Solsday, 26th of Maia, 470th Year of the Fifth Era

The river-harbour of Goria was absolutely jam-packed with hundreds upon hundreds of traditional Halak boats and canoes of various shapes and sizes. The traditional 'Solu' canoe has been used by the Halak for centuries to navigate the various riverways of the Halaklands as well as the great Mataniluat Lake.

The solu were mostly simple dugout canoes distinguished only by the native Halak ornaments that adorned them. On the stern were various sticks tied with horsehair and an accompanying rope of sticks that looked like chimes. On the prow were various carved ornaments of animal or human heads complete with the distinguishing Gorga patterns on the more ornate ones.

Though they varied in sizes and were mostly made by carving out a large palm tree, many of the solu upon the river were large enough to be oared by anywhere between a dozen and several dozen men with some space for cargo to boot. However, the boat Josias was currently getting on was quite a degree larger than the relatively small solu canoes.

The boat Josias had boarded was quite a bit wider than the thin canoes and it was more ornate as well. The boat itself – which would be more appropriately called a small ship – was about three to four meters wide and well over a dozen meters long. The ship was equipped with several rowing positions on each side as well as a single triangular mast in the style of a jong ship. The stern of the ship was covered atop by a fancy-looking pavilion-like tent. The prow of the ship was carved a fearsome wooden tiger, its fangs bared against any who would dare stand on its path.

Josias had helped Serena get on the small ship as they sat themselves upon one of the benches in the middle of the ship. Josias saw that his grandfather the king was already seated within the elegant tent upon a regal-looking wooden throne with red velvet cushions. To his sides, Josias's father and the Lord-Ephorus Ludwig were already sitting upon two smaller wooden stools.

The boat's crew were a part of the Sigumogo clan's larger retinue. Most of the men were fishermen from the surrounding areas and hamlets and were fiercely loyal to the Sigumogo clan. With these men in charge of the rowing, they might even be able to make it to the festival earlier than they had expected.

As Josias stood upon the ledges of the ship, he began inspecting the other ships upon the harbor. No doubt the ships of grander design belonged to the more prominent nobles of the three Halak kingdoms there. Among those ships, the most intricately gaudy obviously belonged to the ship of the royal clan of Rumaparau. Besides the ornate design upon the trims of the ship, its sails were also painted a most striking red colour. It wasn't the least bit surprising as Rumaparau was famous as the most prominent harbour of all the Halaklands.

As the ships and solu canoes were being boarded, the people did not forget to hoist the many clan and royal flags and banners upon the flagpoles. His own crew were currently hoisting up the royal banner of Goria as well as the clan flag of the Sigumogo up on the flagpole.

The flag of Goria was the repeating colours of the Halak people, the 'Bonang Manalu'. White, red, black. Black, white, red. Red, white, black. The order of the three colours didn't much matter compared to what the colours represented in traditional Halak religion. White symbolised 'Banuaginjang', the heavenly realm. Red symbolised 'Banuatonga', the realm of man. While Black symbolised 'Banuatoru', the underworld or realm of the dead. These three colours and their patterns were present in most other royal flags of the Halaklands.

The flag of Clan Sigumogo in comparison was just as symbolic. A golden tiger clashing with a white tiger upon a red field. As his grandfather liked to tell him growing up, the two tigers upon their clan's flag were the tiger mounts of the clan-founder and his prime consort. It was said the two were rivals who eventually fell in love with each other. A romantic story with the crowning moment of when old Tuan Sigumogo and Lady Siboru Artanaria defeated the Old Dragon 'Siulok Naroa'.

However, what stood out the most about this grand fleet was the third flag and symbol that was adorning the flagpoles of most of its boats. The black cross over the orb on a white field. The symbol of the Halak church. A most intimidating display of power indeed.

Josias didn't know if he quite agreed with such an act as the other Halak kings might view it as a clear provocation. But at the same time, deep down in his heart, he couldn't help but feel a sense of pride within the power of the church. It wasn't just about the church's standing as a beacon of God's grace upon the Halaklands. It also symbolised the soft power that Goria held over a vast swathe of it.

