Tahan mounted upon the dressing stand in the middle of the room, his hands spread wide and his eyes fixed to his reflection on the mirror. The court-maids immediately began teeming over his body, tightening his robes, curling his hair, meliorating his face, and smoothening his mantles. As they all busied themselves with garbing the crown prince, a queenly figure gracefully strolled into the quarters-that even her presence itself didn't need the lady herald at the door for it to be announced.
The Empress walked into the room and the court-ladies that had been working on the crown prince straightly left off from doing so and bowed themselves servilely to her. She looked directly into the crown prince's eyes as a soft and tender smile came upon her face. Then she bade all the court-ladies out of the room and moved slowly to her son, continuing with the work the court-ladies had left behind.
She gently tweaked the belts of the robes and rubbed them mildly with her hands. The crown prince just stood where he was and watched his mother closely, trying to get something from her expressions, but he couldn't make anything out of the strange and unexplainable calmness that was upon her face, just as always.
The undefinable silence prevailed between them for quite some time as the Empress quietly dressed up the crown prince. The rattling and clanging of the Empress jewels and crystals with which she was adorned, kept resounding in the room as they collided into one another, seeming to fill the stillness with their rhythmic noise.
Then the Empress slowly let go of the crown prince as soon as she finished with the dress up. She stood in front of him, eyes locked into each other, and words exchanged through her motherly glance. The crown prince could now read the words that was on her face. She was worried.
He knew his mother to be someone that very well knows how to conceal her emotions, and unless she resolves to converge them, there was definitely no way of telling what she was feeling within.
The look on her face told him two things; she was worried and secondly, she couldn't do anything to change all that happening and that was about to happen, especially with the extent to which everything had progressed. But he knew that from the beginning, his mother had no power beside her to stop or to change whatsoever was happening. This was the reason he never approached her in the first place, the reason he kept telling the rest of the brothers to just exercise patience and see what the future would hold. He on his part, he knew the Bid and everything the emperor was scheming for the princes and for the empire, was not that wise of a decision. But who could stop it? Not even the Empress, the eldest daughter of the Imperial Family, and not even the old emperor; the father to the ruling emperor, could change it. Once the emperor is set to do something, there was no stopping it.
The Empress was just the first among the eight women the emperor had lain with to beget the twelve princes of the land, in short, apart from the crown upon her head and the mantle of velvet upon her hands, she was just like every other women in the Imperial Family; having lesser power and lesser influence over the Imperial decrees.
'Brother!'
Uriel voice came from without the chamber, as he scuffled through the long terrace of the chamber. As soon as he reached the door, the lady herald who already knew that it was of no use announcing his presence anymore, bowed and ushered him into the chamber.
Uriel's eyes immediately fell on the queenly figure standing before the crown prince and he turned uneasy. The smile on his lips quickly faded and after taking some cowardly steps backwards, he slowly turned and wanted to make his way back from whence he came.
'Uriel' the Empress called out to him and he straightly stood solid.
'Come here' she commanded and with his fists clenched and his head hung downwards, he moved childishly towards his mother.
'Lord! Just look at how you're dressed, didn't you have Bilhah in your chambers to dress you up?' she asked as she stretched her loving arms towards him and began working on his own robes.
'I…I did, she said this looks good on me' he stammered and Tahan watched his coyness and shook his head smiling. Then he dismounted the dressing stand and moved towards the table at the edge of the room.
'Why are you here?' the Empress asked calmly and Uriel slowly raised his head to look up to her tall figure.
'I…wanted to go into the Square with Tahan, the assembly would soon…'
'Sylven? What of Sylven?'
'They went without me! He and that fox Azel' Uriel groused bitterly as he looked up to his mother with watery eyes.
'Ohh, but you know very well that Tahan won't make his entrance into the Square the same way…'
'It's alright mother.' Tahan cut in politely as he turned to look at Uriel's gloomy figure.
