It was raining.
Corwin was dead. The King is dead; long live the Queen.
First went Queen Dara and Corwin's son, Merlin. Then the coffin carried by Corwin's brothers, followed by his remaining sisters. Behind them were the various cousins and illegitimates that pepper every kingdom. Roland walked behind them.
It was raining.
Following him were the minor Lords and Nobles and visiting dignitaries. They kept as far back from Roland as etiquette would allow. The barbarian, his green hood pulled up to keep out the rain, in his usual leathers with his ax scared them. Even though all he did was ignore them.
It was raining.
Behind the lesser lords came Amber's army. Honoring their fallen King. They trailed back all the way to the sea. And on both sides of the processional were the multitudes of Amber herself. The peasants, the commoners, and the merchants. For some, this was as close as they ever would get to their King. The King is dead; long live the Queen.
It was raining.
King Corwin the First was laid to rest in a tomb that was built for him when he was thought dead the first time. Now he truly lies there. The irony is not lost on those in attendance. Even the unstoppable and immortal can die.
It was raining.
When it was done, they milled about, as people are known to do at these events. The sorrow, the over-politeness, the wishing to be elsewhere was also evident but it was ignored. The numbers slowly dwindled until only family remained. Then, even they began to leave.
It was raining.
Roland was not the last to leave but he stood alone a long while watching Merlin and Dara and her unborn child. It was not yet announced but one could tell if one knew the signs and scents. Roland knew them. He guessed it would be a boy. Not that it mattered, an heir was an heir.
It was raining.
When Roland finally left he unpinned from his cloak the only item that would clue an observer that this day meant anything to Roland. Otherwise, he looked as he always did. It was a rose. He placed the living flower at the entrance to his Kings tomb. The rose was true silver. The King is dead.
It was raining.