"I have never before seen this many ships gathered in one place. I can barely imagine what we'll see when we reach Mataniluat…" Serena said as she leaned against Josias who was viewing the fleet of ships. Josias instinctively started caressing the side of her face, tilting his head so that his ear was resting on top of her head.

"If a village port like this were to look so grand, can you imagine how we would feel were we to lay eyes upon the great port-cities of the West?" Josias asked the question but even he himself could hardly picture it. "Ports and Harbours with hundreds if not thousands of ships ten times the size of this boat we're on…"

"Pffft, I've seen many western carracks and galleons before, hasian." Serena laughed as she shook her head "They're big, but they aren't that much bigger than the Rumaparau ship over there."

"I mean 'big but not that big' isn't that much consoling to hear for me especially if that sentence comes from my beloved…" Josias looked at Serena with a grin.

"Wha?...!!!" Serena was confused for a second but she immediately widened her eyes and blushed when it finally clicked in her mind. She playfully slapped Josias' face while turning away her own to hide her blush. "Your thoughts are impure, Josi! How could you make those jokes!"

"Pffft, oyy, I got you smiling there though, didn't I? See! A smile right on your pretty face." Josias playfully poked Serena's cheeks as he laughed, having the time of his life. "Anyways, if I'm dirty minded, then aren't you just as bad as me because you understood the joke?"

"You big dummy! Who wouldn't get it at our age?!"

"I mean, I wouldn't be so sure that Maria would get that kind of joke. Well not unless Jojo's corrupted her so..."

"Hey, don't say things like that! Bang Jojo and Maria have a wonderfully innocent relationship!" Serena puffed her cheeks and started to pout at Josias' insinuations.

Josias couldn't help but laugh before he started squishing Serena's puffy cheeks. She was simply too adorable to be left alone. Josias simply loved annoying Serena to get her to pout. She always looks the cutest when she gets like that. At that point, Serena's probably gotten used to it as she didn't even try to resist him, only making 'cute' sounds.

"Nyoooo!!! Shtop Shquishing my cheeekss!!" Serena said in a purposefully exaggerated cutesy way. "It hwuttss!!"

"Can't help it, you're just too cute!" Josias laughed before he gave a little peck on her forehead. Unsurprisingly, she started blushing harder before she playfully started hitting him on his chest.

"Hahahahah! You're gonna have to do more than that to stop me, Hasian!!"

***

While the young couple were being so lovey-dovey and flirty – seemingly not caring that they were being the center of attention for many of the people on the ship – Parulian couldn't help but shake his head at the sight.

"Father, can you believe what we're seeing right now! These youngins are getting bolder and bolder!!" Parulian said as he motioned both his arms towards them. Though, he couldn't hide the proud smirk he had on his face at his son's suave ways.

"...Hmph. Don't be stupid, Ruli…" King Parhal smacked his son's head gently before scoffing. "...You talk like you aren't still like that with Hotma…"

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"I'll have you know father, we've been happily married for almost twenty years!" Ruli said before he leaned forward to spot the Lord Ephorus Ludwig who was also looking at their children being so flirtatious with each other. However, the Archbishop had the biggest warmest smile on his face as his eyes seemed watery. Parulian couldn't help but tease the old man, saying, "Oh Lord forgive me! My son has made the Lord Archbishop cry! Forgive my son for doing such unseemly things to his daughter!"

Archbishop Ludwig only gave a slight chuckle as he wiped his eyes. "Nothing they're doing right now is unseemly, Ruli." The Lord Ephorus said. "In fact, it brings me nothing but joy to see my beloved daughter so happy even after her mother's passing… My Duma is most definitely smiling down from heaven at the sight. The Lord is always good."

"...Amen to that, Bang Wig…" King Parhal nodded as he put his hand on the Archbishop's shoulder. "It brings me great joy to see my heir prospering so well. Your daughter is a precious gem our clan doesn't deserve to have… If not our blasted disease, then the dowry I'm going to owe you will definitely send me to my grave…"

"Ahahahaha!! My king jests too much." The Archbishop laughed along with the King. "I can't help myself from feeling proud of Young Josias as well. He's grown into such a splendid young man. I only ask the Lord that He allow me to at least live long enough to see my own grandchildren. So that when I die, I could also have the pleasure of being Saormatua like you, my King."

