Page 39 of Oracle's Reign
Epilogue
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In the end, the Assembly decided to combine the coronation ceremony with the official celebration of Yslie and Peron’s marriage. Condensing everything into one large party appealed to the new emperor and empress. After considerable deliberation, the Assembly voted to wait a month and take the time to plan everything properly.
Yslie had to admit, they had done a wonderful job. The old traditions were honored with a procession through Kalitalo, allowing citizens to look upon their new rulers. Yet new additions to the event showcased the Assembly’s new role in the government. Yslie and Peroen started at the Assembly House, then wound their way through the streets of the city. They smiled while the politicians accompanying them threw coins into the crowd.
When they reached the palace, the rest of the Assembly members waited in places of honor, supplanting the usual courtiers who had to make do with the same view as the general population. Yslie and Peroen stopped in front of the twin thrones—a team of craftsmen had worked with feverish speed to make a second one that was every bit as beautiful as the first. The Speaker of the Assembly faced them and spoke the words that had historically belonged to the highest-ranking priest in the city.
The speech itself hadn’t needed to be altered; it had always been about serving the people, even if past emperors hadn’t fulfilled the responsibilities that came with the crown. Then the Speaker placed a crown of gold and sapphires upon Yslie’s head. A moment later, the matching piece made with gold and rubies adorned Peroen’s head.
Hands clasped, they stepped back and sat on the thrones and the party began.
“Do you think we need to stay much longer?” Peroen whispered.
Yslie grinned. “The celebration just started. Of course we need to stay longer. But I think we can move from the dais soon.”
“That would mean joining the crowd. I’m not sure that’s any better. Triese and Odela are out there somewhere.”
Yslie’s good cheer didn’t waver. Triese still thought to find power through her court connections, not accepting that the court as she knew it no longer existed. She was no threat. As for Odela, she had a plan for how to handle the politically savvy oracle who had no intention of fading into obscurity. “Sophenie and Brevin are also out there. I think today is the perfect day to talk to them.”
“All right. But let’s start with Sophenie. She won’t stay long.”
Yslie and Peroen stood and made their way into the crowd. It took considerable time to get even a few steps from the dais, for once they left the thrones behind, everyone wanted to talk to them. In the end, Sophenie came to them rather than the other way around.
“I wanted to say congratulations before I left.” She stepped to the side, avoiding even an accidental brush of shoulders with a man walking past and frowned. “I’m done here.”
“Here as in the party, or here as in Kalitalo?” Yslie asked.
“The party. I haven’t even made a dent in going through everything in the archives.”
Sophenie had spent most of the past month in the imperial archives, but there were enough papers there to keep her busy for years. Yslie was certain a few of the records were fascinating, but many others were as dry as dust. Sophenie loved them all.
“About that,” Peroen said, holding out a hand to ask her not to leave. “Now that Yslie and I have official authority, we wanted to ask you to accept a post in the imperial government.”
“We want you to be the Imperial Archivist,” Yslie clarified, before Sophenie could run from the idea of any other government post. “As of right now, that is in our power, though you may need to be confirmed by the Assembly later.”
Peroen had changed the guards’ orders, allowing Sophenie into the archives, but until today, they hadn’t been able to name an Imperial Archivist, a post that had lapsed under Peroen’s grandfather’s rule. Until today, everything in the palace had pretty much continued as before, only without Envaho’s personal excesses.
The Assembly wouldn’t have allowed the delay before their coronation if Envaho hadn’t surprised everyone with his reaction to the news that he had been deposed. Before anyone could figure out the logistics of forcing an emperor to abdicate, the problem had solved itself. Within hours of the Assembly’s decision to put Peroen and Yslie on the throne, Envaho and Lhashiki were found in his rooms, poisoned.
Qilar insisted that the drugged wine had come from Lhashiki, who would never have wanted to see her emperor reduced in any way. Yslie didn’t really care who had made the decision, nor could she find it within her to feel sorrow over such a turn of events. For once, Emperor Envaho had made things easier for everyone.
Sophenie’s eyes went wide. “Imperial Archivist? You want me to be the Imperial Archivist?”
“Who better?” Peroen asked. “You are already more familiar with the archives than anyone else. Since you already plan to read everything there, you might as well get paid for your trouble.”
“What do you say?” Yslie prompted when Sophenie continued to gape.
“Of course I want the job. Thank you. Thank you so much!” Sophenie wasn’t one for physical displays of affection, but her heartfelt thanks were as satisfying as a hug. “Oh, I have so many plans to make. I’ll need to figure out a better organization system. And lighting. Can we install firestones?”
Peroen laughed. “Make a list of what you need. We’ll figure out a budget next week.”
“Yes, a list. I need to start a list.” Sophenie didn’t say farewell, turning and making her way to the door while still muttering under her breath.
“That went well,” Yslie said with a laugh.
“Do you think we’ll get a similar reaction to our next offer?”
