Daryn scanned the ministers for any dissent, but all of them appeared to be in harmony at least on the outside. He continued to speak, "Tomorrow the ceremony will take place in order to show the accession of the new king to the Ixoviyans. Caleb Silver will be crowned as the King of Ixoviya and we will wait for him until he returns. Until then my people are going to stay here and manage the kingdom with you all."
Daryn didn't want Dawn to stay here even for a day more.
"I don't understand my liege," said Canton.
Daryn removed a speck of invisible dust from his sleeve and said, "We will hold the ceremony tomorrow but not for me. It would be to show the change in the system, which is very necessary because you have been ruled by a queen for five hundred years. This ceremony will be witnessed by the subjects of the kingdom and I want to send a message to the Lore that the Kingdom of Ixoviya is not left without administration."
Canton nodded. "Very well then my liege. We will do as you say."
"What about the damage of the stadium?" he asked.
"That has already been taken care of."
After that for the next three hours they all went through the entire statistics of the kingdom. However, Brantley was asked to leave the room by the members of the council. He understood and left. Soon he was joined by Dawn, who was more than bored to be there.
He chuckled when she came. "Why aren't you there?"
"Hell! That meeting looks like it would fry my brain cells in one day. I am better outside than on the inside. Besides, we have already decided that Caleb would be the king. Then I would leave all that 'queen' thinking to his wife. Why should I get fried?"
Brantley laughed at her. This young girl was cute and practical and so lively and… mother of his mate. "What would you like to do?" he asked.
"I am hungry Brantley!" she said.
As soon as she said that two servants from somewhere appeared. They guided them all the way to the dining hall.
When Dawn walked towards the dining chambers, she noticed the richness of the castle. The corridors were lined with gold vases. Paintings were framed with gold and there were so many flowering plants that the air carried sweet aroma.
The two had dinner and chatted for the next one hour until Dawn went to her bedroom. She was extremely tired and as soon as she hit the pillow, she was sleeping. She didn't know when did Daryn come, but when he slipped in the bed beside her, she curled up to him. He didn't disturb her.
Next day the crowning took place. Every Ixoviyan was present for the ceremony, which was performed by Canton. In the ceremony the crown was placed on the throne and it was announced that the crown belonged to Caleb Silver, the elder son of Queen Sedora. In the lunch that followed after it, there were many questions from the people, which were patiently explained by Daryn and team.
The ceremony got over in five hours. And once it was over, Dawn couldn't wait to leave.
"My liege, would you like to take a tour of Ixoviya?" asked Canton. He wanted them all to stay there for a while, which was necessary.
Daryn shook his head. "We plan on leaving as soon as possible."
Canton pursed his lips.
Dawn held her husband's hand and said, "I think you should meet the people here just to reassure them. Their confidence must be at an all time low."
"But baby, you—"
"I will be fine dear," she replied with a smile.
Canton didn't take a chance. "In that case I will be arranging for your visit to the city tomorrow morning." He bowed and left.
Daryn was agitated. "We need to be back in Bainsburgh, Dawn. I want to talk with others in the Lore if they know where Sedora has taken Father. The business needs to be looked after. I have to contact Caleb!"
"I am more eager than you Daryn, but if you want to find Father, then the answer should lie here, in Ixoviya, and not in Bainsburgh. I am sure that there must be many who are close to Sedora. After all she ruled for a very long time. They must know. You should find out about these people."
"Dawn, to think of it, the entire Ixoviya was close to Sedora. It is like they all must be knowing!"
"No Daryn, if that was the case, the council wouldn't have so readily agreed to you. Why isn't there any opposition? Why is it that every member agrees with you?" Dawn pointed.
"That's because the castle recognizes me as the next king." Daryn shrugged.
Dawn shook her head and pursed her lips in a thin line. "You must go out tomorrow to meet people. We will leave the day after."
Daryn exhaled heavily. He turned and walked away to meet some people the council members had urged him to. As he walked to meet them, he noticed that he was actually the king of sorcerers. There was so much magic each of them possessed. The kingdom had so much money that it was impossible to fathom.
Magic and money.
And he was the king of it, if he accepted.
Sedora was heady with power and riches. Her ambitions were high. She couldn't handle it.
No, he would never fall in the trap. All he wanted was a simple life with his wife. He shoved those thoughts and with a smile walked to the crowd.
Daryn went alone to see and meet the people of Ixoviya the next day. Dawn was right. They all looked at him with doubt, but at the same time accepted his dominance. It was natural and he knew that Caleb would dispel all their doubts. But where the hell was he?
Ileus left the castle a day later. He went back to the wizard kingdom.
Brantley went back to the Kingdom of Aztec.
However, on Dawn's insistence both of them had to come to Bainsburgh and spend a day with them. Ileus gave it a pass saying that he had to practice for the upcoming season of rugby.
Before leaving Ixoviya, Daryn formed a team of twenty sorcerers headed by a member of his clan to find out about Gayle.
Although Dawn was tempted to go back with Quetz, no one listened to her. Brenda simply put her foot down. "No, you will be going back the normal way. And for the next few months, you will not travel via that route!"
Dawn chuckled. "Okay Doctor!" She hugged her tightly. "Thank you for being there when I needed you the most."
"My pleasure Luna," she replied. "There's no way I could go against you."
Dawn knew that she had found a true friend for life. "When can I see you again? It would be difficult to change my doctor."
"I will do according to Daryn's instructions. I do want to come back as soon as possible." She looked at Daryn.
Daryn stared at the two ladies and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it. Then he tilted his head and said, "You have to stay here for at least a month. Study everything, make a report and come back. Then I will decide whether you get to stay here or come back."
Brenda sighed. "I miss my lover!"
Daryn ignored it. Thank god, her lover wasn't her mate.