"...Yes… Saormatua indeed…" King Parhal nodded but Parulian only had the biggest frown plastered on his face as he heard the conversation.

"Hearing you two talk is always so dreadfully morbid." Parulian shook his head as he crossed his arms. "Can't you two live with a little bit more pep! You always talk as if you'll die tomorrow morning!"

"...I mean…" The king was about to speak, but Parulian only raised his hand to cut him off.

"No! You're both going to live for at least another century!" When Parulian said that, King Parhal could only chuckle before shoving his elbow towards him.

"...You're also getting bolder, Ruli…" King Parhal said "When I was young, your grandfather would have beat me black and blue…were I to cut him off like that…"

"You let Pauli do whatever she wants, yet me and Togi always get such a cold shoulder…" Parulian pouted as he too crossed his arms.

"...My daughter is lovely and adorable… You are not… Not especially that pagan idolator you call a brother…" Parulian could hear his father's tone grow a little colder at his mention of his brother.

"Father, he's still your son…" Lord Parulian said as he looked to his father with pleading eyes. "I still hope that we can all reconcile at the end of this."

"...Ruli, when I die and you become king… and you let your brother return to the realm while still a pagan… know that I would be severely disappointed…" His father said sternly. "A man so contemptuous to his father… deserves not the respect of his children…"

"By that logic, father, are you not going against the wishes of your father before you?"

"... at least had the decency… of waiting until after he kicked the bucket, died, and went to hell before I started tearing his legacy apart…"

Parulian could only shake his head at his father's obstinance. His reasons were understandable from a ruler's perspective, but it still did not sit well with him. He didn't think such cruelty - especially the taking of one's children away - would bring someone closer to christ. In fact, it would most probably push them even further away from the church.

As if to lighten the tension, the Archbishop finally decided to chime in. "I truly respect the merciful countenance that the Young Master Parulian shows. Truly an exemplar of Christ's own Divine Mercy upon the lives of sinners like us."

"Thank you, Lord Ephorus…"

"Regardless of all that though, I'm sure we're going to be seeing his face soon upon the Raja Malim's realm of Matanitao."

"Hmph." The King scoffed. "Yes... His face along with the faces of all the other heathen kings who waged war against us… back at Haumarara."

"Ah yes. The familiar faces of many of our old friends…" The Ephorus laughed.

"...Half of them wanted nothing more than to eat you alive…"

"Half of them probably still do. Pfftt…"

"You're… not wrong about that…" King Parhal laughed along with the Ephorus before he shook his own head. "I'm definitely not looking forward to this damned 'festival'..."

Parulian sighed as the conversation had shifted. It was still somewhat morbid, but it was better than what they were talking about a moment ago. But what they were talking about wasn't at all wrong. If what the rumours around the Halakland are saying were true, then all twenty of the Halak Kings would be gathering at the isle for this Gotilon Festival.

He was looking forward to seeing the festivities. But knowing the penchant of the Halak people to petty disputes, fights, and boisterousness, he can't help but wince at his expectations of pandemonium. But again, he'll never know until he experienced it for himself. Well he did indeed know, but it wouldn't stop him from hoping for the best.

Parulian saw the sacks of grain and all other sorts of produce, food, and supplies being loaded onto the ship and the other vessels. Despite the Gorian realm's loyalty towards Christianity, they still had to at least keep up the appearances of participating in such a harvest festival of thanks giving.

The Archbishop insisted that it wasn't offering to pagan deities, but as a sign of solidarity to one's fellow man and kinsmen. Not even the most hardline of the followers of the Old Ways would rebuff their offerings just because they were christian. To that end, the Kingdoms of Goria and its allies weren't the only Halak Kingdoms who have 'turned away'. The Southern Kingdoms were now Papist catholics while the Southeastern Kingdoms have been Moslem for almost a century at this point.

