The sarcophagus of the King CHAPTER XV
The procession halted just outside the great gates of Hagardtyh, where an altar in historiated copper had been raised, upon which the ritual would take place.
Before the impassible and concentrated eyes of Melimyid, the sarcophagus of the King was opened, the mummified body raised from within and put with great care upon the slab in lucid metal. The landscape was plunged into the azure glow of the full moon, that night seemingly larger and brighter than ever.
The Queen descended from the palanquin, and everyone knelt. Wabe-ewen, after her glance, came close to Melimyid, handing her the crumb of loaf, similar to a biscuit and large as a nail, while Heleron-Paskary gave her the petals of white sunflower, lying upon an alabaster plate. Immediately
