"Brother," Aurora's voice lowered, tinged with worry. "The Holy City right now… Saint Cyril is pushing the coronation so eagerly, even going so far as to use the Morning Star Bell… I'm a little worried about Elizabeth's situation. After all, she…"
Murphy didn't answer right away.
His gaze passed over the open invitation on his desk, seemingly cast toward the magnificent Chenxi Hall in the distant Holy City, toward the giant, verdigris-covered bell that had been silent for hundreds of years.
It traveled back eight years, to the lavender figure in the woods who had declared, "I need power."
Finally, Murphy said flatly, "She must ultimately walk her own path. The chessboard in the Holy City was set long ago. The players won't change their moves just because there's one more or one less spectator."
