A Solitary Journey (6 page)

‘Some would argue that we are only the sum of our memories and the memories of those who know us. When those are gone, what remains to say that we ever existed?’

FROM
M
USINGS ON THE
S
OUL
: A
N
E
XPLORATION OF
S
ELF
BY SEER HOLYVISION

N
ews of his mother’s assassination and the capitulation of the Queen’s army reached him a day before his ship was due to anchor in Port of Joy and he went below decks to howl out his grief. His mother wasn’t meant to die. He always expressly forbade attacks against her. The word was that a young Seer who claimed that she killed his father had taken it upon himself to carry out a personal act of revenge in the palace and killed the Queen in full view of witnesses. He was struck down by the Elite Guards trying to make his escape. The Queen’s death signalled to her supporters that the war was lost. Her main army, already in retreat, surrendered on Kangaroo Plains. Her second army, stemming the incursions of the Coalition of Chiefs’ forces, was yet to surrender because its leader had not formally offered his allegiance to the Prince, but Future knew that was only a matter of circumstance and time. He really didn’t want to negotiate with the Coalition of Chiefs if they had taken control of substantial tracts of the Western Shess land, so the stoic resistance by the Queen’s soldiers in that region was something he would commend when he took command.

This morning, with the sea breeze at his back and the ship on which he was sailing cutting through the green ocean of Royal Bay towards the docks, the white palace walls glittering in the sunlight, his spirits were buoyed at the prospect that he was the new king. He’d wanted his mother to crown him despite their war for the throne, but now he was king by absolute right as the sole inheritor as well as the conqueror. Jarudha held him in His hand and guided him to the throne. The city, the lands, the oceans were his to command.

‘It’s been a long time, Your Highness,’ said Seer Weaver as he joined the Prince on the foredeck of the Kerwyn ship.

Prince Future smiled and licked the salty spray from his lips before replying, ‘It’s been almost thirteen years since I last set foot in my home as a free man. I thank Jarudha for His protection throughout that time.’

Weaver bowed his head briefly and said, ‘As the new king, Your Highness, your service in Jarudha’s name I’m sure will be faultless and generous.’

‘And you? Are you glad to be home?’

The Seer stared at the dark line of buildings squatting along the curving shore of the bay, flanked to the north and south by the tall limestone cliff-faced promontories of the palace and the notorious Bogpit. Waves shattered into white plumes on the smooth rocks. ‘I will be home when Jarudha’s Paradise is here in this world as the scriptures promise. Until then, my life is a continuous journey, and if the promise isn’t fulfilled in my mortal lifetime I will be a traveller until Paradise is made to be.’

Future could offer nothing in response. The Seers always gave him the impression of being dissatisfied, even when events were turning in their favour. He stayed silent and gazed at the white palace walls. He, at least, was home.

‘When the Prince has had time to settle in, then we should bury the Queen,’ Diamond said in answer to Goodman’s query.

‘Yes, Your Eminence. You are right,’ Goodman agreed. ‘I’ll attend to the Prince’s arrival.’ He withdrew from the Counsel Chamber, heading for the quarters of the Elite Guards.

Diamond nodded to three disciples. The young men in their yellow robes bowed to the Seer and followed Goodman. The Seer studied the chamber, noting as he always did the symmetry in the octagonal architecture. The space was empty, the Queen’s death momentarily suspending the need for diplomatic meetings. The Tithe Lords and surviving Marchlords were gathering in the palace, anxiously awaiting the arrival and imminent coronation of Prince Future, wondering how the change in leadership would affect their personal status, wealth and lives, but they were barred from entering the Counsel Chamber until it was graced with a Royal personage. Diamond was flouting the rules with his presence, but he had long discarded fear of recrimination from the earthly leaders. To Jarudha, and only Jarudha, was he accountable.

He sighed and looked at the Royal throne. The frame covered with gold leaf, cushioned with black fabric embroidered with gold serpents, it sat at the top of five marble steps to proclaim worldly authority. He, in his eighty-two years of life, had seen four members of the Royal family take their turns on the throne—Queen Sunset; her father, King Godson; his father, King Firstborn; and his father, King Longarm. The ascent of Prince Future would herald the fifth that he’d seen in that line. Jarudha was kind to let him
witness so much change in the mortal world, but he didn’t expect to see Future’s successor. He would be pleased and incredibly blessed to witness the coming of Jarudha’s Paradise in the mortal world, but he did not hold hope for it to happen in his lifetime. The younger Seers and the disciples would see that come to fruition. He would only see it when Jarudha called his people, the living and the dead, to walk the verdant pastures of Paradise when all the souls were purified and set free.