'It wouldn't be a taboo if I make an entrance the same way as my brothers. At least, just for today' he said tenderly and then nodded to Uriel's face which was now brightened up with hope.
The second Queen paced here and there in the chamber, changing and re-changing the adornments that were already on both of the princes' body. She ordered the court-ladies about, making sure the gems and crystals were of the right color, in the right place and of the right amount. She gently inserted the earrings into Kohath's ear and moved backwards to closely observe how it appeared on his body.
'Doesn't suit too well, isn't it Michal?' she said to the third Queen who was standing by the door of the chambers, with her hands clasped into each other as she calmly observed all that the second Queen did on the princes' bodies. The third Queen then gave a sound as if she had been thrown into utter confusion on the right answer to give. She moved close to Kohath and then shook her head swiftly.
'No, it doesn't' she answered and the princes shoulders dropped as they already knew that it now meant another round of indecisive scampering by the second Queen. The second Queen suddenly stopped as her eyes fell to her reflection on the mirror, and just then a realization came to her, she moved closer to her reflection and quickly began to twist the earrings on her ears.
'What of these? They would suit him well, isn't it?' she said and without expecting a reply from the third Queen, she moved to Kohath and began to replace the earrings she had worn on him before with hers.
After she was done, she moved to return the previous earrings into the large box of numerous ornaments, made of various metals and precious stones and also of different colors, laying inside the box which was on top the table, and she sighed deeply, appearing a little bit satisfied with all she had done.
'Can we go now? The assembly is about to begin' Dan's tired voice sounded and the second Queen immediately stirred up again and walked to where they stood.
'Yes, I guess' she replied and they began to move towards the door.
'You forgot the perfume' the third Queen said and it was clear that she wanted to taunt the princes.
'Mother!!' Kohath cried as they helplessly watched the second Queen swiftly turn back to the jewelry box to pick out the entire bottles of fragrance from inside the box and moved back to sprinkle-bathe the princes with them.
They all moved briskly into the co-joined courts of the fifth and sixth princes, and as the princes walked, the scent emanating from them and carried about by the swift morning breeze, could be perceived from miles away. Dan and Kohath looked to themselves nervously and Dan stretched forth his hands and gripped Kohath's. Once they walked into the Square today and come out from it, it would mean a start of a different journey for the both of them; a journey that might one day render them as enemies standing on different sides and pointing swords against themselves.
And just then, another dignified figure of the fourth Queen appeared at the gates of the court and as she waited for them to approach, she bowed to the queens and the princes, who also bowed back to her. A beautiful smile then fell on her lips as she noticed the graceful way the princes had been garbed by their mothers.
'Tiria! Why are you here?' Zillah, the second Queen asked as she drew closer to the fourth Queen.
'Oh, I came to see if the Eighth Prince has been anywhere here this morning, I can't seem to find him' she said gently and the second Queen turned to the princes.
'Azel, I remember seeing him with the Second Prince earlier, I guess they were already making their way to the Square' Kohath responded her politely and she nodded slowly at his response.
'He's already gone to the Square, I see…' the fourth Queen said under her breath as she hung her head despondently to the ground.
'You…you didn't get to see him this morning? He didn't anticipate to firstly meet with his mother before going for the assembly?' the second Queen said concernedly to her with her brows slanted with worry.
'No! The fault is actually mine, I should have risen up early enough to meet him at his quarters. I was late, just as I have always been' the fourth Queen replied, trying to conceal the heaviness in her voice. Then she quickly bowed and moved away from them, with her maids trailing closely behind her.
'What a pitiful woman, I guess she'll never get over that incident' the second Queen put forth sadly.
*********
The gates to the Square came wide open as the two Palace guards standing at both sides of the gates pushed the doors to usher the emperor and his knight into the arena of the Square. The herald immediately announced the presence of the emperor, bringing everyone present at the Square up on their feet. After the emperor was seated upon his throne, he looked over to the empty smaller throne beside him and was made to wonder why the crown prince wasn't upon his own throne yet.
