Page 38 of Of Empires and Dust
“Your presence brings honour to the lost,” Therin whispered.
Dann looked down at the central island to see a group arranged near the pit at the island’s centre. Two figures stood ahead of the group, likely Queen Uthrían and King Galdra. Dann would be surprised if the others weren’t the elven Ephorí – the sycophants who trailed after the monarchs wherever they went. The voice that spoke was that of Uthrían.
“We have come here today to mourn the loss of those we loved and to mark their passing in history. I…” The queen trailed off, whispers and murmurs spreading through the crowd, rising to a din.
“What’s going on?” Aruni asked.
“There.” Lyrei pointed towards the ridge that overlooked the basin.
It took a moment for Dann to realise what she was pointing at, but then he saw the light of the Blood Moon glistening off Valerys’s white scales as the dragon spread his wings. Dann could just about make out Calen’s outline standing to Valerys’s left, his hand resting on the dragon’s side.
Dann gave a downturn of his lip. “He’s certainly gotten good at making entrances.”
“He’s showing them who he is.”
“Who?” Dann asked.
“The Inari – Uthrían and Galdra.” The smile that spread across Therin’s lips looked almost out of place on the usually stern-faced elf. “He’s learning.”
As Therin spoke, another murmuring wave spread through the crowd.
Two more shapes emerged on the ridge, so large they cast shadows that covered half the basin.
“Varthear and Sardakes.” The tone in Therin’s voice completely changed into what Dann could only describe as reverence. The elf looked down towards the bridges where Aeson and the other Rakina stood.
The larger of the two dragons – Sardakes – spread his wings wide, blocking out the light of the moon, and unleashed a mighty roar. The creature’s black scales stood stark against the striking blue of his wings.
Valerys and the third dragon both followed suit, their roars carrying through the basin, slowly fading until only silence remained and the three dragons stared down over the gathered crowd. Many still whispered when Queen Uthrían spoke again.
“The light of the Enkara shines upon us,” Uthrían’s voice echoed, amplified by magic. “And the fire of the dragons returns to our side. Du gryr haydria til ourín elwynar, Velikír Ayara.”
“You bring honour to our hearts, Great Ones,” Therin whispered again.
“I got the gist of it,” Dann whispered back.
Therin frowned.
“The Eleswea un'il Valana is not simply a ceremony to mourn those we’ve lost,” Uthrían called, her voice lingering unnaturally in the air. “It is a waypoint in history. It is a monument upon which our descendants can look back and say, ‘this is the day something changed in the fabric of the world’.”
To Dann’s surprise, a raucous cheer erupted from the gathered elves. They’d never seemed the cheering type. They barely ever seemed the smiling type, if he was being honest, more like frowning happily.
A second voice rang out – King Galdra of Lunithír. “For hundreds of years, we have taken shelter within the Aravell. The Nithrandír have guarded our borders, the glamour has kept our existence a secret, and the rangers have stifled the Lorian ability to move from north to south. Yes, this day is a marker ofremembrance for those we’ve lost. But it is also a marker of the return of our people to Epheria and the rebirth of old alliances. We once again stand with a Draleid watching over us, the Rakina at his back. It was not only elves who stood in the defence of Aravell. It was humans, Jotnar, Angan, dragons. This is a day that will echo in the annals of our continent. This is the day the elves of Lunithír, of Vaelen, and of Ardurän stopped hiding. This is the day we joined the fight.This,” Galdra said, holding his breath for just a second, “is the day the empire first began to crumble.”
“And so,” Uthrían continued, “we mark the dead and this point in time by remembering who stood here.”
As Uthrían spoke the last word, brilliant white lights burst into existence at the base of the statues, illuminating every groove and line in the immense stonework, making each one look alive. Dann had seen Calen and the others make their baldír before, but he’d never seen baldír like this before. It was like the light of the sun had been casked and controlled on command.
“As you all know,” Uthrían said, “we lost many unique souls in the battle for Aravell. One of those such souls was my dear friend and the beloved king of Vaelen – Silmiryn Vaelen, the Silver Hawk. As King Silmiryn left behind no heirs, we waited until the succession was decided before we held this day. And as such, today is both a mourning and a celebration. A lament and a triumph. For today, I present to you the niece of King Silmiryn, and the new queen of Vaelen – Queen Tessara Vaelen Alumír!”
The cheers that broke did so amidst subdued murmurs as over a hundred Highguard poured from somewhere down near the island, creating a framed pathway over the eastern bridge. A figure made its way onto the island, too far for Dann to make out any features.
“Not everyone seems pleased,” Erik said.
Therin pressed his fingers into his chin, scratching. “Tessara is… divisive.”
Once Galdra and Uthrían had placed the crown on Tessara’s head, the applause and murmurs quietened and the new queen stepped forwards. She allowed the silence to hold for a few moments more before speaking. “For over four hundred years, my uncle guided the people of Vaelen. Through our darkest hours, our darkest centuries, he was our beacon. And I will not let his light be lost. Now, I would ask Asius, son of Thalm, and Thacia, daughter of Ulin, to join me in commencing the Eleswea un'il Valana.”
Tessara gestured towards the same bridge she had crossed. Two hulking shapes stepped onto the bridge, their bluish skin and Thacia’s blood-red hair striking against the grey stone.
