Chapter 197 - (18)

"A new king, a new era." he cleared his throat and ended the rites.

"A new king? Who, him?" the person who spoke was official Yrum. He was one of the two ministers, Lord of Merve had brought to his home when preparing for this day. If the tension in the room was not already at it's peak, it had reached a new realm.

"Insolence! You dare interrupt a sacred ceremony? Guards!" Official Ghuil countered.

"Sacred? Prince Thelmus, His Majesty never named you crown prince. How can you take the throne?" Official Yrum sneered.

"You dare?!" Official Ghuil raged.

"As His Majesty refused to name you crown prince, he must have left instructions for his heir in his last words." Prince Thelmus froze at Official Yrum's words.

"Why did you wait till now to present this?" Prince Thelmus frowned.

"Were any traditions upheld? Only after a dead king is casketed in stone, can his last words be read. You went on to crown a new king, when the old one has yet to greet his ancestors!" an angry minister got up and raged.

"Only after his funeral can the keepers of His Majesty's last words present it before the court. Why did you skip this tradition? We all know the law; the king's last words are unmoveable as a mountain. Whatever is written in the lasts words, must be law, it cannot be changed. Was His Highness afraid that His Majesty would still not name you in his last words?" another minister taunted. Prince Thelmus was bathing in anger at this moment.

"I am the only heir!" he said through his teeth.

"If His Majesty last words instruct that you be killed, heir or not, you must die." another snorted.

"Guards!" Official Ghuil called again. Seeing no one come, he paled. Something was definitely wrong.

"No one is coming. His Majesty's last words are in custody of the religion. Please present it." Lord of Merve said to the priest.

"The religion stands on no side. The coronation must continue according to the edicts of those in power." the priest said blankly. This caused Prince Thelmus and Official Ghuil to sigh a relief.

"The king's council must request for the king's last words. Without doing so, this coronation will continue." the priest said and Prince Thelmus and Official Ghuil's faces sank.

"The king's council is present and wishes to hear the king's last words." the second Minster that had met Lord of Merve stood and said. He was speaking for the council and as the head of council affairs, he had the power to do so.

The priest nodded and a scroll appeared at the wave of his hand. Many knew the religion was across all lands and always stood as a neutral party, not interfering in politics and power. Many knew that they had unimaginable power, but no one knew much about them. This frail priest must be powerful to pick this scroll out of thin air.

"This is unlawful! Witness priest, the coronation is taking place!" Official Ghuil had a bad feeling about this, but the priest ignored him and unrolled the scroll and many held their breaths.

"These are the last words of King Larken Thygar of Juhntt. I have but one wish be fulfilled after death. I wish to set straight a record and clear misunderstandings. If at the time of this reading, I have yet to name an heir, the crown must go to my first son. Though I have given him nothing in life, I will not deny him his birthright in death. On the event of my untimely death, by the laws of Juhntt, the crown belongs to the first born, Adrian D'hunt. He must relinquish the title of Lord of Merve and take his title as crown prince, to be crowned king after my casketing." the priest read.