After the traditional two weeks of mourning, the Empire had to move on, and the most the important part of that process was crowning a new ruler. Vazali had never been more nervous. She couldn’t even pace, since a cloud of servants surrounded her, dressing her for the ceremony. Just when she thought they were done adorning her long purple robe, another tray of jewelry arrived from the vault in the palace catacombs. How am I going to move in all this? she wondered.

Her sister Kazaneta elbowed her way through the attendants. "Vazali, we’ve got a problem."

"What?" She tried to turn to look at her, but attendants got in the way. "Leave me be for a moment, please," she said wearily. "I swear, by the end of the day my nerves will be in tatters. Now, Kazaneta, what is it?"

She kept her voice low. "Vazali, Xeebec is packing his suitcases. He says he refuses to go to the ceremony."

"What?"

"I tried to talk some sense into him, but it’s like talking to a brick wall. Maybe he’ll listen to you."

Vazali raised her eyes heavenward. "Oh, good grief. I don’t need this today."

Kazaneta shrugged.

"Fine, fine. I’ll go talk to him."

She found her brother in the bedroom of his old quarters, stuffing clothes in suitcases. "Xeebec, Kazaneta just told me you refuse to come to the ceremony!"

"That’s right." He kept his back to her in conscious defiance.

"You have to come. It’s expected."

He threw a hairbrush to the floor. "It’s also expected for the Emperor to choose his son as his successor! Damn expectations, and damn you!"

Vazali was dumbstruck. She didn’t remember the last time she had seen him so angry.

He tried to close the zipper on an overstuffed suitcase but it broke in his hand. "And damn suitcases!"

"Xeebec, please, if you won’t come for me, come for Mother. She’s been so depressed... I’m concerned about her. Besides, the Empire is going through an unstable time right now, and they all look to us for strength."

"Damn the Empire!" he yelled. He inspected the broken zipper momentarily, realized it was ruined, and swept the whole suitcase onto the floor.

"Xeebec!" Vazali barked. "Calm down! I can’t help Father’s decision, but I don’t disagree with it! You’re selfish and immature and the Empire would fall apart in a day with you as its Emperor!"

He glared at his older sister with undisguised malice, too infuriated to speak.

"I’m sorry this upsets you so much, but you just have to get over it and move on. That may sound hard, but life is hard." She lowered her voice and frowned even more deeply. "I don’t want to do this, but I can see there’s no other way you’re going to come. I am giving you a direct Imperial order. You will be at Zilbrok Cathedral this afternoon at two o’clock, or I swear I’ll have you dragged there in chains. It’s your choice."

"You wouldn’t," he scoffed.

She regarded him sternly and crossed her arms on her chest. Her authority was still new, but the ornate purple robe and the heavy gold medallion combined to make her look and feel commanding.

Xeebec lowered his eyes to the floor and clenched his teeth. "I hate you. But I’ll come. For Mother, for the Empire that should be mine, and for Father’s memory...I’ll come."

She nodded solemnly and left. Kazaneta met her in the hallway outside her quarters.

"Well?"

"It took a direct Imperial order, but he’s coming."

"Your first real assertion of authority, wasted on Twitchy," Kazaneta said with a sigh.

Vazali slipped past her sister and two sentries and returned to her bedchamber. The attendants were waiting with more ornaments and jewels for her robe. She tried to push the unpleasant exchanged from her mind and concentrate on the true significance of this day.

At long last, the attendants finished adorning the new Empress. She carefully sat down on the edge of the bed to rest. As she lowered herself, her heavily-decorated robes clinked and jingled, making her feel like a knight in armor.

"Your Imperial Majesty?"

"Yes?" She looked up at the palace guard standing before her with bowed head. He was a handsome Lanarian about her age, with a strong build and dark sunglasses. His brown hair was cut in a very plain, short style, adding to the aura of discipline evident in his posture. This was not a man who tolerated nonsense.

"I regret to inform you that Security Chief Zambruk is ill and will be unable to accompany you to the ceremony, Milady. He sent me in his stead, along with his greetings and apologies."

Vazali regarded him for a moment, searching for his name. This was one of Zambruk’s top officers, a young guard who had risen quickly through the ranks of palace security. "I see. That’s fine, Officer...?" She winced slightly as she admitted forgetting his name.

"Gea’Nizanani Bronzar, ma’am."

"Of course. Bronzar. You...were with my father...at the end."

He nodded solemnly. "Do you have any specific security concerns you would like addressed, Your Excellency?"

"Not at the moment. Well, actually...there is one thing. Keep an eye on my brother, Xeebec. He’s less than enthusiastic about today’s festivities, and I have a feeling he may try to sneak off. Make sure he doesn’t."

"Yes, Milady." Bronzar bowed his head, and she couldn’t help noticing the thickness of the lenses in his glasses. Apparently they were not only for blocking sunlight.

"Dismissed."

"Yes, Milady." He backed off a few paces before raising his head and turning for the door. He stumbled into a floor lamp, banged his knee on the doorframe and rushed to steady the light fixture. "Sorry, Your Imperial Majesty," he said sheepishly. His cheeks flamed his embarrassment.

"Quite all right. I think we’re all a bit nervous today," she said with a smile.

He bowed again and hurried from the room. Vazali chuckled softly. She was still the same person as she had always been, but suddenly her title made her subordinates nervous. She hoped she would seem less intimidating as time went by.

Her respite lasted a scant five minutes before the guards and attendants led her down to the palace lawn, where the coronation procession was assembled.