rises, and the pride in Rosomon’s expression leaps toward her brother.
“I propose that, at some point in thefuture.” He glances toward Rosomon, and she nods, a proud grin on her face. “I propose that succession should not pass through birth, but instead, each kingdom’s sovereign should be chosen by the people. Any educated man—or woman—should be able to stand for election to the position.”
The room breaks out in side discussions, the reactions clearly mixed, and more pride spreads inside me. I suspect that Rosomon put this idea in her brother’s head. Still, I’m impressed that he put it forward. If adopted, it will remove his future children from automatic succession.
“This idea is novel.” Surath leans onto the table, her brow furrowing. “It’s a somewhat surprising suggestion, and one that requires careful consideration before it is put to a vote at this committee.”
Most of the others nod and express their agreement.
“Everyone present will consult with their subjects,” Surath says, “and we will discuss the motion further in the future. If warranted, we will create a sub committee to study how such a system of elections might function.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty.” Alfryd nods toward Surath and retakes his seat.
“Please, call me Surath.” She spreads her arms. “Everyone on this committee is an equal, and I am not part of it. I am but an advisor and your temporary chair.”
I glance at Zogar. He shifts but looks proud of his sister. We’ve talked a few times about how well Surath is doing, and while many of her decisions are not those Zogar would have made himself, he concedes that she’s doing a very good job.
