Chapter 40: Help from a Friend“Report please,” Asa said with a heavy sigh, rubbing his eyes. The dark shapes played over his vision. He felt like they were mocking him, like the dark things were actually shadows of bad omens dancing before his useless eyes.
Lozarian reported, “We have pushed back the crowds to a manageable space around the palace.”
“Anyone hurt?” asked King Asa.
“Two were seriously hurt by arrow fire. One woman and a young man. They were taken to the healing rooms before the crowds could object. Both will recover. They are sleeping comfortably now. We had to knock a few heads to get them out of the courtyard, though. We arrested over two hundred.”
“Any from this Thirteen Council?” asked Vance.
“No,” said Mantuan bitterly, “the crowds protected them like they were all
