Omarian was buried on the same day he departed with no elaborate ceremony but a simple prayer, as was the custom in the Kingdom of Double Horns. He bequeathed this earth and everything with it and took with him only his body and his deeds. For death recognises not kings from peasants but welcomes all within his abode.
The period of grief had passed. Three days had the Kingdom halted in mourning for that good king.

Jem sat on his seat by the empty throne, soon to be occupied, in the Great Hall with the rest of the court waiting for his brother. Among the soaring columns of the hall and on the great glass floor that resembled the waters of a tranquil sea shimmering beneath a cerulean sky, was an assembly so diverse and splendid, of a kind Jem had never seen in his life. Gathered in the Great Hall were ambassadors from many kingdoms to witness the swearing in of the new king and to offer tokens to renew their friendship with the Kingdom of Double Horns, the most powerful and prosperous of all the kingdoms.

Jem looked about the envoys with a keen interest. Some had visited the kingdom at least once before but there where many he did not recognise. The Animals of the Ark were among the few he knew and had the opportunity to befriend. The great leader of the Winged Horses, Qinan, the Queen of the Unicorns, Miyanda and the Lion, King of the Animals of the Ark, Asayker were all present. The Kingdom of Double Horns always had a close relationship with the Animals of the Ark and the bond between those two kingdoms was made even stronger since the great battle with Gog and Magog.

Only once in his life Jem had visited that kingdom, with his father and Elyasa, many years ago when he was only a child of five. He remembered what a magnificent place the Kingdom of the Ark was. It had a unique and wondrous atmosphere about it. The land and its inhabitants enchanted him and he yearned to go there again. Now that he saw the leaders of the Animals of the Ark here before him he longed to talk to them but decided to wait for a more appropriate time, after the ceremony.

Also among the few he recognised was Queen Inayat who ruled the small but prosperous Kingdom of Almaz. The Kingdom was about the size of Babayn, city of the Kingdom of Double Horns. Inayat was a middle-aged woman of medium height. She had a fair but care worn face with soft hazel eyes. Here in the hall she was dressed elegantly in a long dark green robe with long flowing sleeves and a thin golden band encircling her green veil. She had been ruling the kingdom of Almaz ever since her husband died many years before.

The Kingdom of Double Horns also had a good relationship with the Kingdom of Almaz. Almaz was the foremost trading partner with the Kingdom of Double Horns. For the land of Almaz, although small, was rich in natural resources. Among the most the precious of these were diamonds, of which the land was famous for and thus named after. Jem had also visited that kingdom on several occasions with his father. It was another place he enjoyed visiting because of its greenness, pleasantness and openness. It was an open kingdom with no walls or gates around it but rather it depended on the forest within which it was hidden for protection and the mountains on the perimeters of the forest for further security. However, threats to its security were the least of that kingdom�s troubles for its neighbours were two great friends, the Kingdom of Double Horns and the Kingdom of the Ark. What impressed Jem most about Almaz was the trustworthiness and friendliness of the inhabitants. The palace doors were always open to the people and the inhabitants went in and out freely, as they wished. Carrying out business in the palace courtyard and seeking attendance with the Queen without obstruction was normal. It was unlike the palace of the Kingdom of Double Horns, which was closed, surrounded by a great gate, thus isolating the palace from the general populace.

Not far from the Queen of Almaz, stood another familiar face to Jem. A broad and stout middle aged man,with a thick bearded tanned face , garbed in a large white turban, with a green emerald in its midst, and long grey robe and cape, he was the King of Myth, Thessaly son of Zererous. The Kingdom of Myth was also another kingdom that was on friendly terms with the Kingdom of Double Horns. It was not a large kingdom, but neither was it small. Jem's father often visited Myth; two weeks ago was his last trip and it was the last kingdom his father visited. Jem had gone to Myth a few times but did not go often, because unlike the Kingdom of the Ark and the Kingdom of Almaz, he found nothing really unique about it. It was a kingdom made up of a few small towns and villages that thrived mostly on trade and farming. In many ways, Myth was similar to the Kingdom of Double Horns except that the latter was more diverse, prosperous and powerful.

