Phillip nodded slightly, even as the others in the room looked shocked. �Loyalia has stabilized and isn�t under any active threat right now,� he agreed.
The younger man nodded. �The title is one that is supposed to unite all of us against a common foe. It�s meant to centralize power in one person, so that decisions can be reached quickly as a situation changes,� he explained, glancing around at the other lords. �It was never intended to be permanent.�
�That makes sense, I suppose,� mused Aaron, king of Norabardal. �The problem is, the hereditary rulers of the different Loyalian countries, well� they�re lost are they?�
�That�s true,� Horatio agreed. �However, we know their family names and we have to seals that signify the heir to power.� He shrugged nonchalantly. �It should be a simple matter of tracking down all the possible heirs and giving them their specific jewels.�
�I was under the impression that you�d lost the Seal of Shynia,� Jasper said gently.
Horatio looked chagrinned. �We did,� he said sadly. �That would mean it�s impossible to find the rightful ruler of Shynia.�
�What�s it look like,� Shadow asked, leaning back in his chair. �Maybe Phillip found it in the Vault, when he was tidying it up.�
Horatio�s eyes brightened and he turned to Phillip. �As I recall,� he began. �It was a simple pewter broach with a reddish cabochon jewel at its center.�
�Any design on it?� Phillip asked, brow furrowing as he thought about the different broaches he�d come across in the Vault.
�Not really,� Horatio answered. �The metal itself is smooth, but the broach is meant to resemble an eye.�
�An� eye,� Phillip repeated slowly. He turned to Shadow, looking faintly shocked. �Keenan has broach that looks like an eye. It�s a red jewel at the center of a silver metal frame. You gave it to him!�
�The Eye of Wonder?� Shadow asked softly, frowning thoughtfully. �I�d forgotten all about that��
�The hell you did!� Phillip accused, shaking his head. �He wears it everywhere he goes.�
Horatio scowled. �Eye of Wonder,� he whispered. Glancing at Phillip, he shook his head. �I�ll find our pictures of the old Shynian king wearing his seal. That�ll tell us if this Eye is the seal or not.�
�Is it even possible, Horatio?� Aaron asked doubtfully.
The young emperor chuckled. �You tell me?� he said shrugging. �But you should know, the Shynians call the Seal the �Aio-windar�.�
�Bloody hell,� Phillip muttered.
Jasper nodded. �I�ll second that.�
**
�Could you at least tell me what this is about?� Keenan asked, as he followed Phillip and Shadow into the Council chamber. �I�ve been behaving myself and doing the service I was given as penance, so if Alaric complained he can just b��
�Alaric hasn�t complained,� Phillip interrupted him sharply. �Emperor Horatio wants to see you.�
�Oh,� Keenan replied. Looking even more wary, he asked, �Why?�
Shadow chuckled and said, �Here he is, Horatio.�
Keenan locked eyes with the emperor of Loyalia and looked away quickly. �Your Majesty,� he said humbly.
�Master Keenan,� he said gently. �I need you to look up for a moment, and come closer so that I can see the Eye better.�
The wizard frowned and did as the emperor had asked. A request coming from an emperor, even one that he didn�t technically serve, should always be seen as a command, after all. �What about the Eye?� he whispered, touching the broach clipped just under his chin to hold his cape in place.
Horatio�s eyes widened as he looked more closely at the smaller man; then he smiled brightly and held an aged parchment out towards the three mages. �I don�t think there�s any doubt,� he said excitedly.
�That looks like me,� Keenan said, stepping closer. �But the robes are the wrong colors. Mine are violet and crimson, not blue and silver.�
�Blue and silver were the colors for the last king of Shynia,� Horatio said quietly. �His name was Allan Bush-field.�
Keenan had been called many things in his life, but he�d never been accused of being stupid. His eyes widened in shock and he shook his head frantically. �No,� he said firmly, holding up one hand to ward off any protests. �No, no, no. I�m not the type and I don�t want to be king, so you can just forget that idea right now!�
�It�s not our idea, Keenan,� Phillip quietly. �The truth is, the time has come for the countries of Loyalia to become autonomous once again and it�s your duty.�
�That�s right,� Shadow agreed. �After all, the Eye chose you, didn�t it?�
�You!� Keenan gasped, rounding on the spellcaster. �This is your fault!� He stomped away from the small group to stare out a window at the courtyard below. �I don�t know how to be king��
�You won�t be alone,� Horatio said gently. �You�ll have a Royal Council to assist you.�
Keenan whirled to face the younger man, looking irritable. �How do we even know they want a king?� he questioned. �We should � we should have an election!�
Phillip chuckled softly and nodded. �If it makes you feel better, Keenan, I�m certain it can be arranged,� he said softly.
**
Weeks later, the election was held, with nearly all the eligible citizens participating. The results were overwhelm and completely incontrovertible. Phillip stepped lightly into the room where Keenan had been waiting for the results. �Well?� he asked softly.
Alister Blackstone, the Director of Shynian Intelligence and a member of the Ruling Council, smiled. �We�ll be having the coronation in a few months, on Keenan�s birthday,� he said.
Phillip smiled impishly at the scowling wizard. �Isn�t that wonderful news?� he asked.
�Bite me,� Meadows grumbled. �A nearly unanimous vote? If I didn�t know better, I say that there had to be some kind of fix!� He shook his head and stomped across the room. Smirking irritably, he added, �But Shynians just mixed too much with Loyalians. They hear the words �rightful heir� and decide that it�s all that matters. None of them care that I�m completely unqualified.�
�Nearly unanimous?� Phillip questioned.
�He wouldn�t vote for himself,� Alister answered, shrugging. �He didn�t want the job.� Turning to the heir-apparent, he said, �You�ll learn quick enough what�s expected of you, Your Majesty.�
�First order as king,� Keenan snapped, whirling around. �Don�t call me that!�
�Yes, Your Majesty,� Alister answered, smiling mischievously.
The smaller man growled and stomped out of the room. �I�m going to bed,� he called back over his shoulder.
�What about the victory celebration?� Phillip asked, eying the Director.
Alister shook his head. �It wasn�t a victory to him,� he whispered. �He�ll accept it and, probably be the best king we could want. The Eye chose wisely and well, as it always has.� Chuckling, he added, �How better to assured that a person will not be corrupted by his power than to choose someone who doesn�t want any power?�
�Worked with me?� Phillip replied, shrugging.
End