by Kyle Larson
“You have my blessing, son,” King Erelm said. “It is not my wish that you do this. We no longer know if we can trust the other kingdoms. Whether you wish it or not, I shall order a knight to accompany you on these travels.”
“Your father is right, Kelvin,” Queen Eleyn said, approaching the throne where her husband and son were. “If you do this, you are not doing it alone. You will be taking Earth’s best ship, the Monarch. It is commanded by your godfather, Sir Ristep Aker.”
Kelvin couldn’t believe it. It was an awkward conversation, but he ultimately got what he wanted. Being respectful and smart had paid off, and both his parents would support his decision. Kelvin would finally be able to see the stars and all the planets in the solar system. Finding out he would be traveling aboard the Monarch, the largest and finest ship of Earth’s Navy, was an unexpected surprise. The ship had not left Earth’s orbit in years, so it would be a monumental occasion.
“Thank you, both,” Kelvin said, having trouble finding the words.
“I want you to take Amelia with you on your first trip, too, Kelvin. I’ve already spoken with her parents. She has their permission to go and a tutor will be assigned to both of you. Your studies are not to fall behind because of this, Kelvin. If they do, I want you to agree you will stop and focus on your education. Do you understand? That’s the only way I’m agreeing to this,” Queen Eleyn said, very matter of factly.
“Of course, mother,” Kelvin said.
“I’ll make the arrangements. After we announce your claim tomorrow, you can depart for Mercury. I will have your godfather prepare the ship for launch. Pack your things my son. You leave tomorrow.”
Kelvin had never met his godfather, though Sir Ristep Aker was a legend. He was thought to be the greatest pilot in the Nine Kingdoms and had been head of Earth’s Navy for decades. Kelvin asked to meet him several times when he did reports for school on famous rescue missions Sir Ristep lead with his father when they were much younger. Sir Ristep was also known to have accompanied King Erelm when he undertook his Traditions of Service. Whenever Kelvin asked to meet his godfather, Queen Eleyn only replied that it would happen someday. Kelvin had always wondered why.
“Thank you, father,” Kelvin said. He bowed and turned to start walking away.
“Kelvin,” King Erelm said, foregoing titles. “As part of the tradition, you must do all kings of the Nine Kingdoms a service. That includes me. I’d like to make my request of you now and I’d like you to remember it in all of your travels.”
Kelvin stopped and turned, preparing for the unknown. His father was right, and he could technically make a very difficult request to delay Kelvin’s departure.
“Yes, father?”
“Find your sister. I know she is out there still, no matter what anyone says. Find your sister and bring her home. That is all I will ever ask of you, my son, other than I want you to return safe as well.”
“Thank you father. I will find Aren. Someday…I promise.”
Kelvin walked down the corridor, followed by his mother. The large doors to the court slid shut behind them, leaving King Erelm alone on his throne. The empty court felt fine to him. The king was a man who enjoyed being alone. He was truly sad his son would be leaving, but for the first time in ten years, King Erelm finally felt hope again. Kelvin was doing everything the king could not.
King Erelm found faith in his son that had always been there, but was awake now. He knew great things were bound to happen for his son.
CHAPTER THREE
The audience below the tower roared in excitement for the appearance of their prince, queen, and king. The people of Earth were not accustomed to seeing their king in person, and especially not the rest of the royal family. Those outside the royal tower barely knew what Kelvin looked like. They relied on a few pictures or brief seconds on Tube to guess what their prince looked like. It was tradition for children in the royal families to be kept out of the spotlight until they made their claim to the throne. It gave them a chance to have as normal childhood as they could, before the pressure of royal duties and public life.
They came forward to meet their people and the rest of the solar system. It was a reintroduction of sorts for the king and queen, but this was a debut for the prince. Kelvin knew that not only was his whole planet watching, but many other people on the rest of the Nine Kingdoms of the Sun would be, too. The large elevator that sped down had a window that allowed the royal family watch the crowd become larger as they got closer. They had journeyed down from their home, near the stratosphere, and would be just one hundred meters above the crowds.