His gaze dropped from the throne as he turned towards the door. There was a lot of work to do. A prince was arriving to become a king and he had to conduct the sacred and ancient rites of the coronation. He was an acolyte when Queen Sunset acceded to the throne. Now, as the oldest and most respected of the Seers, he had responsibilities.

Marchlord Blade Cutter received the news of the Queen’s death in the morning as he was about to lead twenty thousand men into battle. He read the letter from Kneel Goodman in silence, the only visible effect being his knuckles whitening as he tensed his fists. When he finished, he mounted his horse and said to the messenger, ‘Tell the Royal Intermediary that I will keep the southern borders safe until the matters in the palace are resolved and new orders are despatched.’ Then he ordered his attendant Shieldmasters to ready the troops.

Later, as the battle unfolded through the foothills above the Southern Reaches, Marchlord Cutter gathered a Group of Elite Archers and rode along a ridge, seeking a Coalition war band to engage. As Marchlord, he was seldom able to get into the fighting as he had in his days as a soldier and a Leader. Even as a Shieldmaster he’d been able to take
risks by leading his troops in headlong charges, feeling the thrill of battle rush through his veins. He’d served more than fourteen years in the Queen’s army, a life devoted to protecting the kingdom of Western Shess from its enemies within and without. He had many brief loves, but he was married to Gentle who’d given him three boys. The marriage was in its eighth year and he had only seen the first two sons on his annual visits. Tallspirit was already seven. Brightwater was five. The youngest, Peace, was two, and Blade had not yet seen him because of the southern war. With the Queen dead and her son ascending the throne, perhaps there would be a break from endless war and he could go home to be the father he wanted desperately to be.

An approaching rider interrupted his thoughts. ‘Enemy camp, Marchlord,’ the scout reported as he reined in.

‘Where?’ Cutter asked.

‘Less than a quarter, beyond the second ridge.’

‘How many?’

‘A hundred—perhaps a handful more.’

Cutter motioned to Leader Bolt and the wiry brown-haired man trotted his horse to the Marchlord’s side. ‘Spread the word that we will be attacking an enemy camp. Odds are initially two to one,’ Cutter told him. Bolt smiled and wheeled his bay horse to deliver the information to the rest of the Group, while Cutter settled in his saddle and unclasped his sword. There was still time to play the soldier before the old order dissolved.

People pressed against one another, jostling for a brief glimpse of the prince who was soon to be transformed into the king. The constant soft chatter and bickering made hearing the Holy Seer’s words impossible in the
rear ranks and many poorer folk were becoming irritated, their mood further dampened by a light misty rain carried by sea breezes from the Great Ocean. Rain in the cycle of Sun was unusual, prompting the rumour-mongers and soothsayers to spread disconcerting news among the people. ‘It’s Jarudha’s sign that this prince is not the rightful heir,’ some whispered.

‘No,’ others countered. ‘He brings rain in a time of need. It’s a good sign. Jarudha is pleased.’

So uncertainty of the Prince’s right to ascend to the throne wrestled with acceptance of his victory throughout the crowd outside the palace walls, while the Royal Elite Guards kept a watchful eye on everyone to deter would-be troublemakers.

On a wide and solid wooden dais constructed for the coronation outside the Royal palace gates, Seer Diamond was regaled in the blue, black and white robes worn only for the coronation and burial rituals, a yellow sash around his waist. The colours represented the interaction and unity between the Seers and the King as servants and disciples of Jarudha—blue for the Seers, black for the Royals, white for purity in a new beginning and the yellow to remind everyone of the acolytes who are always the first to begin the holy journey towards Paradise on earth. With Diamond were Seers Onyx, Gold, Weaver, Vale, Hope and Emerald, whose roles were to administer specific aspects of the coronation while Diamond sang the litany. The Prince wore the Royal black, but around his waist the blue, white and yellow sash mirrored Diamond’s colours. With him was the Royal Intermediary as his personal attendant, also in black. Neither wore the serpent emblem on their garments. Each new monarch had the right to choose their emblem at their coronation. Sunset had kept the golden serpent that her grandfather used, but its absence from
the ceremonial clothing hinted that the new King would choose his own heraldic symbol.