Then he shifted his gaze to the princes' podium; there was the Second Prince, the third, the fifth, the sixth, the seventh, the eighth and the little princes, all already settled according to their princely titles. And just then, from beyond the Square, and from the entrance meant specifically for the rest of the princes, strolled the crown prince into the Square with the Fourth Prince following closely behind him.
Every eyes was immediately turned to their direction; the King's Court, the princes, even the Palace guards and the emperor himself. The little princes were all now having a clearly astound look on their faces, their mouths open and theirs eyes widened.
Tahan smiled calmly as if he expected just as much from them, and he strode majestically to the empty chair that was beside and before the Second Prince's chair and he settled himself in it. Uriel also scurried to his own chair beside that of Neel; the Third Prince, and quickly sat upon it.
'I guess having the maids maintain your own chair wasn't a bad idea after all' Sylven whispered to Tahan who replied him still smiling.
'Oh-Oh, I never knew you could get tired of sitting upon a throne' Neel's muffled voice came straightly to them and Sylven turned with a vivid frown upon his brows, ready to begin the usual squabbling. Tahan immediately coughed pretentiously, then he looked at Sylven and nodded his head; it was a direct command not to utter another word and Sylven quickly obeyed.
'MAY THE ALL MIGHTY, ALL KNOWING AND ALL POWERFUL EMPEROR LIVE FOREVER!!!'
Master Heber's voice immediately came from the arena below the emperor's podium as he stood gallantly before the emperor and assumed his low bowing position. He then raised up himself and began to look around the Square, just as always, making his eyes run through every living thing that was existing in the Square. A lofty smile came to his lips and he crossed his arms behind him and brought his chest entirely forward.
'ACCORDING TO THE SECOND BID THAT WAS PASSED, TWELVE ADEPT MEN HAS BEEN SET ASIDE FROM THE THIRTY SELECTED YOUNG MEN FOR THE BID. AND TODAY, BEFORE THE MIGHTY AND EVER REIGNING EMPEROR, AND WITH YOU AND ME AS DIVINE WITNESSES, THESE 12 YOUNG MEN SHALL BE MADE ESCORTS TO THE TWELVE PRINCES OF THE LAND. THEY SHALL ALL BE BROUGHT BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES AND SHALL STAND TO PLEDGE THEIR TOTAL ALLEGIANCE TO THEIR ASSIGNED PRINCES; TO TAKE AN OATH TO SERVE, OATH TO AID, OATH TO OBEY, AND OATH TO BEFRIEND. THEY SHALL MAKE THE OATH BEFORE US ALL, THAT THEY SHALL BE NOTHING LESS THAN WHAT THEY OUGHT TO BE TO THEIR PRINCES; READY TO LAY DOWN THEIR LIVES FOR THAT OF THEIR PRINCES, READY TO FIGHT TO THE END OF THE WORLD, TILL THEY SEE THEIR PRINCES ACQUIRE THE POSITIONS HE WISHES TO ATTAIN, AND WHETHER IT SHINES OR IT RAINS, AND WHETHER IT'S GOOD OR IT'S BAD, THEY SHALL STAND BY THE SIDE OF THEIR PRINCES, HEARTS CROSSED AND HOPING TO DIE!'
Master Heber swiftly ended with his speech, there was no tinge of hesitation or of effort in his voice as he sharply brought his words to a finish. Then he moved to where the princes where and bowed himself lowly before them, maintaining the same posture for quite some time, plunging the princes into a curious confusion.
'What…what is he doing? Does he expect each of us to drop a comment or something?' Dan asked nervously and just then, Tahan stood to his feet and looked to the rest of the princes.
'He wants us to get down the podium' he conveyed and the princes all began to shake their heads at the sudden realization of what the Master was trying to mean by his constant and unwavering bow.
