The Sky at Dawn; The Boy at Court (1)

"The Grace of Solar Luminance!"

The young king entered the Great Hall and the counselors, ministers, officials, and record keepers all knelt to one knee. They bowed their heads and cupped their hands before their chests, a symbol of offering.

Only the Queen Dowager remained seated.

The Great Hall of Solar Radiance stood illuminated by the bright rays of dawn. A monumental marble building situated at the heart of the Inner Palace, it was surrounded by the expansive lawns of the Court of Solar Radiance. Five grand archways atop a broad flight of stately stairs lead within; the four central pillars of the archways carved in the forms of the leaders of the Four Tribes which founded Xxene.

The white marble floors of the hall were polished to a high sheen and engraved meticulously with golden floral motifs. Arched glass windows lined the two lateral walls, the tops of which were fringed by elaborate mosaics of brilliant celestial designs. The ceiling supported a stained-glass dome decorated in vivid colors with depictions of Oghene, Xxene's deity, and on the far eastern wall was the throne.

Here, a broad dais of white alabaster stood one story above the floor. Two flights of stairs led up to it from the two sides. The dais was carved around with images of people of the ancestral Four Tribes: craftsmen, scholars, nomads on camels, warriors with swords and stringed bows and arrows.

Situated on the dais was the imposing throne.

Spanning five feet with a tall arched back, it had an intricately carved golden frame and yellow velvet cushioned backrest. The backrest was embroidered with threads of thinnest gold and studded with gemstones, and the cushion of the broad seat, too, was yellow velvet with gold brocade. The golden arms and legs of the throne were clawed like those of a fierce dragon. They gleamed with a high sheen.

Above the throne was a circular window of yellow glass tiles which occupied most of the wall. Mounted around it was an elaborately crafted golden frame whose outer edges were shaped like sun flares.

Emerging from the curtains shrouding the northern wing, the young king paused before the side stairs of the dais. He turned fearful eyes to his Chief Eunuch, who stood beside him. The Eunuch gave a slight, firm nod.

The king released a shaky breath and scaled the stairs. The black and white mourning robes which draped his body trailed awkwardly behind him. The white headcloth wrapped around his head, displaying a single, iridescent black opal, heavy.

At the top of the dais, he paused briefly.

Taking in an imperceptible breath, he fortified himself to face the court. Then climbed onto his throne. Sitting at its center, his back straight and hands resting on his knees, he seemed almost swallowed by it.

His heart raced terribly.

He looked across the bright, expansive hall.

A broad, gold and violet rug of silk brocatelle led from the throne to the great archways. On either side of the rug were two columns of ministers and officials in black and white mourning robes and headcloths. At the base of the dais were four ornate chairs designated for the four elderly counselors. Record keepers sat at the periphery of the hall.

Beside the king's own imposing throne was a smaller one with a golden canopy. The Queen Dowager sat regally on her throne; her image obscured by the sheer gold-lace curtains of the canopy.

Turning to her, the young king bowed his head in acknowledgement. He observed her closely through the sheer curtains. She lifted a hand in reply, and he turned warily back to the court, his senses heightened to her presence.

He had always been heedful of her, but now his mind could not be at ease whenever she was close. And he was continuously on guard.

Silence filled the Great Hall.

Someone among the officials cleared their throat, and the king closed his eyes, willing his heart to stop racing and his mind to calm. But it was hard with the Queen Dowager beside him and the officials waiting.

He opened his eyes and, fighting to keep his voice from shaking, proclaimed, "We now commence the court!"

"May Oghene guide our thoughts, Ovye, and our blessed kingdom!" The court's recitation resounded in the hall, and all rose from their kneeling positions.

The king took a deep breath. "First—"

"Let us welcome Orori Onovughe as our new Onóturode*." The Queen Dowager's voice rose above the young king's and he shrank, relief and dismay gripping him at once. "He assumes this role with my command, the ministers' support, and Oghene's blessing. May you lead the court with integrity, your loyalty unwavering."

Prime Minister Onovughe, a clean-shaven, slender man with dark chocolate skin and deep brown eyes, stepped forward from the front row of officials on the left.

He knelt to both knees just within the border of the brocatelle rug, hands cupped before him. "By His Grace's virtue and Her Royal Majesty's wisdom, I dutifully receive this post."

"Good," the Queen Dowager responded. "With your appointment, we must waste no time in rectifying the order of the court." She nodded to her Chief Eunuch, who stood at the base of the southern side of the dais.

The Eunuch skirted the dais to the front, placed a scroll in the prime minister's cupped hands, and retreated.

The prime minister stood and faced the court, unraveling the scroll with a flourish.

He cleared his throat and began, his voice resounding in the large hall, "On this, the first year and first month of our Sovereign Lord's reign, Her Royal Majesty the Queen Dowager, laying aside her sorrow and in her wisdom, has dutifully assumed the role of Regent.

Going forth, these changes shall take immediate effect at court. Minister of Justice Tanomare Imodu Miriode shall retire to his home in the Efekodo Province. His post will be assumed by the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Justice, Erhiaganoma Iwaka Onomine."

The newly appointed minister was a robust man with aquamarine blue eyes and short stubble beard. He stepped out of line in the second column of officials on the right.

Kneeling within the border of the brocatelle rug, he bowed with cupped hands to greet the Queen Dowager, "Your Majesty's boundless grace nourishes all! May Oghene guide my steps and thoughts as I serve king and blessed kingdom!"

He stepped back in line and the prime minister continued, "Upon the retirement of the Minister of Defense, Irikefe Beliko Efetobo, to his home in the Efekodo Province, his son, Odafe Beliko Efetobo, shall assume his post."

Again, the appointed minister stepped out and thanked the Queen Dowager. The prime minister went on, "On account of His Grace's youth and ease of influence, his royal tutors shall be dismissed, and Her Royal Majesty and Council of Advisors shall select new tutors free of seditious ideology…"

As the prime minister continued, the young king felt an oppressive weight bearing on his chest. Dismayed, he looked to his Chief Eunuch, who stood at the base of the northern steps of the dais.

The Eunuch looked steadily back at him, giving an assuring nod.

The king took a deep breath. He released it slowly as he faced the court again, raising his chin a bit higher, his back a bit straighter.

He worked his face into a serene mask to present to the court. And his heart sank as he realized, once again, that this was how he must carry on from now on. On guard against his own mother, the ministers, and always displaying himself with regal bearing.

He was born and raised to be king, so such presentation was nothing new to him.

What he never expected was that he would sit on the throne so soon.

But he sat, tranquil and stately, as court proceeded without him.

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