Prayers and blessings completed to open the ceremony, Diamond spread his arms, the long sleeves drooping to the decking. ‘People of the kingdom,’ he began, ‘I call upon you all to witness the most holy of blessings that mighty Jarudha is bestowing upon this man whom you have known as Prince Future. Jarudha has seen his works, and looked into his heart, and He has seen that this man is good and just and courageous. These are the qualities of all great kings. But Jarudha has seen more. This man, this prince among men, is also a disciple of our Holy Lord and Saviour—a man whose heart is committed not only to keeping your earthly world safe and productive but to saving your souls. He is a true king among kings!’

Those who could hear Diamond’s speech cheered, while at the back of the crowd people asking what had been said were abused for making too much noise. Diamond beckoned to the Prince who came forward to kneel before the Seer. The Seer placed one hand on Future’s damp hair and gave a blessing, which he ended with, ‘Jarudha has given you a great earthly gift in making you a king. Remember this in all that you do hereafter and you will be forever blessed in this life and in eternal life in Paradise.’ He unwrapped his sash and placed it over the Prince’s head. ‘With the bounty of great Jarudha’s awesome blessing, and with your right as successor to Queen Sunset Royal, arise to your duties and your kingdom, King Future Royal the First!’ At the pronouncement’s conclusion, Future stood and turned to face the assembled multitude, hearing the cheers and applause of those who were now his loyal subjects. He was the king. The Royal line was again led by a man and he would father more boys to ensure that the Royal line was eternal in Western Shess.

Cleaver Broadback was irritated by the soft rain that formed into larger drops on the top of his shoulders and dribbled inside his leather armour, but he was angrier because he and his men—and the entire Kerwyn army—were waiting on the east bank of the river, a short day’s march from the capital city. The barbarians were broken and defeated so there would be no resistance, and the capital was within reach, yet they halted because Bloodsword had received word that the southern prince was being crowned so all hostilities were halted as a mark of respect.

‘So we have a new king.’

‘The celebrations will continue for two more days,’ said Onyx in response to Diamond’s statement. ‘The people are happy to have a king again.’

‘The people are happy to have a celebration and the end to war,’ said Vale. ‘I don’t think it matters to them about the king.’

‘Why didn’t King Ironfist attend the ceremonies?’ asked Gold.

‘You might be better to ask why the Kerwyn army is still camped on the banks of the River of Kings.’

The five Seers turned to Weaver. ‘Resting, I would hope,’ said Diamond. ‘They have a long journey home.’

‘I have informants in the navy who say that the Kerwyn king promised his soldiers Shessian land,’ said Weaver.

‘Future bought an agreement with King Ironfist,’ Diamond confirmed. ‘We all know that. Losing some land in the north is a small price to restore the kingdom and put a man on the throne who follows Jarudha.’

Weaver shook his head slowly. ‘I think you’ll find that the Kerwyn king wants a much larger slice of the kingdom than Prince Future intended.’

‘King Future,’ Onyx corrected.

‘Who is with the Kerwyn Warlord?’ Diamond asked.

‘Silverlight and a handful of disciples,’ Gold informed him.

‘Then we’d better get word from Silverlight about what’s going on,’ said Diamond. He looked at Weaver. ‘Can you deal with this matter?’

Weaver smiled as he replied, ‘Jarudha willing, I will find out what I can.’

Diamond and Vale followed the disciple with the candle down the narrow stairs into the long stone corridor deep in the bedrock beneath the temple. A second disciple, an older man, bowed as they entered and lifted a lantern from its hook. The candle-bearing disciple silently withdrew up the steps, while the older man led the Seers along the corridor. They reached a junction with a dark wooden door recessed into the wall directly ahead and corridors leading left and right. The disciple produced a key and unlocked the door, and bowed as the Seers entered. He closed the door behind them, locked it again, and returned along the corridor to his watch post.

The chamber was large and lit by a row of lanterns suspended from a beam below the roof. The walls were lined with shelves and the shelves filled with books and scrolls and objects. Tables filled the centre of the chamber, covered with a litter of objects and papers and jars and phials. Seven disciples in their yellow robes lifted their pale faces to see who had entered, and all respectfully bowed. ‘Where is Seer Reason?’ Diamond asked.