'But why couldn't he just say it? Cat got his tongue or what?' Isa grouched smuttily as the princes all stood to their feet and in a single file, strolled down the podium to the ground below. They all stood majestically facing the emperor and again, according to their princely titles, beginning from the crown prince at the far right side of the emperor to the last prince at the far left side.
Then Master Heber moved to them and walked past each of their standing figure. He stopped at where the last prince was and abruptly swerved himself about to point towards the gates, almost making the last prince flinch in fright. The gates to the Square immediately came wide open again, and into the Square marched a neatly arranged line of young men, all clad in beautiful robes of silk dyed green, which made each of them appear closely as gallant as even the princes themselves.
The first young man, Jezer, with his piercing and austere gaze, his broad nose, thin lips, well-built and refined body, looking to be almost of the crown prince's age, ever-knitted thick brows, brown eyes, curly short hair and with a silhouette vividly looking to have gone through so many training and masterful in swordsmanship. He marched to where the crown prince was and stood boldly in front of him.
The second young man, Cael, younger than the Second Prince before whom he stood, with his shifty gaze and his head hung to the ground, sweats dripping down from his face. The Second Prince watched his uneasiness and noticed how much he's longed to see this young man again.
The third young man; Eshek; almost of the same height with the Third Prince before whom he stood, and probably of the same age, with his steel-grey eyes, aquiline nose, pouty lips, slicked-back hair and stocky build. He marched before the Third Prince and bowed swiftly to Neel's imposing demeanor.
The fourth young man; Mikneiah, and just as how most southerners would appear, with luminous and glowing eyes, constantly reflecting the bright yellow sun that always rose up in the Southlands sky, his perky delicate nose shape, plump lips, bronzed skin color and straight short hair. He trudged in front of the Fourth Prince and bowed to him, while Uriel began to snoopily observe him.
The fifth young man; Jorai, being an Easterner, his identity was already known to everyone just by his refined appearance, with his sharp keen and vibrant gaze, flat delicate nose, chiseled lips, his lean figure and his silky hair, his confident and yet witty composure. As he stood before the Fifth Prince who seized him from his head to his toes, he smiled and his smile seemed to make Dan more anxious than he had actually been.
The sixth young man, Unni, with his charming and optimistic appearance, his petite and lithe stature, wavy long hair, porcelain skin color, chiseled jawline lips, pointed nose-shape and long-lashed eyes. He stood shyly before the Sixth Prince, and Kohath immediately knew that he was about dealing with a man way younger than he was.
The seventh young man, Jehiel; probably the best-looking amongst them all, and seeming to compete in terms of his charming appearance, with the Second Prince, the crown prince and the Seventh Prince before whom he was standing, with his almond-shaped misty eyes, seeming to wander through a fog of unforgotten memories, his straight nose, thin lips, broad shoulders and hourglass tall and slender figure. The Seventh Prince continued studying the beautiful man standing in front of him, from his curly brown-dark hair to observe the delightfully pleasant aura around him, well, one that the Seventh Prince seemed to immediately detest.
The eighth young man; Haniel, gruff physique, firm-set lips, watchful and solidifying gaze, tousled hair and his brawny build. He stood firmly before the Eighth Prince, looking down to him with every revere and respectfulness he had. The Eighth Prince calmly smiled at the buff man before him as he quickly noticed the pitiful, nurturing and empathetic feel in his gaze. He straightly knew that the young man before him was a Northerner.
The ninth young man; Raphael; with a well-proportioned physique, hardened skin, choppy hair, and with an ambitious demeanor. Just like the rest of the little princes, the young man before Carmi seemed to be of the same age as himself, and who were all also given younger escorts with bubbly and spontaneous attributes.
After they were all now standing before their princes, Master Heber then continued with whatsoever he was saying until finally, what was to be done was done. With blades slicing through their right palms and their blood slowly dripping down before their princes, they all pledge an oath of allegiance; to serve, to aid and to befriend.
*************"