82 Cortege (1/2)

Another rainy day was haunting Arguna. This time it was only a light drizzle, as if someone had sifted the rain high up in the troposphere. A final goodbye from Arguna to its departing visitors. Corco drew his fur coat closed and looked away from the gray skies, down onto the proceedings around him. A crowd of people had formed up at the corners of the road, with different degrees of gravitas on their faces. Most faced towards the newly crowned southern king. Those who didn't faced the blue cloth in the middle of the road, the one which contained his uncle, Sonco Cauac Saqartu, Governor of the South. With bitterness in his face as much as in his heart, the king's eyes fell on the table to his left, filled with all the pointless trinkets his heart never desired. Turtles, so many of them.

He couldn't even look at the things. They reminded him of his uncle, of that time he had thrown his axe and faced off with the peacock prince, had given Corco a chance to calm himself, become worthy of carrying a crown. His uncle had only ever wanted the best for him, and he had given his everything to make sure the empire would be in safe hands, to make sure there wouldn't be another war like the one Sonco himself had lived through as a young man.

Again, Corco had betrayed his uncle's expectations. Despite his best efforts, he hadn't become emperor. He couldn't do it. He just wasn't good enough, determined enough, strong enough. Not even the so-called triumvirate would provide peace for long. After last night's duel, Corco knew that a conflict with Pacha and the Ichilias was inevitable. He was more than ready to meet them, but dreaded the thought that his uncle might be watching him, halfway through his journey, and judge his lack of talent, his short temper, his inexperience.

A sad smile crept onto his face as Corco did his best to fight back the tears. Soon, the congregation would leave. After all, this wasn't a funeral, just a sending off before his uncle would make his last trip south and home. Now that the succession was over and they were ready to set off south, at last Corco had time to work through all that had happened, and his uncle's death once again hit him like a hammer.

Again, like throughout that long night in the mansion's yard, he looked up into the gloomy sky, the memory of his triumphant duel as gray and unsubstantial as the clouds above his head.

”King Corcopaca. Please accept this gift as a sign of respect.”

He couldn't wallow in his pain. There were still things left to do. Thus he looked back down, towards the two foreigners who stood before him, the only outsiders he didn't consider enemies for now. The verdant Prince Wacoca Hulpatec and his sister Sumaci had come to send off the southern governor, ready to pay their respects.

”Thank you.”

He answered in a flat voice and took the present without care, but was surprised when he found not another empty trinket, but instead an axe, weighing heavy in his hand. The instrument looked rather simple, but the sharp glint and good balance spoke of its creator's impressive craftsmanship.

”May this weapon accompany the hero on his journey, until he finds his place among the stars,” the verdant prince said. Corco nodded and did his best to chase the sadness from his smile.

”Thank you, really. It's the kind of present my uncle would have liked... though I'm sure he would have liked some good wine more.”

”Ahahaha, though we never had the chance to speak, from all the stories regaled to us over the past days and months Lord Saqartu sounded like quite the character.”

The prince's frank laughter sounded out into the street and did its best to drive away the rain. It was a futile attempt, of course, but Corco was still thankful to the young man.

”You've received my present?” the king asked, just to make sure.

”Prince Corco, we have asked for your teacher, not some drab books, written in a strange script.” Sumaci spoke up with a frown. She had stood there the whole time while the prince had conversed with the king and quietly emitted an aura of impatience from beneath her wide paper umbrella.

”Sumaci, etiquette! It's 'king' now, not prince,” her brother warned in a stern voice.

”Please excuse me. *King* Corco, if we wanted firewood, we could have bought some at the market.”

The girl pursed her lips in annoyance. Corco looked back at the girl, with a slack expression, to communicate his best 'you're just trying to make trouble' face. In response, Sumaci raised her moderate chest and somehow managed to look arrogant, though she had no achievement to show for it. The king decided that the girl was incurable.

”You should know that I spent years overseas, so of course my teacher would be there as well. This is the best I can do on short notice. The knowledge encoded in these books is worth more than any teacher you could meet. You find the key to translate the words in the back. Read it, and if you think what I've offered lacks sincerity, you can burn the books and I'll still owe a debt. However, if what you read speaks to you, I expect a delegation to arrive in the south and pay a visit to the man who enlightened the Verdant Isles.”

As Corco's face slowly returned to life, the left corner of his mouth pulled out, further and further, into a sly, one-sided grin. Now it was Sumaci's turn to look confused. Corco thought this embarrassing view of her open mouth and tightly pulled eyebrows might have been her 'is your head okay' face. It was actually kind of cute.

”What does prince-”

”We really should be on our way, as we have already taken up far too much time.” Unlike his sister, Prince Wacoca managed to retain his calm. He understood what Corco had offered was an alliance. Such a public setting was no place for further discussions. With a short bow and a simple ”We wish Lord Saqartu a safe journey,” he dragged off his sister and went away, back into the crowd, until they were swallowed by the rain.

Corco looked after the odd pair and thought about his plans for the future. The verdant isles would play a crucial role in them, so there might be much more contact with the two verdant folk over the coming months. He didn't mind the idea.

”King Corcopaca, sister offers her condolences.”

The familiar voice returned Corco to the present. He turned to find his sister Prima, clad in a night-blue veil and as proper as ever. A small paper umbrella was attached to her back and spanned over her head, to shield her physique from the rain. Unfortunately, with Prima's shoulder width, the protection from the dainty cover was nowhere near enough and rain had soaked through her shoulders and sleeves. Unfazed, the girl retained her peerless posture.

”Thank you. I'm glad you're here.”

Corco returned a smile and felt that the sadness he had chased off had already returned.

”No one else has come?” he continued.

”...third brother is still injured and Empress Mother will have to take care of him. As for second brother...”