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THE NEW INCUMBENT ceremony for Prince Bashir took place on the steps of the castle in Chilali. And it was not what anyone had expected. Rasha’s parents had insisted it was the best place. That way they could sit in their balcony as usual and watch over the proceedings. Rasha stood beside Chiza and Jak stood beside Bashir. The council was behind them in a semicircle of support. Tarrik of Ishola stood among them, not yet an official member of council. It turned out they’d been reluctant to accept the Wola for that very reason, but things would get resolved. Rasha didn’t have any control over how things went forward. She’d done all she could.
Rasha looked out over the crowd, most of them Chilalians. She caught her Aunt Sochi’s eye, and her wink bolstered her to nod and square her shoulde
