The Seer King: Book One of the Seer King Trilogy (71 page)

“And what if we don’t?”

Tenedos stared at Barthou until he looked away.

“A year ago, the army was in the streets of Nicias, doing your bidding, bringing peace,” he said. “If you do not obey my orders, it shall rule Nicias with the sword once more.

“And you shall bitterly rue the consequences.

“You cannot change what will happen. I shall be emperor, with or without your bumbling approval. The time has come for changes, and I have been chosen by Saionji to make them.

“Think well, think wisely,” Tenedos said grimly. “For the blood shall be on your hands.”

Without farewell, without salute, he stalked out, paying no heed to the gabble and shouts from behind.

T
HE
C
ROWN

I stood beside the altar, the high priest at my side. He held a heavy box in his arms, a box made of solid gold and crusted with gems.

The huge temple was full. Every nobleman and -woman who could reach Nicias packed its main floor and balconies.

The center aisle was lined with soldiers. All of them were tribunes or generals.

Trumpets blared, the great doors opened, and Tenedos entered as the audience stood. Instead of seer’s robes, he wore the simple uniform of an army officer, but without badges of rank or decorations.

Music from an unseen orchestra swelled, and Tenedos paced slowly toward the altar. As he passed each officer, the man knelt in obeisance, and the men and women behind them bowed humbly.

He reached the foot of the altar and stopped.

“Are you the man named Laish Tenedos?” the priest asked.

“I am he.”

“You are chosen by the Rule of Ten, in the names of Umar, of Irisu, of … of Saionji,” the priest stumbled over the last-minute addition to the ritual, and I heard gasps from the audience, “of Panoan, and all the rest of those mighty beings who created and watch over Numantia, to lead us.

“Laish Tenedos, I require you to promise that you shall govern wisely and well, frequently consulting the gods to ensure you rule in wisdom, mercy, and justice, never treating your subjects with cruelty or disdain, never leading them into war without justification.”

“I so vow.”

“Then I proclaim you emperor of Numantia.”

He opened the box and took out the single gold circlet.

“Tribune Damastes á Cimabue, Baron Damastes of Ghazi, Count Agramónte, you have been chosen the most worthy to crown the emperor. Take this diadem from my hands, and place it on your ruler’s brow.”

I lifted the circlet. As I did, I saw Marán in the audience, her face a beacon of love and hope.

I placed the circlet on Tenedos’s brow, then knelt, bowing my head.

And that was how the Seer King came to the throne. On that day we stood on the summit of the highest mountain. All the world’s glory spread below us. It was the beginning of the end.