A tall, handsome, well-built man of middle years who was eyeing him keenly, caught Jem�s attention suddenly. The man quickly averted his gaze when he realised that Jem was aware of him. Jem studied the man curiously. His complexion was the colour of honey, eyes lined with kohl and he wore a pointed golden conical helmet, with golden chain links that guarded the nape of his neck. He was donned in gold armour plates on his chest, a long crimson cape clapsed by a golden brooch at his neck, and was dressed in a crimson knee length loose kilt with a sword in its splendidly decorated sheath of many jewels strapped to his belt around his waist. He looked like a warrior. The man�s manner of dress was completely foreign to Jem who wondered where he was from.

A thudding knock at the doors of the Great Hall pierced the vibrant noise of conversation. Silence overcame the hall as the immense doors swung open at the end of the hall and the new king walked in with an expressionless face, proceeded by Luqman and his father, Salih. Jem watched his brother�s every step. So handsome his brother looked, much like their father. He imagined that was how his father had looked at Elyasa�s age. Elyasa, wearing a white turban on his head, walked in dressed in a blue caftan edged with intricate silver threaded embroidery and underneath he had a long blue robe. Jem observed how simple, yet elegant Elyasa's dress was. It suited his brother because he detested extravagance. Yet, this whole setting did not suit him. He looked up at his brother�s face and although Elyasa tried hard to put on a blank face his eyes betrayed him and revealed his uneasiness. Jem smiled at Elyasa warmly as his brother approached him. Elyasa did not smile back to him outwardly but Jem could tell by the way his eyes softened, that Elyasa smiled back at him from within. Luqman and Salih took their seats with the guests in the hall and Elyasa stood before the throne, next to his brother.

The hall was utterly silent in anticipation. All that was heard was the rustling sound of garments brushing against each other at the slightest movement. Elyasa remained silent for a while as if he was unsure what to do next. Jem noticed that Elyasa�s hand trembled slightly. He wished he could reach over to his brother to calm him and speak to him some reassuring words. However, he could not. His brother was on his own. Elyasa curled his hand in a fist and finally spoke in a loud clear voice, overcoming his nervousness.

�In the Name of the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.� The words pierced the silence and resounded throughout the hall. �Dear friends and guests, I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to all of you for being here today, though I wish we could have all gathered here for a different reason. As you all know, it was only three days ago that my father, may the All Merciful shower him with Mercy, walked upon this earth. Three days ago none would have thought that he would be taken away from us so quickly and within the earth. And three days ago none would have thought that we would be gathered here today at this moment, for this purpose.� Then Elyasa paused abruptly. Jem looked up at his brother. Momentarily Elyasa seemed ponder his words but at the next moment he continued. �Let this be a warning. There will come a time when we will all be gathered again with those before us and those after us for a different purpose; a much greater purpose. Although it may seem like a long way away, like a distant place in a dream, barely conceivable, let not yourselves be unheeding. If we stumble upon that time unprepared, as I am for this moment, then surely we are at a loss. But I use this time as a lesson for myself and for you. We learn as we have the time, before it is too late. Keeping that in mind, my dear friends and guests, who have come from near and distant lands, I wish you all to be witnesses, before the All Knowing, that I give my word to govern this land, the Kingdom of Double Horns, justly as did my great grandfathers. And as my father, Omarian, son of Yildirim, son of Malke of the Kingdom of Double Horns has advised me and has showed me by example.�

Elyasa then sat down beside his brother and turned briefly to him, a fleeting smile crossed his lips. Jem could tell that his brother was clearly relieved yet not altogether at ease and he smiled back to Elyasa to give him some comfort. After the new king had sat down, the Animals of the Kingdom of the Ark approached him. They watched Miyanda, a beautiful white unicorn walk up the hall so elegantly. Asayker, the king of the Animals of the Ark, a large lion with a magnificent mane, walking in graceful strides, his shoulder blades ascending and descending with each step, followed the Queen of Unicorns. He had a fan of peacock feathers clutched in between his jaws. Finally, Miyanda and Asayker were followed by Qinan, leader of the Winged Horses, a beautiful white steed with a golden mane and large wings closed by his flanks.

