In front of an audience of more than twelve million people, Durin sat on the throne, with Tykar on his left, wearing, like himself, a royal cloak with the family insignia, and Yuki on his right, looking frightened. Behind them, all the Gumis and the host were standing. All the men behind the Pharaoh wore clothes bearing the insignia of the Royal Family. White suits with the insignia and gold highlights. Yuki wore a pink dress with gold stones embedded in the sleeves and a circular crown on her head with the design of two crossed swords.
Those present at the summoning represented all the warriors in the Kingdom of Mahagah who could receive a drop of magic and not die in the process. Tykar chose each of them carefully.
Mycon crossed in front of the three thrones and adjusted the microphone before speaking.
"We have been called to gather today before our New Great Pharaoh, in honor of the family that has protected us since ancient times. As of today, we will no longer know Durin and Tykar by those names, but both have kept their names chosen by their mothers and will take on the name of the Dihren family, to honor our people and the Pharaohs who came before them. Durin today takes on the name chosen by his father, Sean, and Tykar will likewise take on the name of Attila. There is no greater authority in our kingdom than that of our Great Pharaoh Dihren and he must be obeyed and listened to in all his wills and any refusal or sign of rebellion against this authority will be punished with death. The one you know today as Prince Tykar is the second most powerful man in our kingdom and his orders and will must be obeyed, just like those of the Great Pharaoh, and anyone who dares to go against this reality will face the same punishment as an affront to the Pharaoh himself. Except, of course, when his order nullifies or in any way harms Pharaoh's will. Are you ready to kneel down and swear allegiance to your new leaders?"
A great cry of approval went up from the people.
"Then do it now and welcome Sean and Attila.... as masters of your lives from now on." Mycon said and walked away.
Sean and Attila rose from their thrones and approached the railing. All the people bowed immediately. They raised their arms in front of all the kneeling people and a rain of fire and ice flakes descended on each of those citizens. But it didn't burn and it didn't leave any of them with wounds.
When they stood up, some had their eyes glowing in flames, while others had their eyes glowing in waves of ice storm.
Sean and Attila stared at each other for a few minutes and then, bending down, each slammed his hand on the ground and brought out his sword, one flaming with fire and the other with stormy waves circling around it and they crossed them high up, representing the union of the two peoples and the shout that came from the crowd was accompanied by warriors who also raised their swords, although less flaming than the brothers', nonetheless with magic reverberating inside each of them.
The people were happy. Atila and Sean lowered their swords and clapped them together to make them disappear again. Sean looked back and with his hand invited Yuki to join him. She got up, her face red with embarrassment, and stood next to him. Sean's arm circled her waist possessively and Atila glanced sideways at the small gesture, but pretended not to notice and concentrated on the people shouting her new name along with Sean's name.
After a few minutes of the people's euphoria, Sean saw that the food he had ordered to be prepared began to be distributed among the people, and he left, taking Yuki with him.
Atila had a furious look on his face, and so it was when the host and Mycon positioned themselves next to him, watching the people celebrating as they ate downstairs.
"We must go in, Your Majesty. The people will not celebrate at will while one of the gods watches." Mycon said conciliatorily.
Attila remained silent.
"You know the choice has to come from her, Tykar. It won't do for you to put margarine in her drink." The host warned, as if he could read his thoughts.
"She's mine for many reasons, old man! I don't expect you to understand my feelings. And don't ever call me Tykar again."
"I understand. You believe that on Ice Island, you were the Pharaoh's son who appreciated her innocence, right? I warned the Gumis that it wasn't a good idea to put you two through the ritual on the same day and in the same place. It was foolish."
Atila looked coldly at his host, but Mycon saw that he was paying attention to what the old man was saying and knew at that moment that Atila was very dangerous for the monarchy.
"What do you know about this? About what happened on Ice Island?"
"I know nothing beyond mere speculation, my dear. I watch you. You've never let me get close to you. You've always looked at me suspiciously and never asked for my advice. Either you think I'm useless, or you consider me an enemy."
"Both, old man."
"I may be useless, but your enemy?"
"You're the man who could have defended me and forced everyone to accept me for who I am. The legitimate Pharaoh. I was born first. And you didn't do that. You kept quiet while I was being raised and treated like a servant. But that only hurt me when I was still a child. When I still didn't understand how foolish you were. I think you bet your chips on the wrong horse, old man."
"You don't know which horse I bet my chips on."
Atila looked sarcastically at his host.
"You can't change sides once the race has started. You chose your prize horse twenty years ago, when on the day Pharaoh celebrated Sean's birthday, you presented him with a crown. I'm sorry, old man, but when I begin my reign and heads are separated from their bodies, your sentence will be the first." Attila said and walked away.
Mycon looked stunned at his host.
"I think he just threatened you."
"He's got it all wrong."
"What did he get wrong? I was there that day. You put a crown on Sean's head and delivered a brass sword into Attila's hand. I don't think there's any message that's clearer than your attitude and the people also noticed your distinction."
"Only servants wear brass swords." The host reminded unnecessarily.
"And only kings wear crowns."
"Yes. Now think of the reverse. Did everything happen as the Gumis had predicted?"
"No. It wasn't anyone's will that Sean should run away..."
"And while Durin was living his bohemian life, where was Tykar?"
"Training."
"Exactly. And who was watching him with pride and looking at Durin with growing disgust?"
"The Great Pharaoh?"
"King or servant, and in the end he wouldn't choose the obvious." The host recited a piece of the Pharaohs' song that had been sung for years by the people and Mycon looked at him in confusion.
"Are... Is that it? When you gave your gifts... Were you showing the people that the time had come for the prophecy to be fulfilled?"
The host moved away from the railing and began to walk into the palace.
"I would never give a brass sword to a prince, my friend. That would be an insult to the Great Pharaoh. What Tykar doesn't remember is the gift I gave him in secret that very day, but I think he'll remember the moment he gets his hands on it again. I know he saved it to give back to me the day he became Pharaoh."
"Is there going to be a war?"
"The war has already started, five years ago. When they were put together on Ice Island."
Mycon turned to look at the crowd, this time worried. His experienced eyes detected many fire warriors. Many of those people had been chosen by Attila. You couldn't tell who was loyal to an unknown Pharaoh, and who was loyal to the man who had walked and fought by his side for all those years. There was no doubt who was the most beloved politician. The man who would be followed...
Mycon sighed. He hoped his host was wrong. Or that he had misinterpreted his words and that the war he implied had already begun would not be fought within the Royal family, because he knew one thing for sure. Sean would not win. Of course, there were the faithful allies who would never deviate from tradition, but Attila could be the very man who would change the history of that country. And he feared that wouldn't be a good thing. Could Attila be a good Pharaoh? Yes. He had no doubt about that, but there was a reason why the Pharaoh was always replaced by his son with Farida. A son born in the Pharaoh's bridal bed would be someone constant, predictable and unchanging regardless of any adverse situation and Attila was someone driven by emotions and dangerously unpredictable.