Page 70 of Tethered Thrones

“Don't forget you are quite the image yourselves,” I said, pointedly looking at Bracken's uniform and Kiar's flowy robe.

They laughed and even Sun smiled through his nerves.

“You'll all get used to the human clothes,” he insisted for the hundredth time. “And the four of you do look good enough to eat.”

“Not fair to say that when we have things to do,” Bracken pouted.

Sun chuckled, leading the way toward the coronation room.

“We'll have plenty of time for whatever we want to do after the ceremony,” he said. “Until then, be on your best behavior.”

As we reached the doors out of our private rooms, some of our newly appointed servants stood in waiting to lead us to our new thrones. A mothian and two humans. I was still in awe of how quickly our people were adjusting.

They led us down the corridors which were still being upgraded to make room for us and to make itourhome rather than the fallen Emperor Gaulu's.

Windows were being enlarged to fit Bracken's form through because he had been complaining about needing to leave the palace by the front doors in order to fly. Silken curtains were being hung for Clem to chew on. The sharply cut stone stairways were being covered in carpet so that they would be more comfortable for Kiar to glide over.

I didn't care much about the aesthetic though and neither did Sun. All we were focused on was this next stage of life.

At the doors to the coronation room, we were all stopped.

Listening to the announcements being made on our behalf as they echoed through the curtain to us, I was finally hit by the nerves that Sun was clearly experiencing.

He shifted from foot to foot and shook his head before looking up at me.

“Me,” he whispered, “as the emperor... I cannot believe this is happening.”

“It is what the people want,” I reminded him. “And they're right to.”

“And they want you too. The nocs were happier with you on the throne.”

I nodded, pleased by his words.

“Yes. Before they were being controlled, the nocs supported meandmy advisors.”

I glanced over at Bracken and Kiar. They beamed at me proudly.

“And of course, if I had known your resolve, power, and loyalty Clem, I am sure you would have been supported by the nocs as well.”

His pink color deepened.

“Thank you, Hadi,” he whispered sweetly.

“Now, I call forth, the new emperor of Naran.”

Sun was waved forward, and the curtains parted for him.

I could see his hands trembling as applause erupted, but he clasped them tightly together. When it was time, he walked forward and the curtains closed, leaving us behind in the dark.

“I call forth the new king of the nocs.”

Smiling at the others, I walked past them to stand where Sun had been standing.

The curtains parted and applause erupted for me too. I was surprised to see that not only nocs clapped, but humans too as I stepped forward, walking the long carpet through theaudience toward the thrones on the other side of the room. To my surprise, I passed countless faces that I knew. A few from my former life on the noc throne in Yewan. Some from the battles since; General Hideyoki, Jia, Atlan and his noc friends. Somehow, their presence didn’t bother me as much this time. I was even glad that they were here. We could not have done any of this without them...

I was directed to the larger platform and took my seat at Sun's side. Our eyes met.

This was really happening.

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