4 Thorne
“I hereby announce the Fifth Age of Umbra, which shall be ruled by the Oxblood clan.” - Empress Janais, author of The Fifth Age of Umbra
Cole’s words still ricochet through my soul. Father thinks Meimi is his transcendent.
What a nightmare.
“Think on what I said,” whispers Cole. “Say nothing to Janais.”
Umbrans stream into the saloon. My eyes widen with surprise. This is the extended royal court. Like all Umbra, the nobles resemble groups from Earth’s so-called Wild West. In reality, everything they wear—as well as this very saloon itself—are formed from high tech threads called filaments.
My mother, Janais, steps up. With her strong cheekbones, copper skin, and long neck, Janais is the very image of the word queen. Today Mother wears a simply white robe that cinches at her