It didn't make sense to Parulian that Goria had been singled out by the clans just because of some reason that they 'abandoned the old ways'. It was a rubbish excuse and the other kings knew it. They just wanted to curb Goria's growth and expansion and would do anything in their power to stifle them and stomp them to the ground.

Regardless, they had no power to do that now. The realm has continued to prosper despite the heathen's attempts. With their current military power, they'd give the rest of the Halaklands a hell of a fight.

That is of course if it ended up as a fight, which his father and the other elders were consciously trying to avoid. If all things went well, this would just be a fun and festive excursion that he would take his family on. It would be the first time that his younger children would leave the village so they were definitely excited.

With that being said, the rest of his family had finally boarded the ship. His beautiful wife Hotma along with his younger children, Jakobus, Julia, and Janus. Not to mention the children of his brother, Timo, Tiur, and Tigor. Maria had chosen to board the ship of the Sinatua to be with her fiance, Johannes.

The little children immediately started running around, yelling while laughing as they got on the boat.

"We're going sailing, my warriors!! We'll fight to beat the enemy! Far over oceans yonder!" Julia said as she held a toy wooden sword towards the far horizon of the river. Her little army of other toddlers raised their own toy swords made of twigs and branches as they 'roared', "Rarrrrghhh!!!"

"Oy! What did I tell you girls about behaving like princesses!! Girls don't fight with swords!" Hotma said exasperatedly as she saw her daughter and niece playing around with toy swords.

"But Kak Hanna is allowed to play with the sword!" Julia protested as she stood at the front of her brother and cousins, sword still in hand.

"And if Hana goes jumping overboard, are you going to follow along?!" Hotma pressed on as she approached the little children who were adorably pacing backwards holding up their swords like they were facing a mighty demon. It was undeniably adorable.

At the same time, from the ship next door, a little girl's shout could be heard. "CANNONNBALL!!!" Then a splash came afterwards.

"Hanna you little monkey, get back here!! Ahhhh! Domu do something!" Everyone turned their heads to the Sinatua clan's ship where another little gremlin was stirring up trouble.

"I'm on it, honey!! CANNONBALL!" Lord Mardomu quickly took off his shirt and jumped into the water from his boat after his daughter.

Parulian was already at the edge of the ship to see what was happening. The river's waters weren't all that rapid at its current pace, but it was still a dangerous thing to do. Amazingly, the little lady Hanna of the Sinatua clan – barely six years old – had emerged from the water laughing while swimming and floating on her own. It was quite amazing.

Seeing all of this, Julia gave a smile to her younger siblings and cousins as she tried climbing the side of her ship as well. Just as she was about to follow and do something stupid, Parulian had swooped in to stop his mischievous little daughter from following her friend to the river.

"Let go!! I want to swim!!" Julia wriggled in Parulian's hold.

"You don't know how to swim, my princess!!" Parulian said.

"I can learn!"

"Yes, my sweet but not now."

"Hmmph! Dad's not fun!!"

At the same time, Tiur ran over to Josias with both her arms raised. "Throw me, abang!" She said.

"Bang don't you dare!" Parulian warned Josias.

Hotma could only squat down on the ship's deck, exhausted from having to deal with the rowdy children. As all this was happening, King Parhal had let out a hearty laugh at the sight of his grandchildren's silliness.

Though he was exasperated with the little monkeys' antics, seeing his father full of joy in being a grandfather filled Parulian with his own sense of happiness. At least this trip won't be short on fun.

And with that, the crew had let loose the ropes that were holding the ship to the harbour. The sailors had also positioned themselves at the rowing positions to man the oars against the river's currents. As the ship was prepared to depart, the mast and sail had been fully unfurled.

With all of this set, King Parhal had stood up from his throne, giving the signal to leave. Timotheus nodded to his grandfather before he raised his hands and formed a ball of wind. He moved the ball of wind just close enough to the mast of the ship to help give it a head start. All this while the oarsmen also started paddling, heaving and hoeing.

And so the king's ship sailed first at the helm of the fleet, colours unfurled. It was a mighty host, and they would arrive at Matanitao making a statement of that might. It was a warning to the other kings. A warning to not awaken a sleeping tiger.

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