8. Poseťe
1683 Words
"The answer to your question is quite simple...." I start as I bent a little, bringing my right palm near my chest, I place it right above my heart—a sign of respect towards his position.
Then looking him directly in the eye, I finish.
"Family."
Silence.
A simple lift of his eyebrow is what I get in return. His gaze stays the same as when he asked—Why. No other change of emotion.
However I know I got him.
He knows it too.
That little arch of his eyebrow tells me I have got his attention.
Other than that, if I speak about others...
The pin-drop silence in the room is enough to confirm another one of my theories. There's no more bristling. No more heehawing. No more nonsense. I don't have to turn my head to prove that my action has all but shocked everyone speechless.
Poseťe—an action where you bent slightly while placing your right palm on you left chest. Above your heart.
It's quite different from a simple bow. Although, both are performed to show respect, they differ in terms of ranks. A bow simply depicts respect towards Royals or Territory leaders, whereas poseťe is a gesture expressed solely towards the Høè Kzars.
It's a special way to convey sole respect for their unique position.
It determines one's acknowledgement of respect, submission and authority which belongs to both of their forms—human and beast.
Although the Veřs of small territories and lower class do not shy away from it. However, its seemingly a dishonourable act for the Royals, they think it's offensive to their status. Hence, they've always refrained from doing it.
Not anymore.
All of a sudden, an added dose of tension began circulating in the environment.
Understanding instantly settles in me.
A Royal, heir to the Weroance Kingdom throne has just poseťe in front of the Høè Kzar of Eneo wa Asle.
Looking up, I take in their—as expected—shocked stare with lips sealed shut tightly.
I think about how they must be feeling at the moment—Humiliated.
But then another thought slips in my mind and this one is even better—They can do nothing about it.
Meeting Zï's eyes, I find the approval from a negligible nod I receive. Considering the fact that poseťeing to your Høè Kzar is not only expected, it's also beneficial. Calling it demeaning is all but have been proclaimed to make themselves feel high and mighty. Our ancestors chose the way they wanted to rule and up until the current leader, all chose to follow the lead.
And now it's my turn to choose and in my time, changes will happen. I will change their hypocritical ways and make the one which will be most beneficial for our future bloodline.
As I hold the Høè Kzar's dark stare currently trained on me, I can read the familiarity in them. We're of about same age, and as I let my mind narrow down upon his past, I'm certain of the fact that his plans are no different than mine either.
To be honest, I genuinely respect him. His past has earned him that respect. And I know that if there's anyone in this room who can precisely understand my intentions, it's him.
Additionally, my poseťe to him in together with the uncut direct stare is simply to make him clear of the fact that I, Hexton Weroance may acknowledge his rank, but I certainly don't fear him.
"I value the bond of it above all. For me, family signifies power and respect which undoubtedly equals to being a leader." Standing straight, I speak to him.
My father looks at me with a proud smile, while Ortsïĺus nods in admittance. However Zï's expressions remains blank, still waiting for the Høè Kzar's opinion.
"Seriously, what do you think you can achieve by saying all this sentimental s**t?" Unexpectedly, Ruffis' voice suddenly echoes around the room. Asking as if he is the one I am suppose to answer.
See? As I said, the man doesn't knows his place.
"The throne?" I drawl without even looking, unwilling to answer him, hoping he'll get the hint.
And from the current expressions of everyone else in the room, his interference is clearly not appreciated.
"You—chuckle—you seriously think you'll get the throne? Go home and first learn to speak, because kid family is not going to land you the title of Kzar and it cleary doesn't means power. Why do you think such an age-old practice is being passed down to us since the time when all the eneii were established by our ancestors?" He says mockingly, completely unaware of the stares he's receiving or maybe choosing not to acknowledge them. He just doesn't learns, does he?
To tell you what, I've enough of his audacious ass already.