After he addressed the crowd, Kelvin would go right to the Monarch and depart for Mercury. The other governments of the Nine Kingdoms had been secretly informed that Kelvin would undertake the Traditions of Service. If the morning hadn’t been nerve-racking enough preparing for his speech, Kelvin also had to pack everything he would need for the next two-years. He wouldn’t be back to Earth for at least that amount of time, as once he was finished with his tradition of service on Mercury, he would go straight to Venus. With a ship as large as the Monarch, it would take months to get to Mercury, and the whatever task Mercury’s queen gave him could take as long as it needed to. Kelvin had been advised that he would be away from Earth for a long time.
The thought of leaving home for that long made Kelvin excited as it did nervous. He tried not to think of the future that was starting to unfold quickly in front of him. Kelvin focused on the strange sight of his father, looking very peaceful.a
The king hadn’t been this low in altitude since Aren went missing, but for the queen, it was a daily ride. Kelvin could tell that his father was trying to pretend he wasn’t enjoying this journey out of their home, but he wasn’t doing a very good job. His eyes lit up as the landscape in the distance became more visible through the clouds. They could see a mountain range in the distance, it’s peaks covered with snow. It was a beautiful view. The cheers of the crowd were starting to creep into the elevator car.
“How are they even going to hear me over themselves, for goodness sake,” King Erelm said under his breath. He had a point. The elevator car was supposed to be soundproof, but the lower it got to the ground, the louder the cheering of the crowd got. They all imagined it must be deafening on the platform Kelvin was to make his speech from.
“They’ll quiet once you start speaking,” Queen Eleyn said, giving the king a playful nudge. “They always do.”
“It’s been a while. Sometimes I wonder if they’ve forgotten me,” King Erelm said, almost like he was talking to himself.
Now the elevator car was very close to the crowd. The royal family could make out what the crowd was chanting. The king and queen had expected they would be chanting Kelvin’s name, as the Tube reporters learned and reported what the ceremony would be about today. It was clear they were not chanting Kelvin’s name, but the king’s name.
ERELM! ERELM! ERELM!
Over and over, and it managed to make the king smile for a moment. He had forgotten how good the love of his people felt. The king had forgotten what it meant to trust others and have faith that others trusted him. The enthusiasm from the crowd warmed him and made him feel as if he was young again. The doors to the elevator slid open, and the king eagerly stepped forward, with queen and prince behind him.
The long hall leading to the outdoor platform was lined with the top knights from Earth Navy, in full uniform, standing at attention. Kelvin thought there were at least a hundred of them, but there were probably more. The king lead his family down the hall, passing a nod to each knight they passed, the queen offering her own as well. Kelvin tried to mimic his parents and nodded to the knights as well. The knights only stared forward, at attention, as Kelvin imagined they were trained to do.
The light coming in from the open exit at the end of the hall was very bright. It was a beautiful day outside, with few clouds in the sky, and a warm breeze in the air. The sunlight lit up the dim hall, making Kelvin squin
t his eyes as they got closer to the platform. The cheering was very loud now and he could hear a single voice, over a microphone. It was Amelia’s father, Benito Chapman, and it sounded like he was introducing the king.
“…people of Earth, I give you your king and queen, Erelm and Eleyn Sellwood!” Benito’s deep voice proclaimed.
Kelvin stayed back, just as he’d been instructed, as his mother and father went out to greet the masses. He was trying to stay out of sight, so all he could see were their backs turned to him. The crowd was going nuts and Kelvin couldn’t believe that was possible. His parents almost looked like robots, each of them with an arm extended, waving down to the masses of people.
“Are you nervous?” Amelia whispered behind him, which made Kelvin jump, as she’d snuck up on him.
“Of course I’m nervous. Not as nervous as someone I know who is taking their first space flight in a couple hours,” Kelvin teased. It was well known that Amelia did not like flying, despite the time she spent in combat simulators and her dreams of space flight. Once she was airborne, everything was fine, but taking off and landing were her worst nightmares. It was well known taking flight out of a planet’s atmosphere was a bumpy ride, which was the only part of her upcoming trip with her friend Kelvin she dreaded.
