‘The return is nigh,’ enthused a grubby dockman, one of his arms wrapped around the waist of a stocky woman, the other cradling a little girl no more than two years of age. Excited happiness shone from that faithful family, thought Krysthenna, and yes, no little self-satisfaction. And who could blame them, when they had proven faithful where their perceived betters had not?

‘That is what protecting your loved ones looks like, Chosen,’ she shouted, pointing at the man and his family. His little daughter looked around in alarm at the sudden regard of the congregation and buried her face in her father’s broad shoulder. He beamed, and he and his wife held each other a little tighter.

‘You have all seen the signs, for your eyes are open and your minds alert,’ continued Krysthenna. ‘You know the corruption all around you, and you recognise that no physical labour nor worldly possession can amount to ought but tainted lies while we remain within this realm. You have heard of those who have gone missing in the streets at night, the lost and the luckless swallowed by the darkness. You have seen the omens as birds have flown backwards through the skies, and water has run uphill, and vegetables have yielded heart’s blood when bitten into. You have felt the building malice all around us, the growing pressure as the madness of Chaos gathers like a tidal wave to sweep away all our foolish fellows have wrought! In their ignorance! In their arrogance!’

She saw her congregation stir at these words, felt their understanding and heard their prayers.

‘You have all had the dreams, felt the terrible squirming tide wash across you, felt the ground groan and tear beneath your feet, seen the dread visage of the Dark Gods fill the skies above and try to drive your souls from your bodies with its malevolent gaze. And you have endured! You have waited! You have watched! And soon, my Chosen, you shall have your reward.’

A sigh of religious ecstasy passed through the throng, peppered here and there with pious exclamations and oaths of faith and preparedness.

‘What must we do?’ shouted one of the Chosen.

‘How much longer should we wait?’ asked another, and, ‘Do we leave now, Lantern Bearer? The nearest Realmgate is many days to the south!’

Krysthenna clapped her hands briskly, the sound bringing instant silence.