From Darkness Won - Jill Williamson [224]
Toros passed the scepter to Achan. He took hold of the smooth wood.
Another young man approached from Sparrow’s side. He too held a pillow that carried a crown almost identical to Achan’s. Toros took the crown and offered a prayer for it, then placed it on Sparrow’s head.
A layer of tears coated Achan’s eyes. He blinked them away and squeezed Sparrow’s hand, thankful she sat beside him, loved him.
Toros said another prayer, or maybe he was talking to the audience. All Achan knew was that he had no more lines to recite. He stared ahead into nothingness, ready for this service to end, remembering all that had taken place to get him here.
A chorus of “Arman save the king! Arman save the queen!” jolted Achan’s mind back to the present.
Toros turned and knelt before the thrones. “I, Toros Ianjo, priest of Arman, will be faithful and true, and faith and truth will bear unto you, my Sovereign Lord, King of this Realm and Defender of the Faith, and unto your heirs and successors according to law. So help me Arman.”
Then, one by one, the audience came to swear fealty.
At first it was humbling, like that day Prince Oren, Sir Rigil, and Bran had sworn fealty to Achan in the Council chambers in Mahanaim. But the numbers never seemed to dwindle. Drowsiness plagued Achan. He tried to disguise his yawns and keep his eyes from drooping, but kept failing.
The trill of the drums and heralding of the bugles was mercy indeed.
Achan and Sparrow stood and exited the throne room. The day was far from over. Now it was to the great hall for the coronation banquet.
How fare you, my king? Sparrow asked.
Desperate for sleep.
Food will hopefully bring you the energy you need to make it through the rest of this day.
I hope so. I would hate to fall asleep on my trencher.
Sir Caleb promised me a week of rest starting tomorrow.
He promised me as well, and I intend to hold him to it.
She stepped closer to walk beside him through the doorway leading out to the grand staircase. Then hold on but a little longer, my king. For we have the rest of our lives to rest, but only this one day to celebrate our crowns.
Mine is heavy. Is yours?
It is a weight I can bear only with you by my side.
Achan smiled. I would kiss you, but I fear the crown would fall off. Can you imagine it rolling down the stairs?
That would be a sight to behold.
You are a sight to behold.
She pursed her lips. With words like those, we shall never rest.
I can live with that.
THE END
A Note from the Author
Thanks for reading From Darkness Won.
As always, I love to hear from you. E-mail me at info@jillwilliamson.com with your thoughts on the book or questions about writing.
Keep an eye out for my next book tentatively titled Jason Farms, a young adult science fiction/suspense novel which releases from Zonderkidz sometime in 2012. Join my Facebook fan page or sign up for my author ezine at www.jillwilliamson.com to stay posted on this and other new projects.
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Acknowledgments
Thanks to God, Brad, Luke, and Kaitlyn, who love me in spite of my numerous flaws.
And thanks to: Jeff Gerke, a fabulous editor and writing instructor. To Nicole O’Dell, Shirley Fruchey, Stephanie Gallentine, Adele Haijeck, Leighton Hajicek, Ness Hajicek, Chris Kolmorgen, Amy Meyer, Xavier Meyer, Diana Sharples, and Kathy Tyers for reading my book and/or helping me make it work. To my ladies’ Bible study group for praying for me. To Steve Taylor, Peter Furler, and the Newsboys for the song He Reigns, which inspired the ending for the battle against Darkness.
And to Greg Bremner, whom I forgot to thank