Eternal Rest (Excerpt from Firebrand Book 1 of the Blackthorn Legacy)

A light rolling mist hung low upon the sticky muddy ground. Dawn's early light spilled forth, casting shadows over the stone plaques, marble statues and large tombs. Lighting and thunder raged the previous night along with a violent rain that all of Odessa had not seen in ages. The savagery of the weather gave the Odessian Royalty and Nobility the belief that the heavens were speaking a final farewell to their beloved King, the balance of Nature upset. The King had greeted his Black Moon two weeks prior, his body finally released from the suffering it endured for so long. His strength of mind and ability to hold onto his senses until the final sleep, inspired awe from his subjects.

The procession started before dawn at Grandwater Hall where his body had laid in magnificent state, upon an intricately carved red oak bier that bore the standards and sigils of the High Houses and High Commoners. Flowers, leafy boughs, and busts bedecked The Hall, forming a wide circle around him. The Scales of Justice were polished to near blinding brightness. The stone, metal and wood spoke of the many facets of this Majesty's tenure as Odessa's ruler. It stood balanced, seeming to have judged his reign as just .

King Lucien showed tremendous prudence and love for his family and subjects, this was evidenced in his making preparations for this day, all would be ready. The Guild masters had worked frantically to get their uniforms washed, mended and pressed. Thus attired in fine form, they worked together in honor and reverence to keep the vast throng of onlookers behind the wooden barriers. Carriages waited with marvelous horses painted with the brightest blessings of nature. These beautiful beasts stood stately, bedecked in House colors and liveries. The lead horse, a wonder in deep blueish green, the color of sea before a storm, dipped it’s head apparent sorrow, its massive twisted horn touching the ground as if in deference to the great king. The traveling dignitaries were given the honor of joining in the procession along the main corridor to Shady Oaks Garden. The King declared that the traders and markets be opened and the tradesmen be given permission to ply their specially prepared wares in memoriam of their King. In his forethought, he commissioned the Stone Mason's Guild to make his tomb statue that would mark his place in the Great Hall of Kings.

The Kings Rest lay to the far right of the Gardens, surrounded by imposing Adelphian steel gates. House Crests and Sigils of the former Kings had been skillfully worked into them, adorned in fancy scroll work at its entrance. Generations of artisan blacksmiths used the beauty of the gates in measuring the progression of their craft, it was felt they were not masters until they could mimic the artistry of the gates. A guard tower stood to preserve the sanctity of the Kings Rest and The Great Hall of Kings.

The Royal Guard stood at full attention, their fists on their hearts in respectful salute. The Captain a man of many names days nearing retirement who had dressed in full livery and colors presented himself to the Queen. He knelt and bowed his head, speaking in a projected somber tone: "Your Highness, it is with great honor that I, Trayeck, Captain of the Royal Guard receive his Majesty King Lucien, 3rd of House Maddock, Releaser of Restia and Uniter of the Empire, he who restored The Balance. We of Odessa accept his Majesty into the Great Hall of Kings. He will be laid to rest beside the Kings of Old . Odessa grants him entry." The Captain stood and stared straight ahead, his fist tapping his breast plate softly, then a little harder. The rest of the Guard followed suit, building to a crescendo that echoed in the Gardens. Drums and horns followed, melding into a perfect cadence of the pounding guardsmen’s chests. The demonstration was a special ritual reserved for Kings welcomed into the Great Tombs that housed their eternal rest.

The Hall of Kings stood over 100 feet tall, a great mechanical and engineering feat that imposed wonder upon visitors. When he lived, the King showed respect for the old world by keeping it's style, yet brought it present with modern accents of metal, wood and machinery. The erected stone glistened, still wet with the rain that had washed the exterior walls and entry floors. The large wooden doors laid open and were restrained with cast iron ingots. His coffin had been pulled to the Gardens in a specially made carriage with frames on each side, so his subjects could view the casket while it was driven down the cobble stone streets. Six white horses conveyed him to his rest, the lead horse wore a permanent horn upon it's frosty head. Guards stood unflinching, three abreast on either side, tapping the salute. The Captain and six of his men, took the King's red box, from the carriage which bore the King on his last ceremonial march, lifting it as though he weighed as light as a soul. Signaling the end of their sworn to duty to Odessa's ruler, the Captain handed the King to his brothers Draken and Percival the Regent, his nephews Craven and Tac, his sons the Prince's Valken and Melo, and some noted cousins.

Princess Cherry gulped remembering the visit to the Gardens, weeks ago to pay their respects to her Grandfather and brother Oak. She was never more thankful than she was at this moment for privacy. Procedure dictated that a King be laid to rest surrounded by the bloodlines of the family, and her family consisted of over two hundred people, it had formed one of the longest processions in Odessian history.

Cherry let her mind wander in the few moments before they entered the tomb, and thought of the past two weeks, which were filled with endless activities, meetings, guild meetings, trade meetings, vigils, ceremonies, all which left little time for mourning. Travelers from the world over, Odessa and Restia, commoners and dignitaries, royalty and nobility made long and sometimes arduous journeys to pay their respects. Cherry could not immediately recall a time as she had beheld such finery and fare the past fourteen days had brought. Her father, the Regent, soon to be King and her uncle High Prince Draken, hardly settled in their new positions. Preparations were underway for their removal to Summerswind Palace and Percival's coronation. She worried over her own state of affairs, the decision had been made to delay the opening semester at the Academy for all students, due to the recent events that had transpired. Bringing her attention back to the present, she stood silently behind her siblings and their families, her nephew Luckee spied her from his position atop his father’s shoulders, she waved meekly, letting her eyes wander over the crowd, for signs of anyone noting her impropriety.

The family filled the expanse of the tomb placing themselves around the tall stone dais in the middle of the room. An empty space in the floor laid next to her grandfather's stone crypt, her deceased Uncle Jaliel's marker stood empty, to mark his dishonor as a former King. Cherry knew where he had lain, a place which no one spoke of, of darkness and shadows.

As Odessa had no formal religion each family was given leave to decide how they would honor their loved one. Queen Nera chose to keep it simple. The Dowager Queen Wisterias beautiful voice echoed off the marble walls as she lifted her head and began singing The Song of Kings. A ballad all children of Royalty, Acknowledged or Unacknowledged were taught from birth. Nera joined her, tears streaming down her face and was soon followed by the rest of the family.

When it was over the families filed out in order of rank, leaving the Guard and Groundskeeper to attend to him for the last time, as the mourners made their way to the Barkwood Arena, which had been transformed into a feasting hall. Tears flowed down Cherry's cheeks, she kissed the air and nodded her head in a final goodbye to her beloved uncle and King.