Under the firm and steady guidance of Grand Duchess Amana, the restless crowd that had gathered over the strange marks on their bodies began to calm down.
Her voice carried weight, and her promises of order soothed the fears of those who had nearly erupted into chaos.
Within days, the rumors that might have destabilized the kingdom were tempered by her authority.
The nobles who had been frightened into secrecy began to cooperate, and even the common folk who bore the divine mark found comfort in the thought that they were not forgotten.
Kyle, however, did not allow himself the comfort of their fleeting calm. He had seen too much to believe that reassurance alone could shield them from what was to come.
The divine passage was opening, and once it did, there would be no more barriers between mortals and the gods. War was inevitable.
Gathering his closest allies in the war room, Kyle spoke bluntly, his voice devoid of any pretense.
