Tales of the Gleamwind I

The finer details of the day of my Anointment are lost to me. That whole day, nay, that whole week went by in a blur of confused emotions, scenes and talks that I could not recollect even if I forced myself to. Some of the most important days in our lives fly by without us even noticing they happened, which is both the beauty and the horror of time’s relentless grip on the world. - Memoirs of an Oracle.

The massive double doors loomed over her like prophetic giants, barring her way to her destiny. Sonora inhaled deeply and kept her eyes fixed forward, to avoid nervously glancing at confused stewards moving around the antechamber to the Audience Hall.

Cold air whirled around her slippered feet as people moved in and out of the main entrance to the palace behind her. Servants or stewards, probably. Everyone interested in the daily audiences was already in the Hall, and people who wanted to only see Sonora’s Anointment thought it would only happen later in the afternoon.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Maybe she should have followed protocol and tradition. Maybe--

Rinaer caught her attention from a side entrance. Sonora shivered, pulled her toga more tightly around her torso, then nodded to the man.

There was no point in delaying this any further. All the Oracle Heads were in the Hall, listening to the people auditioning to her father and she did not want to wait several more hours, wallowing in her own misery and self-doubt. She had to get this over with.

There was a sudden pause in the chatters and murmurs filtering through the door in front of her. That was it. Rinaer had taken the stage and was about to-

“Sonora Sitak. Daughter of Rose Sitak-Lazio.” Rinaer boomed.

The double doors slowly swung open before her and Sonora made a few steps towards the Hall. She stopped before crossing the threshold, however. She had to wait for an admission from the Oracle.

“What is her query?” Rose Sitak-Lazio asked. Blue sinuous tattoo lines pulsing at the base of his neck.

He was not looking at Sonora, but glared down the Hall at Rinaer. This should have infuriated or at least unsettled Sonora, but she found a strange sense of security in it. Her father did not expect her, and that played to her advantage.

“She wishes to walk to the Oracle Throne and claim her seat as your next in line.” Rinaer continued.

Sonora felt the glare of hundreds of people on her, murmurs and gasps running across the audience pushed against the walls of the Hall. To this statement, the five Oracle Heads all shifted in their seats at the bottom of the podium where her father’s throne stood. Sonora caught Trieno’s quick wink, Aspyo’s disgusted frown and Movra’s pained grimace even from that distance.

Rose Sitak-Lazio blinked a couple of times before answering. He knew Sonora had come early. Everybody knew it. But if he refused her query now that would undermine both his and her authority and would not start off Sonora’s reign on a good note.

“May I ask…” Rose stepped away from the throne, closer to Sonora. “Why have you come this early to take your place as the next Oracle?”

He took a furtive glance at the Heads sitting beneath him. He thought maybe it was one of them that suggested Sonora should do it this way.

Rinaer thought about it for a second, then sighed.

“Sonora did not want to…”

“Enough.” Sonora stepped into the Audience Hall and strode past Rinaer with soft, but determined steps.

More gasps followed her actions.

“I came here early because I wanted to ask you something before you would retire from the Oracle Throne. I want an honest answer, bound by your eternal oats.” She did not take her eyes off her father.

‘He dodges every question. Except when he acts as Oracle.’ That was what her mother had said to her the last time they talked about her father.

“Would you, or would you not choose to do everything in your power to save the people of this Shard?” She asked, her voice carrying across the Hall.

“Of course I would. What kind of question is that?” Despite his words, Rose’s face remained blank.

“An honest one.” Sonora reached the foot of the podium. She ignored the looks of the Heads to concentrate only on her father. “Would you resent your daughter from doing the same?”

Rose narrowed his eyes and walked down the steps to meet her at ground level. Lazio and Aspyo frowned at him as he passed them, but others like Movra or Kayfe only smiled expectantly.

“What are you doing here, Sonora?” Rose asked when he was close enough to lower his voice so that only she could hear him.

“The only time you can be forward and honest is when bound to your oats as Oracle.” Sonora said. “I don’t know what made you this way, but you left me no choice.”

Before Rose could reply, she raised her voice once again.

“And if you knew a way to save the Shards from certain doom against the Gleamwind, would you pursue this method?” She asked.

“What method are you talking about?” Rose frowned.

“Answer my query, father.” Sonora said over a new wave of gasps and murmurs in the crowd behind her.

“Of course I would. Everything I do is for my people. For humanity.” Rose answered more to the crowd than to her.

Very well, Sonora thought. That settled it. She now understood that there was no point in playing the polite, courtly Oracle if she couldn’t protect her loved ones. Her father let himself be carried away by a strong, yet bland sense of duty and honor, but she would not let the same happen to herself.

“I come before you Accepted and Anointed.” She said, and the Hall fell silent.

Rose took a moment too look around and saw that the Five Heads were all paying attention to Sonora. He sighed and turned back to face his daughter.

“The council of the Oracle Heads sees you and accepts you, Sonora Sitak.” Lazio said, and Rose stepped aside, resigned.

Sonora felt a quick stab of guilt for forcing her father into this awkward early Anointment, but again: he gave her no other chance to talk to him directly. She stepped on the lowest step of the podium and watched as the five Heads all stood up to face her in a semi-circle.

Lazio, a bit stunned but eager.

Aspyo, frowning coldly at her in his impeccable white toga.

Kayfe, dusting her robes as if she just realized where she was.

Trieno, rising with her constant dignified grace.

And Movra, towering over all of them with his looming dark presence.

Despite their presentation and everything she’s been taught, she knew exactly which Oracle would give her the only chance to save her Shard. Even if it meant going against all expectations.

Movra’s thin lips curled up in a mischievous smile as he caught her eyes.

“I will take the throne as Oracle Sonora Sitak-Movra.”