~commemoration~

[Cherish]

" Do you, Meladora Ellen Lastra, swear to up hold the laws of the city Abestat...To honor time long traditions...." The Priest's deep toned words echoed off the buildings in the Mercantile district. Meladora stood next to the Priest on the Thane's office steps with the crowd of on lookers, silently listening to the Commemoration.
" I do." Meladora's answered. The Priest gestured for her to kneel. She pulled on the violet colored gown, then kneeled on the cool stone grown. She bowed her head as the Priest prayed to Diana. " May you rein over Abestat with a keen eye, strong hand and honesty heart. May Diana watch over you and protect you from fallening into Jorel's bidding." He bellowed, loud and clear over the woman. He spoke lower, in a old prayer, then gestured for Meladora to stand again. He offered her a hand and she stood.

" Have you anything to say?" The Priest asked. Meladora noded once and then turned to the crowd. Her long hair loose and blowing in the sea breeze, her green eyes flashed with emotion. " People of Abestat, I am honored and privalaged to be appointed to this great city. My Great Great Grandfather was one of the founders. He had a saying that I would like to share with you all now..." She took a deep breath. Some of the crowd began whispering low, they knew, the old timers. The loyal Abestatians knew what she was going to say, they waited as if time paused. "To the Death! For the freedom of our people, To the death we will fight. We show our loyality to the crown... To the death we will fight for the honor and privlage our Regent has given us! To the Death we will build this city to its highest potential." Her voice rang over the crowd and they began to cheer. Shouting their approval.

With her entire body she shouted over the crowd.
" To the death I swear to uphold my responsibilities to my home, Abestat!" The crowd roared. The priest tried to shout over them but failed. " Lady Thane, Meladora Ellen Lastra!" Lord Enamere and some of the other Lords and Ladys of Abesat walked up the stairs to greet the new Lady Thane. Led by the elbow by her father, Meladora greets the rest of the visitors from other cities. When she's greeted them all she and Lord Lastra get into the lead horse carriage. The people part ways as the parade starts down the street. The Thane's guards following in lines behind, followed by dancers, jugglers and bards.

[Atmos the Wanderer]

"No! Damn!" Atmos cursed under his breath. He missed it! Awaken by the cries of a lady with a powerful voice, then the following thousand cheers and applauds, Atmos woke up and ran towards it. He got there only to see the noisy crowd, and jugglers, bards and dancers following a carriage which, he presumed, carried the thane. He didn't miss the celebration, but he missed the face of the new lady thane. He did, however, hear her pleasent voice.

Had it not been for his search last night to look for a darker corner to rest, he would have been able to wake up earlier. More dangerous however was the fact that Atmos had left himelf vulnerable, the sun was up before him! Atmos had never enjoyed the prospect of sleeping in inns or taverns. Straw and feather matresses were too soft, and the fact that there were unfamiliar people in the same house who knew he had crowns made him weary. Who knows what evil grin they hid under their hooded concealing figure, what daggers in those thick untrusting rags. Rather, Atmos perfered the cozyness of a cave, or if in town, the dirt of a dark corner under a cart or behind some crates. The shadows were his blanket, the noctural creatures coated his light, soft breathing. At any distrubance, Atmos had his trusty double ended spear which never failed him.

But being a traveller to a new town meant that the roads were unfamiliar, and finding a trustfull place to sleep was not easy. It wasn't till late in the night did he find a place he was sure nobody would disturb him.

As the sun rose, Atmos slept dreamingly, blissfully unaware that his blanket had been lifted away. It was a blessing to him then, that much of the roads had been abandoned to the ceremony.

When he got to the crowd, Atmos tapped the shoulder of the closest person he saw, "Um, excuse me, will the thane show herself again during the celebration?"