Xo Novel
184
Two days later,
First Wiz prince’s abode,
Phoenix’s chamber,
8:55 pm.
Phoenix was back to normal; Now, he could wear clothes and touch himself without feeling any sort of discomfort. Lavana had long been taken away to her assigned residence to be provided special beauty treatments and perform a few other essential rites that required only the bride’s presence. According to custom, the couple weren’t to see or talk to each other physically before the wedding ceremony.
On his part, he had to pass one more test meant for royalty, and that was to bring back the head of a dangerous creature in the forbidden forest- As assurance that he could protect his bride!
It was to be done tonight, beginning from 10 pm to midnight- the task had to be done in two hours or less.
He had just one hour before beginning the trial. Currently, his hair is neatly tied in a bun, his upper and lower eyelids are painted black and there is a necklace on his neck made from a conscious beast’s dark brown teeth.
His upper body is clad by a black sleeveless turtleneck top, and adorned by a black snake armlet on his right arm and black leather bracelets studded randomly with blue diamonds on both wrists.
An obsidian black leather belt studded with many blue diamonds in special patterns was on his waist, holding in place a blue fur loin skirt with rough edges that stopped just above his knees.
After making sure nothing was out of order, he exited his room barefooted and descended many stairs until he got out of his residence.
Outside his dwelling were seven tall and brawny wiz warriors waiting, barefooted. All of them were attired in black robes that were embroidered in bright golden thread, and sporting their wizard hats. They were holding their sceptres horizontally in their outstretched hands.
Seeing that Phoenix had stepped outside his home, they immediately went down on one knee and held their sceptres vertically with their right hand, hitting the ends thrice on the tiled walkway, humming a tune for a minute.
Phoenix nodded at them, staidness etched on his face. The men instantly got to their feet and turned around in sync. Six of them quickly formed two rows with a golden-haired warrior in the middle, ahead of the six men, yelling with his sceptre in his right hand which was pointed forward: “The first prince is puissant and valorous!”
The six warriors shouted in response, “He is true to his name!”
The warrior spearheading them cried out in a deep voice, “The first prince is in love!”
Six warriors behind him: “With a purple-tailed siren!”
“Tonight, he will prove doughtily his love!”
3rd man on the second row: “He’ll leave behind no doubts!”
“Enemies’ heads form a special red carpet for him!”
The six chorused, “Guaranteed protection for the bride!”
“Our first prince is getting married!”
The six trumpeted, “To a red-haired beauty!”
“His heart has been stolen!”
The six men proclaimed, “By a fair-skinned female!”
“Our prince is head over heels for his mate!”
The second man on the second row: “May their union last till forevermore!”
“The first prince is in love with an amethyst-haired siren!” the leading warrior cried out.
The six men hollered, “A siren with enchanting blue lips!”
The leading warrior:” Prince Phoenix Sullivan Atlantes of Wiyzh-Sybylle Landia has found his precious mate!”
The six men cried out, “O hail the goddess!”
“Our Prince’s cock will only stand!” the first man on the second row cried out.
The other warriors declared, “For the captivating Miss Lavana!”
“He has rock solid 10 packs!” the 2nd warrior on the first row shouted.
The rest six yelled, “Her heart replaces his stolen heart!”
“His Royal Highness is eager!” the leading warrior announced.
The warriors behind the leader clamoured, “Ten children with the bride!”
“His Highness can’t think straight!”
The six warriors: “Coz he locked eyes with the beauty!”
“The first prince is indubitably potent!” yelled the warrior ahead of the group.
“Guaranteed and enviable love life for the bride!” the six men shouted.
“His Highness will prove his devotion tonight!” the 1st man on the first row cried out.
“Infinite security for the bride!” the others chorused.
“The first prince is madly in love!” yelled the leading wiz warrior.
“With a tea rose-eyed siren!” the others said in unison.
“His Highness has been shot in the heart!” the last man on the first row yelled.
“The birth of his appetency for the bride!” the other warriors chorused.
