Seven days later.
The buzz around "Garen's Incognito Tour" had only just begun to fade when one major piece of news after another emerged from the upper ranks of the Goa Kingdom, leaving the gossip-hungry masses dizzy from all the drama.
The traitorous Sterry had coveted the throne and plotted to seize power. After his conspiracy was exposed, he had lashed out in desperation and assassinated the royal family.
Both the king and prince had perished, the great Autluk Family had been utterly destroyed, and the political situation in the Goa Kingdom had descended into turmoil.
At this moment of sweeping change, Michael Wallace, the son-in-law personally designated by the old king before his death, formally married Princess Sally Nanderkanet. He took hold of the Goa Kingdom's supreme authority and became its new king.
The subjects of the Goa Kingdom were left utterly bewildered by these dramatic scenes that seemed fit only for a stage play.
Yet King Wallace, who had only just ascended the throne, had no mood to spend a honeymoon with his newlywed wife. Instead, he busied himself creating an even bigger sensation within the country.
Goa Kingdom, border town.
More precisely, this was the outermost city wall between the Goa Kingdom and the Gray Terminal, the boundary separating "civilization" from the "wasteland."
A group of noble lords had gathered here at King Wallace's summons, while countless citizens who had heard the news packed together excitedly to watch the spectacle.
The new King Wallace wore magnificent robes and a crown. His movements still carried a trace of youthful inexperience, and he showed none of the imposing majesty expected of a king.
Although Wallace had no experience ruling as king and lacked the calm composure of a qualified leader, that did nothing to diminish the excitement and passion