As I stepped over the threshold, I could hear gunfire crackling in the distance, but none nearby. Though we'd landed in the middle of a battle, the fighting had stopped around us.
Walking a few steps away from the spire, I saw the opposing factions crowding the lawn, paying attention to us instead of each other. Byzantine's white-uniformed baldies stood side by side with black-clad rebels, staring in stark amazement at Lillian and me as we marched out of the silver spire. Getting their attention wasn't going to be a problem.
The burnt grass crackled under my feet, and the air smelled like sulfur and smoke. I took six steps out and stopped, staring back at the gaping eyes around me.
Looking up, I saw angels in gleaming golden armor fluttering down from the heights. Rebels riding gia
