The Nadirii kept their gazes focused on the remains of their queen, their thoughts on her, or in prayer, as their mournful hum drifted through the pines.

The soldiers at the back began to shuffle and mill when the breeze came, the needles of the pines rustling, as if attempting to join in with the hum.

The united sound of the Sisterhood grew louder as the swaying broke its cadence. Some sisters rounding their torsos, some swinging front to back, some moving faster, some slower, as all tilted their heads back and stared into the heavens.

Clasped hands were raised, two by two, front, back, middle, all around, until all those joined had lifted fists to the skies along with their voices.

And then, after this had gone on for much time, suddenly, startling the soldiers, as one, all of the Nadirii drew their arms down and bent their knees, and a gust so great it could be seen whooshed over the body, extinguishing the candles.

The Airenzian soldiers crept away as this wind soared through the Nadirii, wafting their hair, billowing their cloaks.

But it halted at the end of its sisters and drew back with great speed toward the altar.

And as it retreated to its origin, it dragged the Sisterhood with it so they were crowded against each other, their arms lifted to the sky.

A great Nadirii yell soared from hundreds of throats, rending the air as the pines around them swayed violently and the moon and stars grew blurry.

Then suddenly, it was gone, as was the body atop the altar.

And Queen Ophelia of the Nadirii had become one with the veil.

King Aramus

Bedchamber of the King, Keel Castle, Nautilus

MAR-EL

Aramus jerked awake when his wife did the same.

He turned direct to her, and for a moment, his heart stopped as Ha-Lah stared, motionless and unseeing into the moonlit room.

She then turned into his body, burrowing in, sobbing.

“Ha-Lah,” he whispered into her hair.

“Ophelia,” she hiccupped into his chest.

He held her tighter and closed his eyes.

The loss was great.

But as ever, it was indication time marched on.

Just as it was an indication he could not ignore that it was also time to prepare.

He set thoughts of that aside for the now and focused on soothing his queen.

Hold her tight in your embrace, he prayed to Medusa.

King Mars

On the Journey to the Great Wohd

WODELL

He heard the flap to their tent slap open, and Mars was up from his seat on the log about the fire where he was with his men, discussing the message they’d just received from a bird.

He turned to his wife, who was dashing across to them through the chill of the night in naught but her nightgown.

Silence was wee, but the force of her impact when she made it to him took him back on a foot.