Phoenix, who was behind them by ten steps, had his hands clenched into fists across his chest, with a serious countenance and steady eyes, walking after the marching group of warriors ahead.
From his residence to their stopping point would take almost an hour on foot. They weren’t allowed to get there faster with their sceptres tonight.
This was tradition!
As they marched past many structures in the palace, several maids, dressed in strapless, bright pink, above-knee silk gowns, could be seen lined up orderly along the walkways, joyfully raising their sceptres, actively yelling: “Fighting! Victory!”
***
Royal sacred ceremony ground,
By the time they reached their destination, there were many people- males and females- present. All wore various animal skin clothes but none wore blue fur like Phoenix. The ground of this area wasn’t tiled; it had soil instead.
In the centre of the venue was a meter-high, large black platform with golden stairs. Resting proudly in its centre was a splendid golden throne with magnificently crafted red serpents for armrests.
On seeing that the long-awaited groom-to-be’s heralds had arrived, many became enthusiastic, raising their sceptres severally while ululating.
The first prince was not seen behind the group. Rather, the 7 black-robed warriors stopped marching, just after passing the entrance. They, with solemn faces, hit the ends of their sceptres, which were in their right hand, seven times on the tiled ground, with a minute-long hum.
After that, they let go of their sceptres, which flew above them and remained hovering above their owners’ heads.
Several men, outfitted in only leopard skin loin skirts and black necklaces possessing a single golden tooth as a pendant, ran forward; some of them carrying drums of various sizes and colours, while the others held several other traditional musical instruments.This content © Nôv/elDr(a)m/a.Org.
Prince Peter was in the lead with his red small drum that had white symbols for design. He was the only one playing his instrument; his face was solemn, unlike the other musicians behind him who were making various but harmonized sounds of nature. Phoenix’s brother, whose auburn hair was in three big braids, walked toward the 7-warrior group, increasing the pace of beating the drum skillfully with his right hand.
Reaching where the seven stood with grave faces, he harrumphed and walked around them thrice. Subsequently, he nodded at the leading warrior of the group of seven men.
The leading warrior, Julius Henderson, quickly went down on one knee and handed a palm-sized emerald stone taken out of his spatial ring to the second prince. The other 6 guys also quickly went on one knee.
Peter, who had received the emerald stone, walked around them once more before crumbing the gemstone in his hands to bits. Then he let the bits fall off his hands.
After doing this, he returned to the music crew. At his order, they began playing their various instruments,
The group of seven wiz warriors took off their black robes, folded them neatly and quickly put them, along with their hats, into their spatial rings. What could be seen attiring them were only white fur loin skirts and tiger skin belts.
They rose to their feet and grabbed their levitating sceptres, stomping the ends once on the ground.
Then, they began to dance, singing in a foreign language, repeatedly raising their sceptres as they danced exuberantly, while the music intensified.
The others present were dancing too, also raising their sceptres, while occasionally shouting with excitement boldly written on their faces: “Aye!”
After some minutes of the crowd’s rapture, the music ceased, and the group of seven men split into two groups; Three on one side, and four on the other. They went on one knee, tapping the ground with the ends of their sceptres while solemnly humming.
A tall man dressed in elaborate clothing made of beast skin and a white fox fur cloak walked in, holding his exquisite sceptre in his right hand. Steadily, he headed to the throne set on the black platform in the midst of all this activity. Following him dutifully was a tall brown-haired man with a stern look wearing a panther skin loin skirt held in place with a thick black rope serving as a belt.
Immediately, those below the platform went on one knee, hands across their chests, except the group of seven whose sceptre ends were still tapping the ground.
Another group who didn’t kneel at all was the music crew headed by Prince Peter. They only stopped making music and bowed their heads solemnly, saluting the king just like the others.
“We welcome His Royal Majesty. Wishing him long life and prosperity and the wisdom to govern!” the subjects chorused while the king sat down on the throne. His right-hand man, Louis Frost stood on the right side beside the throne with a solemn face.
“Rise!” King Vellio commanded with a regal tone and the kneeling subjects did so. Those who didn’t kneel simply raised their heads.
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” they chorused again.