through the crowd toward the palace steps, where we noticed a brighter concentration of gold guards.
“What’s going on here?” I asked, careful not to bump too hard into people. The last thing we needed was someone catching on that we were here. Our invisibility trick must’ve become notorious by now.
“I’m not sure,” Kalon muttered, holding my hand while I gripped Sofia’s tight. “It’s some kind of gathering. There’s probably a big announcement coming, judging by the fires up there.”
I followed his gaze and found myself breathless. Two massive metal bowls had been positioned at the top of the stairs. Fires burned tall and orange in both, the amber light dancing with the shadows all around. There were at least twenty soldiers up there, standing straight and stiff by both fires. Almost immediately, I got a terrible feeling about all this…
“We should get closer,” Sofia suggested.
I didn’t disagree, but the whole thing didn’t give me a positive vibe, either. The more minutes passed, the more concerned I became that we might regret coming here. Kalon glanced back at me. “Whatever happens, it’s going to be okay. I’ve got you both.”
We reached the bottom of the stairs, crammed between anxious Aeternae. They were all wondering why they’d been summoned. I tried to listen to their conversations, but all I got were fractured sentences overlapping one another. There were too many people, and my nerves were stretched close to snapping point. I simply couldn’t focus.
Walking slowly but with determined steps, Danika emerged from the palace, and the crowd erupted in adoring cheers. They called out her name. They clapped. They didn’t hesitate to express their love for their Lady Supreme.
“Sofia, I don’t like this,” I murmured.
She stayed close, and I could hear her thundering heartbeat. “Me neither.”
Danika stopped between the fires, and one of the soldiers positioned a shell-like object on a metal stand in front of her. It didn’t take a genius to realize it was their version of a microphone, though there was clearly nothing technological or electrical about it. The shape of the shell was round and full, much bigger than Danika’s head.
As she spoke, her voice traveled across the entire crowd, dramatically echoing through the neighboring streets. Goosebumps danced on my skin.
“My beloved subjects! Thank you all for coming,” she said. Instinctively, I tightened my grip on Kalon and Sofia’s hands. They both responded by giving me brief looks, but I didn’t find any comfort there. Only more concern. “I felt the need to summon the people here tonight because you all deserve to know the truth.”
“Thousand bucks says it’s not going to end well for us,” I mumbled.
The crowd went silent and still, like statues made of wax and clad in fine silks and velvets. Only the crème de la crème stood near the front of the crowd. The farther out I looked, the poorer they seemed. At the very edge, sprinkled among the commoners in the adjacent alleys, were curious Rimians and Naloreans. All eyes were on Danika.
“As you all know, our empire has fallen on hard times,” Danika continued. “Not only is there an outbreak of Black Fever five thousand years too early, but my husband, your beloved Lord Supreme, was assassinated yesterday in the city’s courtroom.”
The crowd whimpered almost in unison, and I could feel their grief rippling outward. Eyes were getting wet. Some of the Aeternae were sniffling into their silken handkerchiefs, while others hugged those closest to them, seeking comfort.
“On top of that, the foreigners have abducted my son!” Danika shouted, and everyone gasped, jaws dropping in shock. “Yes. They took Prince Thayen!”
Some of the Aeternae cursed us. Others suggested we be hunted down and killed. A few stayed silent, but I doubted they had any good thoughts to spare for me and my crew. After all, we were the villains in Danika’s story.
“Dammit,” Sofia muttered. “This is not what I expected.”
“Where is she going with this?” Kalon asked. “What is she trying to achieve?”
None of us had an answer, but Danika continued her speech. “The foreigners have my son, and they’re also protecting Valaine Crimson, the one suspected of being responsible for this Black Fever outbreak.” They all booed, as if Valaine had personally taken the curse and injected it into innocent people. My blood curdled at how quick they were to turn against someone based solely on hearsay. “The Darklings killed my husband, yes—and for that they shall pay dearly, rest assured. The master commander is currently devising a campaign to