King Domido and Queen Mifalla strode forward from the shade of one of the lean-to shops at the edge of the square, smiling and slowly clapping.
The battle over, Domire and all the fallen invaders began climbing to their feet. Some of them hobbled or placed their hands over sore spots as they stepped aside, clearing the way for the King and Queen. Several would have bruises from this bout; good training didn’t happen without the occasional scrape.
“Well done, my children grown up!” Domido called out loud enough for the whole square to hear. “You have put on a fantastic display for us all this morning, and shown that you have not ignored your duty to these people. To my eyes, you have all prepared well, and we are all proud to see you off today. But before we can do that, I call on the judgment of your training masters. Come forward and speak to the subject of their readiness!”
Normally this would only have one master coming forward. This time it was three. Master Pilbon stepped forward first. Valkyr felt a twang of her nerves against whatever mistakes she might have made that Pilbon would point out in front of everybody. She was surprised by what he said instead.
“Valkyr Farella, I have trained many archers in my time. I have coached and criticized them to the best of my ability. In much less time than the decades I have studied the bow, you have distinguished yourself and made yourself nearly my equal.” He turned to face her father, inclining his head in respect. “King Domido Farella, Valkyr Farella has matured in her training, and is as ready as I can prepare her to be for any new challenge or possibility her own bow may present to her. Only the experience that comes with time can impel her further.”
Domido nodded acknowledgement, then turned to his daughter. “Valkyr, you may Depart to Retrieve your weapon.” She stepped towards the Thallenrose, where Reedl was also approaching. When they both came close to it, they stopped and waited as was planned beforehand, facing King Domido.
Master Sergeant Espilion of the royal guard approached next, directing himself to Misolfa, who struggled to maintain ceremonial bearing, smile showing through despite her efforts. “Misolfa Farella, I have studied many weapons in my time, and have carried Dancer, the hammer of your great-grandmother, with me at all times for fifteen years now. I have provided you the best instruction I know how, and have prepared you the best I could to wield my weapon’s successor, with its particular style that you will hone. You are ready.” His last sentence was prescribed by ceremony. “King Domido Farella, Misolfa Farella has matured in her training, and is as ready as I can prepare her to be for any new challenge or possibility her own hammer may present to her.”
Domido nodded acknowledgement, then turned to his daughter Misolfa. “Misolfa, you may Depart to Retrieve your weapon.” She stepped towards the Thallenrose and joined Valkyr and Reedl in waiting.
Captain Sambi of the royal guard stepped forward. Tido watched him calmly, evidently not assuming any great honor to come his way even though he presently stood in a ceremony paying respect to him and his siblings. Captain Sambi spoke. “Tido Farella, you have surprised me on a daily basis with your strength, physical as well as moral. No matter how difficult I made your training you constantly faced it with the assured air of one who has already completed the task. Nothing phased you, and you worked hard. I merely guided you. I feel as though you have prepared yourself. King Domido Farella, Tido Farella has matured in his training, and is as ready as I can prepare him to be for any new challenge or possibility his own axe may present to him.”
King Domido nodded acknowledgement, then turned to his son Tido. “Tido, you may Depart to Retrieve your weapon.” Tido turned and joined Valkyr, Reedl, and Misolfa next to the Thallenrose. Domido spoke next. Here he had to fill two roles in the ceremony: that of trainer and that of his role as Domire’s father.
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“Domire Farella, I have not trained so many students as your siblings’ instructors did. However, I had many masters provide me their training and critique. I have had hundreds of adversaries in the practice ring over the years. You have matched them, and remind me much of myself at your point in life. You are undoubtedly ready.” He looked around the edge of the square and raised his voice, addressing all present. “People of Grendhill, Domire Farella has matured in his training, and is as ready as I can prepare him to be for any new challenge or possibility his own sword may present to him.” Domido lowered his voice to a more personal level again, but still as audible as it was before. “Domire, you may Depart to Retrieve your weapon.”
Domire walked towards the Thallenrose, leaving Aton standing alone in front of their parents.
The King then paused, looking around again at the crowd, at the guards present, at those who had fought in the ceremony, at his dear Mifalla, their four children already honored in the cermony, and then finally at Aton. This had to be different from all the Departures previous. There was no denying that Aton’s situation was different.
“Aton Farella…” Domire began, then paused briefly. “Aton, you have been a unique case your entire life,” Domido said. “Yes, you have trained with your brothers and sisters, studied with them the business of our heritage and way of life. You have done your part to learn everything expected of you as a member of this House. And yet, you have been different.”
King Domido directed himself to the crowd. “For centuries and generations, since the founding of this nation, my family has ruled in Grendhill. We take no credit for the benevolence and bravery of our progenitor, Gren Farella, but we have inherited a legacy to adhere to principles of concern and caring for others. Furthermore, due to the declaration of Thallwren Aguneg, one of the wisest Sages in known history, we have inherited the unnatural attribute of possessing a weapon since birth, along with it the responsibility to guard this land against its enemies.
“For centuries, our ancestors have stood ready to defend what the first King of Grendhill united and forged. We have the advantage, by no virtue of our own, of marvelous weapons that don’t grow old or rusty. We have been charged to remain ready to use these weapons against your collective enemies. As you have just witnessed, Domire, Valkyr, Misolfa, and Tido are prepared to take up the weapons that have belonged to them since birth.
“Aton is unique in our family line. Aton was born with no weapon. I suspect most of you already know this. However, Aton is still, most definitely, one of us. It is customary among our people to try to have a Sageman or Sagewoman present at the birth of our children and tell us their Impressions of the babes. I expect most of you were told what Impressions were read of you at birth, giving a hint of what kind of person you would grow up to be.
“Such is the tradition in the Farella house. We recorded the Impressions of Domire, of Valkyr, of Misolfa, and of Tido. We have identified and confirmed as accurate the named traits that each of them bears within and have watched as these traits began to form in their personalities. The Sageman had no Impression of Aton. He told us there was a chord shared with the rest of our family, but he had no distinct Impressions. Some might be frightened of this.”
King Domido looked at his son, Aton. “Aton, I like to believe this leaves you with great freedom. I have watched you train, study, and apply yourself with great diligence and determination. You study multiple weapons, keeping your horizons broad. You have shown us your choice that you will be a man of honor and wisdom, worthy of the Farella name. Though your brother Domire and I can best you with a sword, Valkyr with a bow, Misolfa with a hammer, and Tido with an axe, you have distinguished yourself in skill and speed above all others. You carry an aptitude for whatever situation you find yourself in, particularly with any weapon you may be wielding.”
Domido neared the end of his remarks. “People of Grendhill, Aton Farella has matured in his training, and is as ready as we can prepare him to be for any new challenge or possibility his path may present to him. Aton, you may Depart and forge your own way.”