All bowed their heads in respect. Miyanda stepped forward and spoke first, �Elyasa son of Omarian, we of the Kingdom of Ark have had a long friendship with your Kingdom. We extend our friendship to you King Elyasa as we extended our friendship to your father before you. I speak on behalf of our entire Kingdom. We ask for you to take this�� Miyanda turned around to Asayker and took the fan made of spectacular peacock feathers, beautiful and extraordinary, in her mouth and placed them in Elyasa�s hands, �� as a small token of our friendship.�

Elyasa smiled at her. �Most welcome Miyanda you are in our kingdom.� And he looked to both Asayker and Qinan and smiled and bowed his head to them as well. �Most welcome Asayker and Qinan you are as well in our kingdom. I thank you all for this wonderful gift. The Kingdom of the Ark�s friendship I will guard diligently and treasure.� They bowed their heads once more to Elyasa and to Jem also, who gave them a gleaming smile, and returned to their place in the great hall.

Jem watched them go back to their places and when they had returned Queen Inayat stepped forward in small careful steps. With her gaze lowered and head bowed she spoke to Elyasa. �Son of Omarian, King Elyasa,� Inayat addressed him in a soft yet firm voice. �Our Kingdom also has had a long friendship with yours. Please accept this token from myself and the people of Almaz.� She placed in his hand a small box with three large diamonds within it. Elyasa looked up at her briefly and smiled when she had stepped back and bowed his head to her. �The Kingdom of Almaz�s friendship I shall treasure more than these. Thank you Queen Inayat.� Queen Inayat, with eyes still downcast but also smiling, bowed her head to him and turned back.

After Queen Inayat, the King of Myth walked up to Elyasa from his place. He bowed his head solemnly to Elyasa. When he looked up his brow was drawn beneath his turban and his face seemed sad and sorrowful.

�King Elyasa, your father and I were good friends and news of his death caused me great sorrow.� Jem noticed that the King of Myth avoided looking into Elyasa�s face. �You being his son, I am obliged to, but also desire to extend that friendship to you as well.�

Elyasa nodded and gave him a sad smile. �My father often spoke well of you. I would indeed desire a friendship with one my father respected dearly.�

King Thessaly thanked Elyasa and handed him a beautifully decorated cloak.

�On behalf of Myth, please accept this humble gift from me.� he said.

�I accept your gift. Thank you king of Myth.�Elyasa replied.

After some other monarchs had approached Elyasa and offered their gifts the man that had been staring at Jem earlier walked, tall and proud and gracefully up the hall towards Elyasa. Jem did not take his eyes off him, as there was something about this man that bothered him but he did not know what. Jem shifted in his chair as this man made him feel uneasy.

The man knelt down on one knee and bowed down his head.

�Stand up.� Elyasa commanded. �You need not kneel down to me. We are equals or perhaps you are even my superior.�

The man obeyed and rose to his feet. �Equals we may be. Your superior I am not, as we both have yet to prove ourselves.� The man said with a grin on his face.

�True.� Elyasa said with an expressionless face. �May I know who this gallant warrior is that stands before me?�

�Izozi, king of the land of Dyn, stands before you, King Elyasa. Unlike the other kingdoms, our land has no history of friendship with yours or any other, as we lived in isolation. I have recently ascended the throne and wish to change the ways of my ancestors. On behalf of the people of Dyn, I would like to extend our friendship to you and the people of Double Horns� and he looked up at Elyasa�s inexpressive face and then to Jem�s face who looked at him in wonder and suspicion. �If you will have it.� Izozi added.

�We will have it.� Elyasa said with a faint smile. � We would most welcome a friendship with the king and people of Dyn.�

�For that I thank you King Elyasa and offer this sword as a token of our friendship.� He removed the sword from his belt and placed it, in its splendidly decorated sheath, into Elyasa�s hands. � I hear you are an excellent swordsman.�

�Excellent?� Elyasa couldn�t help but laugh at this point. �Well I will not judge myself but will leave that up to others to determine. I accept your gift and I thank you King Izozi for your kindness. You are among our most welcomed guests. Send our warmest greetings to the people of Dyn.�

�That I will and I am most honoured�. He said, with a wry smile on his face and made one or two steps back wards, head bowing in thanks, and then turned around and walked as proud and gracefully, in long strides, to his place in the hall as he had when he walked up to Elyasa. Jem watched him carefully.