Gardem looked confused, but Vorska stepped in.
“And you, Hyzou, shall be named the Emperor of Nuyin, to see that this matter is done”, Vorska said.
“I accept this burden”, Hyzou said.
“Accept this crown, as a symbol of your righteousness in the task before you. The survival of our peoples relies upon you, and this crown shows the power and the glory you shall bestow upon the combined peoples of Nuyin”, Gardem said.
A simple bronze diadem was place on the crown of Hyzou’s head.
“Arise, Emperor, and accept your fate”, Vorska said.
Hyzou stood, and among the Palace they began to chant.
“LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR! LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!”
Hyzou walked down from the stage, down among the leaders of Piquea and Uqing both. They swarmed around him, congratulating him, hugging him, grabbing his hand, his arm, his shoulder.
After the congratulations had passed, the only person he wanted to see came to him and buried her head in his shoulder.
“You’re already getting used to this”, Safia said.
“What does this make you, an empress? Or still a queen?” Hyzou said.
“What does it make him?” Safia asked.
She reached and grabbed Hyzou’s hand. She took it and placed it against her stomach. Hyzou reached out with his Qi and couldn’t quite believe what he sensed.
There was Safia, just Safia. But deep within her, there was the potential, the possibility of a spark, the brief hint that a new Qi could be forged.
“You’re pregnant?” Hyzou asked.
Safia nodded, her head still resting against his shoulder.
“And I suppose we’ll call her a princess”, Hyzou said.
“Or a prince”, Safia said.
“Come, there are people awaiting us”, Hyzou said.
Safia put her hand in his, and together they walked out of the Palace, flanked by all who had attended the ceremony.
Outside, on the sixth level, boys and girls were banging makeshift bells together. There were too many of them for any rhythm, and it created a terrible noise.
When he reached the edge of the sixth level, Hyzou went all the way to the end and climbed the wall.
The fifth and fourth levels were full of Piqueans. They all cheered loudly when Hyzou waved to them. Safia was standing just behind him and, still smiling, Hyzou turned to her.
“They think I saved their city”, Hyzou said. “They think I saved them.”
“You did!” Safia shouted.
Hyzou looked down at the mass of people below him.
“I haven’t saved them from anything yet”, Hyzou muttered.
No one could hear him over the noise.
Table of Contents
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN
CHAPTER TWELVE
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
CHAPTER NINETEEN
CHAPTER TWENTY
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
CHAPTER THIRTY
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX