Center Worlds - Spark Read online

Chapter 3

  Coronation of an Emperor - Royal Palace, Tara -22 BA

  Finally, Tyo Masilec reached Majority, and the Confederacy celebrated. A year of celebration began with his official coronation. Clan Michelab had sworn fealty to the Confederacy to ensure a peace was maintained, so they were in attendance at the Emperor's coronation, where Tyo would ascend to Rule the Confederacy Clans as their Lord.

  The day of the coronation was upon them, and Tyo was frantic with worry and concern. Ryo stood by him, keeping him in balance, with Lya helping him to get ready, coordinating the palace Lari'Sota to get everything looking ready and dealing with the myriad of small details that must all go together like a gigantic puzzle to bring this event off without an error.

  Ryo stood back as two of the Lari'Sota helped Tyo into the formal robes that had been made for this day, looking at him in full length mirrors so they could ensure the correct pose and display was present for one who was to be the Lord Emperor of the entire Confederacy. All of the Thousand Worlds. Tyo was jittery, he had planned for this, learned and trained for it, but it was still a very big event. He looked over at Ryo, and Ryo smiled at him.

  “You are definitely no longer the young boy I came here six cycles ago to help, Lord Tyo.”

  “What do you mean, Ryo?” He asked.

  Ryo walked over and put his hands on Tyo's broad shoulders. The younger man was still a head shorter than the Commander, but he had filled out and was almost as wide, and had more physical strength. When the two had wrestled, Tyo could now fell and pin the larger Commander with ease.

  “You have grown into the man that you were always going to be, my cousin. Strong, firm of mind and body. Understanding of the needs and requirements of this office. You are the Lord Emperor that we all need and require. You are not your father, you are your own man. Tyo, you will do well in this role.” Ryo said, squeezing Tyo's shoulders firmly.

  Tyo looked at his cousin in the mirror, then grasped Ryo's hand firmly. “Thank you for staying with me, Ryo. I know it has been difficult for six cycles to remain here, your own Clan needs your help in some ways more than I do.”

  “You are related to me by blood, Tyo. In some ways, although you are Maselic, you are the only Maselic, there are no others, you have no issue. If you fell, then the entire Confederacy would dissolve into civil war and we would truly be lost. Not only is it my duty to ensure you remain safe, it is my honour to help you and to be there to guide you towards this goal. You are the Lord Emperor, and you will reign over our Thousand Worlds with that same honour and strength that you have shown.” Ryo replied.

  Both men walked down the corridor, flanking Lya's travel chair as she glided down towards the assembly hall where the Coronation would take place. All three of them were dressed in their finest, both Lya and Ryo in clan robes, with Ryo ensuring the Desinlo crest was fully equal to the Camelin crest they both wore proudly. They reached the doors, and with a final handshake from Ryo and a tearful hug from Lya, they split, Ryo and Lya going to the Camelin dais to view the Coronation, as Tyo walked with the Confederacy Elders to the Coronation hall.

  After a short time, once everybody was assembled, the immense drums of the Masilec Clan began to roll. The drummers jumping and dancing as they played a rhythm only played for formal events such as this; the Royal March.

  Tyo came into view from the darkness of the hall, flanked by two Elders as they all walked to the center dais, where he knelt facing the assembled Clans and their Leaders.

  “My Lord Tyo Masilec, Leader of the Clan Masilec, I present to you the assembled Clans of the Taran Confederacy.” came the ancient words, intoned by one of the elders.

  He held out a robe, festooned with a rainbow of different colours and stood so that Tyo could rise and have it placed around his shoulders.

  “Do you accept the mantle of Leadership, Lord Masilec?” Came the question.

  Tyo rose and gathered the robe around his shoulders. “I accept the mantle.” He replied, his voice booming in the silent hall.

  The drummers ran a solid drum roll to indicate the next stage of the coronation.

  “Clan Leaders, approach the dais.” Came the reply. All of the leaders of the Twelve Clans approached. Ryo stood, Lya stayed back. She had insisted that he stand for both Clans, even as he had argued with her. He would stand for both Clans as one.

  “Clansmen, before you stands the one who will rule the Confederacy. He will be your Leader, each Clan will swear Fealty to Clan Masilec and as such, will pledge allegiance to the ideals of the Taran Confederacy and what it stands for.” Intoned one of the Elders.

  As one, the twelve clan leaders dropped to one knee, then each held out both hands, palm-up and they bowed their heads.

  Tyo walked up to each Clan Leader and placed his hands over theirs, clasping them. As he did, the Leader would then stand, bow and step back. He moved down the line, finishing with Clan Camelin. As Ryo stood and stepped back, the Elder signalled.

  Clan Masilec's royal march echoed through the chamber.

  “Tyo Masilec, you will now swear fealty to the assembled Clans.”

  Tyo went to one knee and held his hands out, palm-up.

  “I, Tyo Masilec, swear on my honour and my life, to upload the Ideals and maintain balance through the Confederacy. The Thousand Worlds will not fall under my rule. The Confederacy is strong under Clan Leadership, and it will remain strong under my Guidance.” He rose and turned to face the Elders. They both bowed and he then turned as the crowd rose.

  “We welcome the Lord of all Clans. Emperor Tyo Masilec, leader of the Taran Confederacy. Ruler of the Thousand Worlds.”

  The drum roll was drowned out by the roar of the crowd and the applause as the coronation was completed. A new Emperor was in place, the Confederacy had a new leader after six cycles of indecision.

  Clan Michelab departed as soon as was appropriate after the Coronation had been completed. Clan Faniruf left with them, which to Ryo confirmed that the two had been in collusion over the attacks upon Desinlo cycles past.

  The remaining ten clan leaders and their parties followed the newly crowned Emperor into the grand ballroom where a celebration was already underway.

  Musicians and dancers swirled and played their way on the edges of the ballroom, while hundreds of clansmen and women danced and swayed, celebrating the coronation of the new Emperor.

  Ryo was sitting with Lya, and saw her laugh as she watched a couple dancing, the clansman's hand firmly pressed against the woman's buttock as they swayed to the rousing music.

  “What is so amusing, my Lady?” He asked her.

  “There will be many Lari'Sota walking funny tomorrow, my Lord. We had to bring in every Lari'Sota from the entire planet for this event. Many girls all ready to help with so many Clans who will very much have a need.” Lya chuckled.

  Ryo chuckled also. “I can imagine that our Lord Emperor will have his fair share of the girls as well.”

  "What of you, my Lord? Do you feel that you will need the services of the palace companions this eve?" Lya asked him with a twinkle in her eye, then laughed as he swept her in his arms and onto the dance floor.

  "I have all the companion that I need right here, my Lya. You are the only thing this body has ever needed or desired." He replied as he kissed her, then took her on a twirling dance through the mass of other citizens.