Tier City

Two weeks later:

A large part of the army brought by Duchess Marcia and the other two duchies were moved into Stiarra Nor in order to stabilize the city and defend it from future incursions. The rest of the army returned to their home duchies with Duke Wulfia in the lead. Communications had been reestablished with the Kingdom of Tier and the announcement of Rowen’s being identified as King was sent far and wide. The Tribunals were moving along smoothly thanks to proper coordination of all involved. Rowen sat in judgement of a few select cases.

The morning of her execution, High Priestess Malcente` was waiting in her cell refusing any of the “Tainted” priests or priestesses to minister to her.

Rowen approached her cell thinking, “This is such a waste. She appeared to be intelligent and a formidable woman in her own right, but she was so indoctrinated with hate and bile I can’t see her being reconciled.”

He arrived at her cell to see her on her knees praying. He was going to wait for her to finish but Domonique said, “Prisoner, bow before King Rowen I!”

The former High Priestess just looked at them annoyed then returned to her prayers.

Rowen was irritated at her disregard towards the propriety of things. He had come to learn over the last couple of weeks that, even though he didn’t feel like a king, he was filling the role and had to bring honor to that role. For that, he stopped disregarding people’s bowing. He also had to stop forgiving those who refused to bow, not for his pride, but for honoring the majesty of the crown itself.

He said, “Woman, you’re not above the law of the land in which you now inhabit. Even God the Creator has commanded that we honor the laws of our land and those He has appointed as leaders.”

She looked back at him and said, “You are no King and this is no Kingdom. This is a wasted land full of tainted beings that need to be cleansed from it.”

Rowen said to the jailer, “Open the cell.”

The jailer looked at him a moment stunned, then he went ahead and opened the cell.

Rowen walked into the cell and sat down on the prisoner’s bed and said, “You know, you never answered my question. Which is more heretical, defying the Church or defying the Guardians?”

She continued to look at him as if he were an irritant and said, “I would think that the Church’s will, and the Guardian’s will, is one in the same.”

Rowen smiled sadly and said, “That’s what I thought you were going to say.”

He held up his ring to her eyes and said, “I, King Rowen, High Lord Magedi to the House of Dawn, Grand Knight to the Order of the Blue Rose, have viewed your actions, your meanings and your proclamations of your faith and beliefs, all of which are in direct contradiction of the Creator and his Guardians. You have blasphemed in your heart the love of his lands and his creations. You have taught and led those entrusted to you in your blasphemous ways, encouraging them to destroy and defile the Creator's words and desires. For your crimes and the venom in your heart and soul, you will be stricken from the kingdom of the Creator, your soul dispersed forever. Your name and crimes will be used as one of the examples to teach others of the errors of their ways. You have an hour to make peace with the Creator. Only through his forgiveness will your soul remain whole and pass into his kingdom, spared its dissolvement."

She looked at his ring as if trying to deny its existence. She then touched it and mumbled, “True tale.” Her eyes flew open widely and she looked at him with a look of disbelief and terror in her eyes.

He stood and left the cell hearing wailing from behind him.

Word came back from the other duchies declaring King Rowen I as the Liberator King because of his liberating Stiarra Nor. However, depending on from which region within the Kingdom the descriptions of him came back as either a Beastkin, Elf or even a Dwarf. Only a couple of noncomplimentary depictions had him as a human.

Yet, whenever he went out among the citizens within Stiarra Nor he was always greeted by throngs of grateful people.

Since liberating Stiarra Nor, Rowen had been seeing, meeting, and interacting with such a variety of Beastkin that he had to marvel. But the one thing that he had to take to home was that, except for a few exceptions, most Beastkin looked human save for their ears and tail.

The biggest exceptions were both the Avian Races, and the Reptilian Races.

The Avian Races tended to look the least human because of their arms being wings and their bodies being shaped more for flying. The Reptilian Races had an obvious reptilian appearance but were bipedal and obviously intelligent.

He did have a hard time telling the difference between Mice Beastkin and Rat Beastkin, but he was able to eventually figure out that body size and strength were the deciding factors. Micekin weren’t much bigger than Small Fellows. Ratkin people were still short compared to humans but they were stocky and strong. Much like Dwarves.

In the last two weeks, Rowen had ordered the rebuilding of the Accolades Temple and created a chest of gold to be set aside for that purpose.

He did have Marquese Murielle Rex move into a set of apartments within the palace until the temple was completed. She resisted but he insisted.

Now that he had everything he needed to within the city, going full speed ahead, it was time for him to head to Tier City.

He had the artifact mirror placed in a small, little used ballroom or reception room within the palace and had it under guard by a squad of his infantry golems.

His mother-in-law, Aunt and their personal Retinues were to go back with him, Kit, Jade, and a platoon of his golem troopers. There were also a couple of prisoners of war that were going with him for other reasons.

Standing over to the side, waiting to send them off were Xyarra, Dana, Elli and Domonique.

Rowen and Kit said their goodbyes and Rowen said to Xyarra, “I know that you’ll keep things under control here. Take care of your sister wives too.”

She kissed him and said, “So, that means I’m in charge now?”

“Yes, it does.” He answered cautiously.

She turned to Dana and said, “Now you have to do what I say.”

“The hell I will!” Dana answered sharply.

Then Elli put her hand on each of their shoulders and said, “You two behave!”

They looked at Ellie then both broke down laughing.

