As they approached the city, the dragons in the air began to chant sothing that beca more distinct by the kilotre, turning into a roar of draconic voices.
{The Immortal King has ascended. A new King is chosen. Long Live The King!}
Lukas smiled, and then gestured for Mildred and Rue to co forward to join him.
Karl fell back a hundred tres, keeping himself behind the Royal Guards. But he also gained altitude, so he had a better view.
[The looks they're giving us say that we were supposed to be lower, and looking up.] Cara noted.
[Damn. I should have read a book on this or sothing.] Karl sighed.
Then, three more dragons flew up to join him.
Dakkarian, representing the black dragon. A female Red Dragon who might be the orphanage Matron, or the Red Avatar, and Librarian Barry.
[Avatar. Your timing is impeccable, as expected.] Dakkarian's voice whispered in Karl's mind.
Karl winked at him, and the black dragon smirked back.
The look made every dragon looking in their direction nervous. The
representatives of the Death God and the System Lord conspiring on any topic was bad news for everyone else involved.
Lukas reached a spot he was happy with, and the two won hovered on either side of him as he prepared to speak.
{I am humbled by your expressions of Loyalty and Admiration. Today, we celebrate the Reign of my father, and the start of his Immortal Journey. Those who have served him loyally will be granted legacy positions under my rule, and those who have slighted him will be given the chance at a fresh start.
That is my rcy as King.
As tradition demands, if anyone should wish to challenge for the throne, or for the position of Queen, they may challenge our designated champion. Karl, Avatar of the World Dragon, will be available for the next seven days to receive challenges.}
Cara ntally laughed as Lukas nominated Karl to fight challenges on behalf of both himself and Rue.
But she didn't think that anyone was actually going to do it.
Everyone liked the Crown Prince, and knew that he was going to be good for the nation. Plus, Karl was enormous. If it ca down to a fight in dragon form, he would mangle them.
On second thought, she hoped that soone would.
But the news was slowly sinking into the crowd that Lukas had just declared his choice for Queen. He hadn't spoken the na, but there were two female dragons flying next to him. One was his consort Mildred, and the other was Princess Rue, flying at his right wing, where the Queen would normally hold the place of honour if there was no Crown Prince.
[Where is the little one?] Karl asked, just realizing that he couldn't see the hatchling.
[I've got her. She's in a sling, cuddled against my fur.] Cara replied.
Well, there was no warr spot for her to be when they were flying through the mountains. Mildred must have known that and not put up a fight about it, as the summons was an urgent one.
The realization that Lukas was silently nominating Rue as Queen outraged many of the won who wanted the position. But none more than the current Queen.
With her husband reaching Immortal Rank, she could either accompany him into the Immortal Realm, or she could remain here as Queen Dowager. One would have her looked down as a mortal in the Immortal Realm. But the other would see her power fading under the ascendancy of a new Queen.
Both were entirely unacceptable options in her opinion.
However, she couldn't challenge Karl for the position. That was just suicide with extra steps. She would have to wait for the formal challenges to end, then put a plan in motion to discredit and get rid of Rue so that she could keep her position.
She had produced many successors for the King, there was no reason that she was unable to do it again. All she had to do was get Lukas to go along with her plan.
Then a voice rose from the crowd. "The Great Seer of Unzatharb says that your choice for champion is invalid. The champion must be a mber of the Gathuzan Royal Staff."
That was one of the Queen's personal maids, but Lukas was in no mood for her nonsense.
However, Rue beat him to the answer. "Lord Karl, Avatar of the World Dragon, is my Tutor. Royal Tutors are mbers of the Royal Staff, even when they are not citizens of Gathuzan. He is eligible. If you should want to challenge for the right to beco Queen, you will have to produce a champion who can defeat him."
Everyone turned to Karl, who nodded. "Indeed. I have been given the role of Royal Tutor, among others. I have held that role since the day that I arrived here."
There were a few in the crowd who could tell when a lie was told, and Karl's answer was clear and unambiguous enough that there were no more questions about his right to be the champion.
However, the Queen was not impressed.
She had beco increasingly certain that this man was not from their world. There was sothing off about him, and his arrival was suspicious, no matter what angle you looked at it from.
Especially now that the King had reached Immortality.
One month later, and Rue would still be a useless child with no chance at the throne. One month earlier, and one of the sches to end her should have succeeded. The Supre Lady was interfering with things that should not be ddled with. Putting her snout where it did not belong.
The Queen wasn't the only one who thought that way, and for a mont, Matilda turned her attention to the mass of people thinking about her and cursing her in their minds.
A World Dragon and a Chaos Badger causing trouble, while everyone blad her? Interesting.
But not her problem.
As the saying went, they were not her monkeys, and that was not her circus. Let soone else deal with the ss they caused.
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