The side-chamber was small and dry and quiet, a pocket of stillness off the cleared hall.
Black stone curved close overhead, and a single thread of pale ore-light ran through the ceiling like a vein of frozen lightning, enough to see by, soft and cool.
Aria's banner stood planted at the center, its dawnlight pooling gold across the floor, and in that warm circle the family let the third Cardinal's fight drain out of them.
The eight in armor saw to the others first. Sameira moved among them with her warmth, easing bruises. Korin honed his mirror-blade with slow, even strokes.
Kenshin had stretched out flat on the stone with his arms behind his head, eyes shut, looking for all the world like a man napping in a meadow rather than resting in a tomb.
"You could at least pretend the floor is uncomfortable," Lilith said, settling near him with the grace of someone who found the floor very uncomfortable indeed.
