THE LAST KEEPER

Chapter 352: 352: MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

The moment Sagiri stepped onto the first stair, the entire square bowed. Tens of thousands of people lowered themselves at once until it seemed as though a wave had swept through the city. The Warriors dropped to one knee as it is customary, and Common citizens lowered their heads.

Sagiri was not used to the gesture, but he did not falter in his steps. So this is how it feels to be feared and respected? No bad.

The only sounds that remained were the hearts racing and the steady rhythm of Sagiri’s footsteps. He climbed the staircase slowly, his nclack cloak pilling behind him. Each step felt heavier than the last, though nobody watching could tell. The platform waited above. The high seat waited above.

The seat that belonged to the Supreme Chief. At last, he reached the top. Koru was already there, standing behind the chair to the left, his expression calm and unreadable. On the right stood Zifara, the War General, clad in ceremonial armor and carrying himself with the discipline of a man accustomed to battlefields rather than festivals. Neither spoke. Sagiri turned and lowered himself into the high seat. The crowd remained bowed. For several moments, silence ruled the square. Then Sagiri finally opened his mouth.

”You may rise,” Sagiri said after a long moment. The words carried across the festival grounds, and the crowd obeyed. Thousands of people straightened at once and looked toward the platform. Sagiri’s crimson eyes swept across them.

A month ago, these same people had demanded his execution. Today, they had decorated an entire continent in his honor.

The irony was not lost on him.

The celebrations continued after Sagiri took his seat. One performance followed another, each tribe determined to outdo the last. Drummers from the eastern settlements filled the square with thunderous rhythms that seemed to shake the stone beneath everyone’s feet. Dancers clad in flowing desert silks spun through the open grounds below the platform, their movements weaving stories of ancient migrations, forgotten battles, and the birth of the South itself. Spearmen performed mock duels so fast that their weapons became silver blurs beneath the afternoon sun. Musicians played flutes carved from desert bone while singers with powerful voices recounted the deeds of legendary chiefs long since returned to the sands. The crowd cheered after every performance, and though Sagiri remained composed upon the high seat, the festival seemed determined to celebrate him whether he approved of it or not.

He pretended to be looking intently, but deep down, he was screaming in agony. The entertainment part finally ended, and they moved to the gift-giving part. Then came the gifts. One by one, the chiefs approached the platform.

The Chief of the Tavhiri tribe presented a cloak woven from the silk of rare desert spiders, a garment said to repel heat and cold alike.

The Chief of theMazukus or gifted a ceremonial blade whose edge gleamed like polished silver. Sagiri could sense hostility from him. After all, he killed his brother. The sword felt like a message more than a gift, but Sagiri did not care for that. If the man wished to fight him, then he would go ahead and try.

The river settlements brought pearls gathered from hidden underground lakes.

The mountain’s smaller clans offered gemstones carved with the symbols of the five tribes. Others presented ancient scrolls, spices, weapons, gold, and artifacts that had remained within their bloodlines for generations.

Each received a nod from Sagiri before returning to their seat.

The pile of gifts eventually became so large that servants were forced to carry them away to make room for more. As the sun slowly drifted lower in the sky and the final gift was received, Elder Maresha slowly rose from his seat among the wandering members.

The old man cleared his throat.

”I believe there remains one important matter, my chief.” A hush settled over the platform. Many elders immediately looked amused. Several chiefs suddenly became very interested.

Sagiri immediately knew he was not going to enjoy whatever came next. Maresha bowed respectfully.

”The South now has a man Supreme Chief.” The elder spread his arms. ”The city prospers. The tribes are united. The people have accepted their ruler.” His eyes twinkled.

”Yet a chief cannot be without a Kun.”

Sagiri sighed. All that speech was to tell him to have a wife? A ripple passed through the crowd. Several people laughed. Others nodded seriously. The elder continued as though discussing military logistics.

”It would be improper. It would be irresponsible.” Even more nodding. ”It would also be rather embarrassing for a young chief not to have a kun.” This time, the laughter became impossible to suppress. Maresha looked directly at Sagiri. ”Therefore, I humbly suggest that our Supreme Chief begin considering marriage.”

The square erupted. The chiefs laughed, and the elders started offering opinions before being asked. The crowd immediately became louder than it had been all day. And for the first time since arriving in the south, Sagiri found himself facing an enemy he had not prepared for.

”I am not interested in marriage.”

The words had barely left Sagiri’s mouth when two coughs sounded at the same time.

Cough.

Cough.

Sagiri slowly turned his head. Behind his seat, Koru was suddenly studying the sky with great interest. On the other side, Zifara was examining a banner as though it contained the secrets of the universe. The crowd immediately burst into laughter.

Even Elder Maresha looked pleased.

Zifara stepped forward before Sagiri could continue.

”Elder Maresha, our Chief has not even enjoyed the festivities yet, and already you intend to marry him off?”

The crowd laughed again. The old elder folded his arms.

”Exactly.”

”What do you mean exactly?”

”Won’t taking a maiden today make the celebration even more merry?”

”That is the decision of the supreme chief. Not yours.” Zifara said. The two stared at one another. Maresha refused to retreat, and neither did Zifara.

”A Chief without a Kun is like a fortress without walls. A fortress without walls is easy to breach. Without its walls, we can say it is a poorly designed fortress.” Several elders nodded in agreement. Maresha continued relentlessly. ”The South requires stability. The South requires heirs.” Several people nodded. ”The South requires continuity.” More nodding.

”The South requires...” Maresha went to say, but Sagiri cut him off

”The South requires you to stop plotting my marriage during a festival.” He said. For the first time, he did not know what to answer. He wished the enemy this time was an assassin, but a marriage. He did not know how to get out of it. Someone must have plotted this meticulously to get their daughter by his side.

The crowd erupted into laughter. For nearly ten minutes, the elder continued presenting reasons why Sagiri should immediately begin considering suitable candidates while Zifara argued against every single point. Koru wisely remained silent.

Finally, Sagiri raised a hand, and the argument stopped. His crimson eyes moved across the gathered chiefs and elders. Then his expression softened slightly.

”I am yet to mourn.” The square grew quiet. ” I may yet mourn my dead parents.” The laughter vanished completely. Sgiri was cornered, but what they did not know was that it takes two to play, and he was not a child anymore. He was now like a relic that had lived centuries. This childish stunt was not going to get o him;

”My tribe is gone. The N’folu no longer exist except through me.” A heavy silence settled over the festival grounds. Sagiri looked toward the distant horizon, making sure he looked as sad as possible. ”It would be immoral for me to take a wife before I mourn them for at least half a year or three months.”

”I will mourn my parents.” His voice remained calm.

”I will mourn my tribe,” he said, looking directly at Maresha. ”And I will do so for at least three months.” The old elder held his gaze for several moments before finally bowing his head.

”Then this elder will wait three months.” Elder Maresha bowed slightly. The crowd laughed once more. Damn! The man was a hard nut to crack.

”Now may the celebrations begin. Eat until you’re full and make a dent in my chiefly reserves. Failure to which I will let my beast eat you,” Sagiri announced, and people froze at the last statement before Koru laughed to save the situation, and finally, everyone joined in.

”Too soon, you idiot.” Koru mattered.