“It was your big idea for me to come anyway,” Amelia snapped back.
“Was not. It was my mom’s,” Kelvin said.
“Well, for the record, I’m happy I’m going. Just wish your mom would have given my mom a little bit more notice. They freaked out, Kelvin,” Amelia whispered. “In a good way – eventually. My dad talked to your dad over the phone for three hours last night. I haven’t heard him laugh like that in years.”
Kelvin glanced out to where his and Amelia’s parents stood on the balcony, overlooking the crowd. He smiled as he watched the four of them laugh together. Kelvin almost didn’t recognize his father. He was the man absorbing the love from the crowd below. The energy and enthusiasm from the king were things Kelvin had never seen. It gave him hope that what he was doing would eventually help his father, as well.
“You got your speech memorized?” Amelia said, her own way of checking up on Kelvin. She certainly had it memorized, as she’d stayed up much later than usual to help him memorize it over FaceTube. They were only separated by a few hundred feet, but FaceTube through their phones was the best way to talk when they were both up past their bedtimes and couldn’t sleep. Amelia had been expecting the call from Kelvin the night before, hoping she could help him work on his speech.
“Yeah, and thanks, Amelia. Thanks for all your help and for going with me on this crazy voyage. I don’t even know what I’m doing,” Kelvin said. He could hear his father start to talk over the microphone and the crowd grew silent.
“Yes, you do. You know exactly what you’re doing. You’re going to be king, and if that’s going to happen, then you’re gonna need my help,” Amelia whispered back.
“I know I will,” Kelvin said, smiling and turning his attention to his father.
“…and we have kept this world strong, together. I may be your king and Eleyn may be your queen, but you, my people, are the ones who are the caretakers and keepers of this world. Today, I bring you together to start a new chapter for this planet and for the crown,” King Erelm said. The audience knew what was coming, so they erupted in applause.
“Would you like to meet our son?” Queen Eleyn said. “May we present to you, for the first time in the general public, Prince Kelvin Sellwood.”
Amelia nudged Kelvin, as he hesitated for a few seconds. He could tell the applause was loud, but everything was quiet in his mind. As Kelvin stepped forward, his purpose as prince became very real, as well as the responsibility of being king. Everyone who watched him now, the millions right below him and the hundreds of billions around the Nine Kingdoms, would look to him to lead the people of Earth. The adoring people below him would need him, and for the first time, Kelvin felt the weight of responsibility. He would have to try and be the best person, everyday, to help take care of those around him.
Kelvin stepped into the light and walked to where his mother and father stood. He instinctively started to wave as they did, and he looked up at them, looking back and very proud of their son.
“My son has something he would like to say, in front of all of you,” Queen Eleyn announced, once again bringing silence to the crowd.
The floating microphone droid, the size of an insect, fluttered quietly in front of Kelvin’s mouth. Every word he would say would be broadcast across his planet and across the stars.
“On this day, I, Prince Kelvin of the Sellwood line, make claim to my right of the throne of Earth,” Kelvin said, having déjà vu from having said it, less than a day earlier.
The crowd went wild for a few seconds, this time the volume surprised Kelvin, but he laughed because of how it made him jump a little. After a few moments, the crowd died down, as King Erelm stepped forward.
“My throne is yours, my son. You will be crowned King of Earth, on your twenty-fourth birthday, as our laws allow. Your mother and I will relinquish our royal titles on that day. It is our request that you declare what path you will take to become worthy of this throne,” King Erelm said.
“By royal law, you have options, my prince,” Queen Eleyn said, sounding more regal than Kelvin ever heard her. His mother was a true queen in her tone, strength, and wisdom. She made him feel brave. “You must declare, here and now, what path you will take to be worthy of the crown.”
