Each was attached to a blue and yellow ribbon. The king took one of the pendants and stepped over to one of the covered bodies. He draped the pendant over the hilt of the sword and said, “Elefth Tercloud, you are hereby inducted into the Order of Light, you have served with honor.”
He did the same with body of Vila Wythetone.
As he stood by the last body he said, “No human has ever earned any Abvi award of such prestige. He set the pendant over the huge sword and said, “General Bryan Aaronson, you have served with honor.”
He then returned to stand by his throne, “General Bryan is not the only human we induct today. Prince Estephan, if you would accept on behalf of your brother.”
The prince, who had been standing near the king, stepped forward. The King placed the pendant in Estephan’s hand. “Your brother, Prince Reginald, a king among men and Abvi, is hereby admitted to the Order of Light. He has served with honor.”
The prince clasped his hand over the pendant and stepped back with a bow.
The king then said, “Prince Kehet, please accept for your subject.”
Kehet stepped up to the dais and transformed into his Unicorn form as was proper while participating in a royal court. The king hung a pendant from Kehet’s horn. “For Chelle, noblest of the Unicorns. She has served our kingdoms with honor.”
“Each of these great heroes has earned a monument outside our gates. The king then held up the last pendant. “This one is the only one I have to give to someone who didn’t die earning it. Marc Williams, please approach.”
The large man stepped up and knelt. He was still taller than the king but not so tall that the king could not put the pendant around his neck. “You now know the weight of honor. I cannot induct you unless you accept. If you do, can you swear to never bring dishonor to the kingdom?”
“I do accept,” Marc said. “I am flattered by the invitation and will always act with honor, with the honor of the Abvi of Melnith.”
“Then stand, Sir Marc,” The king said. “You are now not only a knight, but the senior knight of the Order of Light. I only require you to attend me twice per year, but you are forever welcome in my court and my palace.”
Marc bowed and stood then stepped away from the king.
The king then said, “I have too many other, lesser but still exalted knighthoods to award at the moment. Tonight we remember the sacrifice of these five and the others, Prince Reginald’s knights, who have died in this battle. Go now and spread word of the fallen and their deeds.”
People began leaving the Audience Hall. Not one had dry eyes.
Kehet shifted back, catching the pendant as it fell from where his horn had been. It looked like a flat diamond with an eight pointed starburst of gold inside. The star glowed, giving off a bright light. He placed the pendant in his pouch.
Kehet noticed pages handing folded parchment to several people, including Sheillene and Pantros. He walked over to them and they were joined by Marc, the bard Thomas and his wife, the sorceress who had flown them all earlier that day, and a young Abvi girl Kehet hadn’t met.
“Writs of knighthood,” Sheillene said, holding up her paper. “We’re to be given smaller ceremonies in the coming weeks if we want them, but it seems Pantros and I are now Knights of the Order of Truth, and David is an honorary knight of that order. Since he’s a Knight of Relarch, he can’t really accept a true Melnithian knighthood.
“Me too,” Mirica said. “And that Wizard Heather’s name is listed as well. I’m a little surprised. Just a few days ago, all Wizards were living under threat of execution and today one is a hero of the kingdom.”
“She’s worthy,” Kehet said. “If nothing else, a person of that power is someone you’d want to have obligated to be on your side.”
“True, there are not many people of any school of magic, with that much power.”
The words came from Prince Aven, who stepped up to the conversation. “For each school of magic, Earth, Air, Fire and Water, there are ten circles of power. Magic is rare in humans and uncommon in Abvi. At any given time, for each school there is, at most, only one person alive with the potential of the tenth circle, and no more than three of the ninth. Though with that much power, the bearers of often destroy themselves before they find training.”
“So it’s not just fire that’s dangerous?” Kehet asked.
“No,” Aven said. “Any magic, if untamed, can be dangerous. But to have so many potent people in one city at a time has not happened in the history I know. Though, we were never in the same room, at one point we had the world’s most potent people of each of the four schools in the city. I am ninth in Earth Magic. The Archmage was ninth in Water. Heather is Ninth in Fire and Mirica is Tenth in Air. The way magic is measured, that makes Mirica as powerful as Heather and I combined. I have never seen so many powerful people in one place.” Aven then turned to Sheillene’s sister, who’d been with her since the huntress returned from battle. “You’re Aemelia, aren’t you?”
The girl, who, with dark brown hair and brown eyes, didn’t look at all like Sheillene, answered, “Yes, Your Highness.”
“You are also a Tempest, but still a Keeper,” Aven asked.
“I only tend my garden,” Aemelia said.
Aven leaned close to Kehet and said, “Her garden is the northern third of the kingdom.” He then stood straight and said, “I have to wonder if such a convergence of potent people is a sign of something.”
“Or maybe it’s just that most of the people in the kingdom are currently seeking refuge in the city,” Sheillene said. “But I had the same speculation earlier when I noticed I was sitting at a table with Thomas, Pantros and Marc.”
Kehet nudged Aven’s shoulder, “Worried that the world is going to tip off balance?”
“I actually am,” Aven said. “But, of all of us here, that’s something more of your concern than mine.”
Beldithe stepped into the room, “Kehet, I’ve been looking for you.”
Kehet was surprised to see the goddess actually wearing clothing. Though she wasn’t wearing much. Her robe didn’t have sides and the turquoise fabric did little to contain her body. “What do you need?” Kehet asked.
“I need for little,” Beldithe said. “There are, however, things I want. What I want right now is to speak with you.” She then looked around the room and her eyes fell on Marc. “But, I am suddenly overcome with a desire to postpone our discussion. The city is in celebration, we should join in the festivities.”
“We?” Kehet asked.
“You and I,” Beldithe said. “And these fine heroes should join us. I would like to sit at a table in a little tavern in the Foreign Quarter and chat with Thomas, Tara, Sheillene, Marc, Pantros, Aemelia, Aven and you. Drinks are on the prince.”
“Of course they are,” Aven said. “I can plainly see that a goddess carries no purse.”
“Follow me,” Beldithe said. She turned and walked, swaying as only she could.
It was a long walk to the foreign quarter but the densest parts of the crowded streets were near the palace. As they walked Aemelia stepped up next to Kehet. “Would you change to a Unicorn for me?” she asked.
“You saw me as a Unicorn in court,” Kehet said.
“You were pretty and I’ve never seen a Unicorn before. I’m sure there are thousands in the city right now, but they all look like people,” Aemelia said. “I was hoping to see one up close. I wasn’t standing that close to the throne and if you hadn’t noticed, I’m short.” The top of her head was around Kehet’s shoulder, for an Abvi, she was short.
Kehet looked around and, noticing they were on a relatively empty street, took a step back and changed.
“You’re so beautiful,” Aemelia said. “Can I ride you?”
Kehet thought about it, but hadn’t had a rider yet and wasn’t sure how to carry anyone. He changed back and said, “No, I don’t carry passengers.”
“I’m a virgin,” Aemelia said. Kehet already knew that to be true. It was a sense common to all Unicorns.
