“Iskawan is located near The Nothingness, my Nishu. The lands of eternal darkness. If the Empire keeps the citizens of Iskawan alive, they are the first shield to protect the rest of us. Then we would know that something was coming, wouldn’t we?”
Ren’s nostrils flared. And when innocents went there to die? When a pure soul like Rakesh was so wrongly accused? Would it envelope his soul. Ren turned away, swallowing her fear and rage. Naho reached out, a tentative touch on Ren’s shoulder.
"Are you well?" Naho asked.
"I will be," Ren murmured. "Thank you for the information."
"Your sister is here to speak with you."
Ren drew in a deep breath as Yuna slunk into the room, her movements graceful as a cat’s. She smiled as she strolled up, but it wasn't a full smile. Sadness lingered in the corner of Yuna’s eyes.
"Ren, you are so beautiful," she greeted.
"Thank you."
Yuna's brow furrowed. "Do you not believe it?"
Ren turned away, toward the sun, bathing herself in light once again. How was it possible for it to be so bright outside when total darkness lived inside her? She swallowed back the lump rising in her throat. "Yes. I'm just tired."
"Of course you are. After this, you shall rest."
"Yes, Yuna."
"Poor Ren," Yuna murmured, wrapping her in a brief embrace. "You are the heart of the Empire now. You shall reign when no one else can. I can't imagine how hard it must be to lose your parents and your new husband at the same time. But don't forget that we are here for you. Azuma and I will love, cherish, and protect you. Together, we will help you, for many important people rely on your choices now."
Ren's heart chilled. She didn't want people to depend on her. She didn't want them to think of her as a leader. She just wanted to run away, to find her love, and live in peace and joy again.
"Are you feeling well?"
"A moment of dizziness, that's all. I saw Nobu Ameya being taken away and . . ."
"Yes, a terrifying thing for anyone. He's vile, isn't it? Iskawan is too good for the likes of him."
Ren's heart gave another tug.
Iskawan. What she wouldn't give to go, live there with Rakesh, and forget all of this.
"Now," Yuna said with a note of finality, "it’s time for you to do your assignment in the city. I know you're nervous, but remember I won't be far away. The Empire needs to see you do this on your own. And Ren? I know you can do this. Show the people how strong you are; that you are the princess they long for and the princess they need. Have you memorized the speech that Chancellor Qin prepared for you?"
Ren glanced to the parchment on her bedside table, then nodded. There was a knock on the door, and then someone opened the door.
"My Nishu Yuna, Nishu Ren?” a servant called. “I'm sorry to interrupt, but the bodies of the Emperor and the Prince are ready for the night funeral. The advanced preparations are finalized."
"Thank you. You may go."
Ren's maids drifted to different parts of the room, packing up cloaks, barrettes, or a warm muff for her hands that Ren could possibly need if the weather were to turn during the funeral.
Ren accepted the offer of Yuna's hand. Together they entered the hall, Ren taking a small measure of comfort from Yuna's presence. Yuna may seem cold and unfeeling, Ren thought, but she had always been there for her. Had always understood the true source of her pain.
"Come, Ren," Yuna, murmured, twining their fingers together. "Let us go put this behind us and move into a new and brighter future."
People lined the streets of An Wan. They packed the alleys and the streets; they stood on balconies and rooftops, watching the procession walk past.
Ren tried not to see the people bowing to her as she walked through the streets of the city along the funeral route toward the Temple of the Eternal Balance, where the Empire held the coronation ceremonies. She tried not to see much of anything, keeping her gaze focused on the back of Azuma's shirt.
She heard Bramen whisper to Azuma that he would leave soon to manage the clan back in Nagon.
She turned away from Bramen and Azuma to look at their Nari and Hiwan soldier escorts. She thought of the first part of the upcoming coronation ceremony: It would be in private because it was within the temple. Then the second one, it would be outside for all to see her. Cheer for her. Boo for her. Whatever they will.
The temple loomed ahead of her in mere moments, and Ren realized they had passed down the entire street almost without her knowing it. She felt a tremor of fear pass through her. Uncertainty.
What was she doing here? She was no leader. She wanted nothing to do with this.
She paused on the outer step, drew in a breath, then stepped inside the temple. The Sevakas – two priests – waited for her inside wearing robes of black and white. Three handmaids, the Dasyas, waited behind them, also dressed in long, trailing robes of the same colors.
The Sevakas closed the double door entrance behind Ren, leaving her in there alone with them.
Without a word, she followed the priests into a soaring hall, at the end of which lay a pool filled with clear water. Only the torches and the flickers of wall sconces and candlelight breached the darkness inside the hall. Carved symbols of the Sacred Triad decorated the walls here. One was a depiction of a hand holding a sphere of orange and white. Beneath it lay an empty table normally reserved for the tools of divination. No doubt removed years ago, following Saemon’s edict.
Baran, the Imperial High Priest, waited for her on the far side of the hall. The Sevaka priest and the Dasya priestess, tasked with assisting the High Priest during the crowning, surrounded him, whose elaborate black-and-white robe spilled onto the marble floor. A scepter in his right hand bore the symbol of the Triad. Jewels and other baubles decorated his shoulders and arms.
"The time for your purification bath has come," he intoned, his voice booming through the room. Ren lowered her gaze. "Let the Karan — or crowning ceremony—begin."
Several Dasyas bustled forward and nudged Ren up to the front of the pool. They reached for her robes, undoing the sashes and slowly removing her clothing piece by piece.
Ren's cheeks flared in embarrassment. Yuna had warned her about this, but she hadn't been truly prepared for all those strangers to see her unrobed, her entire body exposed .
Not a sound moved through the room once the Dasya finished.
"You may now enter the pool."
Ren stepped slowly into the shallow pool, moving carefully. The chilly water lapped around her ankles. She shivered, but forced herself to keep going deeper and deeper – even if it was only a vain attempt to hide herself from intense scrutiny.
Once the water covered her shoulders, fire flared around the room. The Sevakas burned incense, smoky perfume filling the air. A chant started to ring out in the ancient language. It continued for several minutes, bringing goosebumps to Ren's skin.
She just wanted this over with.
The High Priest spoke again, his deep voice filling the room as he invoked the Triad: Suryan, Canandra, and the Messenger Braham.
Ren focused on the water. The shadows. She ignored the chill and the onlookers. She thought of Rakesh, drawing strength from his memory.
"You have been purified," the High Priest announced once the chanting ceased. The Dasyas approached the pool again, holding out Ren's robes for her. Ren slipped out of the water and into them before they also dressed her in a gold and green robe that glittered with gems.
The Sevakas approached Ren. The trio carried three boxes with them.
"The Three Gifts of the Ruler," the High Priest announced. "Please open them."
Ren pried the first open to find a ring with a winged lion nestled in a swath of green silk. Her throat tightened, for she recognized it immediately.
That was Saemon's ring, and no doubt was meant to be handed from one ruler to the next.
This should have gone to Isao, she thought.
Next, she opened the second box. It contained a necklace with white and orange spheres that represented the Triad.