From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [222]
Well, thanks for sparing me from having to walk up that aisle, at least.
I did not design the wedding ceremony, Achan. Nor this one.
The floor is cold. Why can’t I wear my boots?
The footprints are part of the ceremony.
Right. I’ve not had this many people stare at me since Sir Gavin dragged me before the Council.
I am glad he did.
Achan sighed and shook his head at all that had led to this moment. As am I.
Finally Achan and Sparrow reached the satin-upholstered thrones. The chairs sat side by side on a raised dais of solid whitestone. Achan glanced at the impressions in the stone. The footprints of King Echâd Hadar.
“You come to lay claim to this throne and realm?” Toros Ianjo’s voice pulled Achan’s gaze away from the footprints. Toros stood on the upper dais, behind the thrones, dressed in white robes embroidered with the three interlocking red circles on the front. He also wore a tall, golden hat.
Achan lifted his head. “I do.”
“Identify yourself.”
“I am Achan Cham, born Gidon Hadar to King Axel Hadar.”
“King Axel was king before you. You come to take his place?”
“I do.”
“Then stand in his steps and in the steps of his forefathers all the way back to King Echâd Hadar, the first king of Er’Rets.”
Achan gave Sparrow’s hand one last trembling squeeze, then had to release her so they could turn around. They faced each other a moment as they rotated slowly, allowing their train-bearers to move those massive capes over the arm of each throne.
Once they faced the audience, Achan took Sparrow’s hand again, then they stepped backward up onto the whitestone dais. Achan slid his feet back over the smooth stone until he felt the indentation of the footprints. He glanced down, matching his feet to the grooves like pieces of a puzzle. Heat trickled down his spine to his toes.
King Echâd had stood in this place, as had every other king of Er’Rets, some two dozen men.
And now him.
Arman, help me.
BUT YOU, MY SERVANT, ACHAN, WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN, I TOOK YOU FROM THE ENDS OF ER’RETS, FROM ITS FARTHEST CORNERS I CALLED YOU. I SAID, ‘YOU ARE MY SERVANT’; I HAVE CHOSEN YOU. SO DO NOT FEAR, FOR I AM WITH YOU. I WILL STRENGTHEN YOU AND HELP YOU; I WILL UPHOLD YOU WITH MY RIGHTEOUS RIGHT HAND.
Achan shuddered in the heat of that promise. Thank You, Arman. You are so good to me.
Toros walked down Achan’s side of the dais, circled where Achan’s cape lay spread on the mosaic pavement, and stopped before the thrones, facing the audience.
The music ceased.
Nausea rolled about in Achan’s stomach. He squeezed Sparrow’s hand. I think I might be ill.
Be ill later in your chambers.
Our chambers.
She sent him a look as if to say, “You exasperate me.”
He grinned.
Prince Oren, Sir Gavin, Sir Caleb, and Sir Eagan walked before Toros in a diamond formation and turned their backs to each other so they were facing outward. The drums started in on a military march, and the men began to walk. Prince Oren limped down the aisle with his cane. Sir Eagan took three steps and stopped, facing Achan and Sparrow. And Sir Caleb and Sir Gavin marched straight until they reached the east and west walls.
The drumming stopped.
Toros spoke then, his voice loud and authoritative. “I hereby present unto the people of this great land, King Gidon Hadar, the Great Cham, Ransomed by Câan, Servant of Arman, Son of Axel, and your undoubted King. Beside him sits his bride, Queen Averella Amal of Carmine. Wherefore all of you have come this day to pay homage and service to this king and queen, I ask you, land of Er’Rets, are you willing to do the same?”
The entire congregation shouted, “Arman save the king!”
Achan jumped. Sir Caleb had prepped him for this, but the chorus of voices, in unison, all proclaiming him king made him tremble.
Then Toros said, “I ask you, land of Er’Rets, are you willing to do the same?”
Prince Oren, still facing the door, yelled, “The people from here to the south say they will.”
Sir Caleb said, “The people from here to the east say they will.”
Sir Gavin: “The people from