chapter two
Empty Proceedings
A darkness fell across the vast grand plaza square. The stones of the road, worn smooth by centuries of use, bore witness to yet another gathering of souls. This time the gathering was summoned not by battle cry nor fanfare, but by the passing of yet another king, a death which was celebrated by few and only quietly then.
The royal palace loomed above, a monument of white stone and imposing spires. Its balconies jutted out like stern brows, as though judging the sea of faces below. The grand hall of the palace, a vast chamber steeped in history, hummed in an undercurrent of tension that crowded the air like static before a storm.
Duke Gervin stood at the heart of it all, fortunately already a guest at the palace, available for the news of King Asteri’s pa