Rowen, while chuckling walked over to the mirror. He looked to his mother-in-law and aunt and asked, “Mother, aunty, are you ready?”

Duchess Marcia looked at the mirror uneasily and nodded her head, whereas Marquese Quintessa smiled boldly and said, “I’m looking forward to the trip.”

Rowen nodded then reached up, touched the mirror, and channeled mana into the power runes.

The mirror cleared away the golden rune marbling and with it their reflections disappeared as well. What replaced their reflections was a view of a temple’s nave.

Rowen then stepped through the mirror. He felt like it was kinda anticlimactic. There was no sensation or visual changes. Just like walking into another room.

He was greeted by a gasp from a Panthera priestess who looked to be on her knees praying.

Rowen looked to the priestess and said, “Pardon us as we come through.” And he signaled the others to follow.

Kit and Jade were next, followed by the Duchess and Marquese.

Rowen had stepped aside over to where the priestess was now standing with her mouth hanging open.

As the retinues and soldiers led their horses through the Mirror Gate, Rowen said to the Priestess, “Let me introduce myself. I am King Rowen I and these are my…family.”

The Panthera Priestess had the presence of mind to fall to her knee and said, “Your Majesty, I was just praying for you.”

“Why thank you, Priestess. Any prayers are welcome.” And he motioned for her to stand.

Rowen and his entire retinue mounted outside the Accolades Temple just outside of Tier City. Rowen looked at the extension of the city outside the city walls. It would seem that the prosperity of this area has drawn more people over the years than could be contained within city walls.

He and his retinue rode the city block distance to the western gates of the main city.

At the gates there were a company of soldiers of varying races checking people entering the city and charging them a one Shek entry tax.

The common folk made way for the obvious nobles flying their banners as his retinue approached the gates. However, the soldiers seemed to form up and moved to block passage.

The Sargent of the Guard held up his hand and looked to Rowen and said, “Sir, I do not recognize you. Who are you and what business do you have here in Tier City?

Duchess Marcia said, “I am Duchess Marcia. I know that you recognize MY banner and the other nobles here.” She pointed to Rowen and said, “Make way for your King!”

“I’m sorry, Your Grace, but I have strict orders from Duke Vielle and the present members of the Council that I am not to let anyone pass that may prove to be a threat to the city and the Council.”

Marquese Quintessa rode up to the Sargent and said, “Do you know who I am?”

“Yes, my Lady!”

“So, then you are aware that as the Kingdom’s Seer, I have unfettered access to all cities within the Kingdom, do you not?”

The Sargent of the Guard appeared to be flustered. He then called out, “Officer of the Day!”

Marquese Quintessa wasn’t plussed, she went on, “Sargent, you know my power and my reputation of honesty, do you not?”

“Yes, my Lady!”

“Then you’ll know that I am being honest and accurate if I said that your future will be dire if you continued to block our passage, do you not?”

“Yes, my Lady, however, I have my orders.”

“Are you prepared to arrest your new king?”

The Sargent stepped back away from her with a shocked look on his face.

“I thought not.” And she motioned forward.

Rowen saw the intensity in the Marquese’s eyes when she was talking to the Sargent.

He was impressed.

The Sargent seemed to try to rally himself, however, it was too late because the rest of the gate guard made way for Rowen’s retinue.

He continued on to the lead of the column with Marquese Quintessa on his left and Kit on his right.

One horse length behind was Duchess Marcia, followed by the rest of the retinue.

The East West Concourse was wide enough to allow for a large group to ride on without channeling very much, except where there were city fountains every couple of blocks.

While riding, Rowen noted that a rider had passed them riding hard from the gate to the central Palace.

Rowen turned to the Marquese and said, “That could be troublesome.”

She smiled and said, “Have faith my King.”

He nodded and said, “Always.”

About two thirds way towards the palace a company size unit of mounted soldiers were forming up. They wore golden armor that Rowen could tell at a glance were heavily enchanted.

Behind the mounted company another company of foot soldiers were forming up as well.

In the lead of the mounted soldiers was a lightly armored female knight with long bunny ears.

She waited until the entire force was properly formed, then she moved her mount forward and Approached Rowen’s column.

Rowen held up his hand to halt his column and he and Marquese Quintessa moved forward to meet this Hassen Knight.

Rowen had heard of the Hassen Warriors and he had found it counterintuitive to think that some of the fiercest warriors within the Kingdom of Tier were rabbit people.

They were so fierce that they were known to be able to kick a man’s head off with a roundhouse like kick.

Looking at the leg muscles on this Hassen Knight before him, he now had little doubt about the legend.

Marquese Quintessa said, “Dame Kiri, well met as always.”

Dame Kiri briefly dipped her head towards the Marquese but continued to look at Rowen.

After a brief but intense examination she said, “I know by looking at you that you are a dangerous man. Of that I have no doubt. Now that it is said that you are king. That makes you exponentially more dangerous, I fear.”

She then turned her head to the Marquese and said, “My lady, do you affirm that this man…this human is the foretold King?”

“I do, Dame Kiri!”

Dame Kiri then turned back to Rowen and bowed at the waist, but not taking her eyes off of him and said, “Sire, I, Dame Kiri Hass, Captain of the Royal Guard place myself and my Guard at your disposal!”

With that, there were crisp sounding facing movements and smart looking horse maneuvers opening up an avenue of passage for Rowen’s retinue.

Outriders were sent forward to clear the traffic on the concourse. All announcing , “Make way for the King!”