There were other options Kelvin had instead of the Traditions of Service. He could serve in Earth Navy and go through their academy, as he was the only one on Earth guaranteed admission. He could request to be taken on as an apprentice by one of the knights and learn their abilities. Knights were the elite of Earth Navy and only took on one apprentice in their lifetime, if any. Kelvin could also commit himself fully to an educational track of science, art, and history; which would move him to more advanced classes than the standard Earth track, ensuring he would be a formidable expert on all subjects by the time he took the crown. All of these options would keep him on Earth, which is why Kelvin would choose the most difficult option.
“I choose the Traditions of Service. I will travel to the rest of the Nine Kingdoms of the Sun, performing service for their kings and queens. As well as the Traditions of Service, I will continue my education. My queen and king, people of Earth, and all of the people watching in the Nine Kingdoms…you are my witnesses and have my word as Prince of Earth.”
The crowd cheered again and Kelvin relaxed. As he delivered his speech, he felt the weight of every eye on him, but now that they embraced him it was easier to stand comfortably. He looked back and Amelia now stood just outside the open door, giving him a thumbs up. So far, he was two-for-two during public speaking.
“Beware! Beware!” a voice bellowed over a microphone, overpowering and silencing the crowd.
Kelvin could tell something was wrong, just by the way his parents and the rest of the people on the balcony looked around to see whose voice it was. All of the knights that had been in the hall appeared on the balcony and surrounded the royal family.
“Beware, Kelvin Sellwood, Prince of Earth and heir to it’s throne. Beware!”.
The voice became more like a hiss with each word. Suddenly, a floater-cycle descended from the tower, hovering just off the balcony and over the crowd. A very weathered looking man, who wore a suit of white armor that almost looked ivory, had been the one speaking. His long hair and thick beard were as white as his armor. Judging from his mother and father’s reaction, they knew who this man was, and they were not happy. “Do not set sail for Mercury, Prince Kelvin. There is a darkness between the stars that will swallow you up. Stay in your pretty castle, read your fancy books, and be king of this world. There is nothing for you among the stars!”
The king said nothing. He only glared at the man, but anyone that knew King Erelm could tell he knew who the old man was.
“Silence, you!” Queen Eleyn snapped. “And get down from there! Before you hurt yourself or someone else!”
“Queen Eleyn…I’ve watched your boy since he could crawl and hoped this day would never come,” the man said, still speaking through a microphone. “There is nothing I want more than for Prince Kelvin to be a wise king and have a long rule and life. This tradition of service will only bring further tragedy to this house. Keep your boy safe! Keep your people safe! Stay away from the rest of the Nine Kingdoms. Stay away from Mercury!”
“That’s enough out of you,” King Erelm said, his voice rumbled. “You were not invited here and I made it very clear last time: you are NOT welcome on Earth. Go back to your ship! Go back to your rock! The Lunar Guardians are not welcome on Earth!”
Lunar Guardians, Kelvin thought. He’d heard it before, but always thought it referred to the settlements on Earth’s moon.
“You are still my king! You are still king to all the Lunar Guardians, whether you wish it or not. We beg you, do not lose this boy like you did Aren. You know what lurks in the depths of space, in the void between light. You know what is there, King Erelm.”
“What?!?” Kelvin interrupted. There was anger in his tone, only because he could tell each with each word the old man spoke, his parents became more and more upset. “What is out there, old man?!”
“The Pirates of Mercury, my lord. The Pirates of Mercury.”
The old man sped off from the tower, saying no more. There was no more applause, no more laughter. Kelvin looked at his father, who seemed to be the most affected by the old man.
“Father,” Kelvin said, pulling on the king’s arm. “Who was that man?”
“It’s not important now, Kelvin. Come…your mother needs to get you and Amelia to your ship.”
There was no more cheering from the crowd and no more celebrating. Eleyn and Erelm exchanged nervous looks and Kelvin could tell the man’s words deeply disturbed them. The crowd below looked uncertain about what to do. Queen Eleyn and King Erelm bowed to them and waved, but then motioned for Kelvin that they were to leave at once. Kelvin could see the cloud of anguish and uncertainty return to his father. What promised to be a good, exciting day had turned out to be a confusing one. It wasn’t exactly the way Kelvin wanted to make his first impression on Earth, especially since this was the last time he’d address the people he would lead for a long time.
