The sanctuary was quiet that evening as Tahla sat in the main room of her home, the warmth of the hearth casting long, flickering shadows against the walls. In her arms, Azran slept soundly, his breathing deep and steady. He was exhausted from running around with the other children. He was growing fast and his features were quickly growing to look more like his father’s everyday. As she ran a hand through her son’s dark hair, her mind drifted back to the conversation she had shared with Naveya days before.
Zephael was one of the iron backbones of their defense. He was a man who lived in the margins of work. He was always moving, checking the perimeter, always ensuring their safety was flawless. Even now, when they were more protected than they had ever been, bolstered by the loyalty of t