"Kzar Ruffis is right. You are precisely correct......" Glancing at him, I say. And as soon as I catch that ugly smile starts forming on his face, I add further,
"If only we talk about Ruffis Kingdom. However, Weroance Kingdom values the bond of pack the most and we Wolves, consider pack as our family, which I'm sure the entire eneii are clearly aware of." His broad face darkens in shame as redness creeps up on his neck, opening his mouth he is about to speak, but I don't let him as I continue ahead while shooting him a provoking glance.
"And about the old-age practice, I don't think it holds that much value as its quite changeable as per our will, right?" That instantaneously shuts him right up. Both of his rage-filled eyes along with his embarrassment floating on his face somehow manages to darken even further. As if competing with each about which will leave the darker effect.
Whatever.
Presently, the reason to his shame is more important because he clearly knows what I'm talking about as in, if we talk about 'not-performing-poseťe-because-it's-offensive' hypocritical bastards, then his name is the one which tops the list, which gives him zero rights to question or judge about my plans related to my kingdom.
"So are you trying to change those ways?" The Høe Kzar's sudden deep voice enter my ears. Turning left, I find him relaxing in his seat like the King he is, as though too lazy to even sit properly. The constant little twitches in his eyebrows tell me that he's immensely irritated from Ruffis. His Yules standing behind his high seat on both the sides are like stone pillars, not shifting from their place even for a bit.
"Trying? No. I am undoubtedly going to do change ways." Tilting my head, I place my hand in my pockets and simply smile while replying, finally happy to be back on track.
"Are you somehow intending to say that you aren't enough to hold onto the throne, hence you need daddy?" His curved lips provokes challengingly. However, I don't let his words lead me by the nose as I school my real expression even further.
In a show, I raise my eyebrows. Pretending to be shocked.
"As I mentioned earlier, there's one thing that we value the most—Bonds. "
Loosing the pretense, I quickly bend forward as I place my palm on the mahogany wood and speak each and every word while holding onto his gaze unwaveringly. "Bonds. Pack. Family. These are all same to us. Since young, we teach our children that family is above all and the belief to hold onto that lesson is expected the most from us—the Royal family. However, if we don't keep that promise, how do we expect our people to follow along. To expect loyalty. Henceforth, such practice is going to end for Weroance Kingdom."
He listens silently to my words. No reaction on his face as he holds my gaze, next a small curve on the right side of his lips lift upwards, and then....there it is—Approval.
Finally catching the approval in his dark eyes, I let my smile—the real smile—let lose.
My father also smiles while looking at me proudly from his sitting position as one of his hands thumps me on my lower back. Zï's thin lips also curve in admittance of my theory as this time, he seemingly nods.
"Kid, you only care about your own kingdom, what about us?" Sitting in front of me, Ortsïĺus suddenly questions me but stares straight at my father, although he was smiling throughout.
"To make a change, it has to start from somewhere." Smirking, I answer with a mindless shrug, as if to say—follow along if you want.
He burst out laughing at my cheeky response and following his lead others too get their share of amusement.
And this time, Ruffis graciously sits silently in the corner, clearly licking his wounds.
Smilingly, I turn towards the Høè Kzar, only to lose it at what I see.
His eyes are shuttered into a glaze.
Mind-link. Again.
I've often heard from my father that Høè Kzar strictly prohibits mind-link during such meetings, unless the situation is..."
Life-threatening.
A sudden ominous feeling slips inside me.
Oh no! What i-
And my thought is finished the next second at what happens next.
"Mfalmê!" His immovable Yules suddenly shout in unison as the Høè Kzar shoots up from his seat abruptly.
And following his leads, we all are immediately up from our seat too.
What happened?
Meeting Zï's gaze I find him hastily shaking his head, certainly not having any idea either.
Turning back, his darken eyes and tall, heaving shoulders makes him appear even bigger than Ortsïĺus. Clenching his fists tightly, he breathes heavily as his glazed eyes gradually clears and he looks up with his darkened gaze filled with malevolence.
No one dare to utter a word. Not even Rufus. We just wait for him to speak.
Meeting our questioning gaze, he says just two words.
Just two.
"Dëmūns Veř."
- Writer
