Word of Nethron’s demise had triggered ecstatic celebrations throughout Heldraht Palace and indeed the city of Methrangia at-large. Evinda understood that these were not wholly representative of the views of all of the citizens in Methrangia. Those Nethron had seduced would remain quiet. Forynda’s utter annihilation of the one they worshiped had guaranteed that. At least for now.

Evinda visited the basilica in the central city in order to pray with much of the city in thanks for Forynda’s intervention. Her time with the Etelets, both Cesord and Lyfress, had convinced her that she had long neglected her devotion to the High Angel. In the powers that those two meager people had been granted, she saw that Forynda possessed a beneficence that few had witnessed or appreciated. Since what many of the soldiers at the Battle of the Nehal River had considered the “miraculous” deeds of the Etelets, this word had become widespread throughout central Methrangia.

When she attended the ceremony in the sprawling marble basilica to Forynda, there was almost no room to kneel in reverence when Matriarch Yldrina commanded it. Even from the Empress of the Methrangian Empire could be given precious little space among the multitudes. A spell-binding performance by the Karmandian Matriarch, however, made that seem like the most trivial of concerns.

“We stand in the tempest, now with the hour of our greatest tests before us. Forynda descends upon our lands to judge those who have been false and bless those who have been true,” Yldrina proclaimed in her raspy voice. “But, dark visions plague our future. Yes, those who have warned of doom and blight are not fearmongers, but disciples of truth. What lies ahead of us will test even the firmest of souls. Many of you will know pain and tears. Yet these agonies will yield salvation for yourselves and liberty for your progeny.”

Once the ceremony had concluded, Yldrina summoned Evinda and the Etelets to a small antechamber secluded from the rest of the basilica. Hunched and pacing, she made the others wait for some moments before speaking.

“I believe the time has come,” Yldrina murmured, continuing to pace back and forth.

Evinda exchanged a curious glance with Cesord and Lyfress. The old man was especially bewildered by the terse utterance.

“The time for what?” Evinda asked.

Yldrina pitter pattered forward and lunged a finger upward at the Empress.

“You and the Emperor must pledge yourselves and your empire to the High Angel Forynda, to declare yourselves servants in her cause,” Yldrina declared. “You saw those throngs today. They will fight for Forynda with passion much greater than anything they’ll pledge to any mortal Emperor.”

Trying to avoid appearing offended by Yldrina’s insistent behavior, Evinda politely acknowledged the command.

“Yet isn’t that contrary to the initial cause? That we were fighting for Forynda’s vision that we would govern ourselves, not for Forynda herself?” Evinda asked.

Yldrina shook her hands in the air and flicked them dismissively.

“Matters have changed and I think we all see that,” the Matriarch said.

Evinda and the Etelets could only nod at that assertion. There was no disputing it.

However, as plain as it may have been to the Matriarch and those she commanded, it was not quite as plain to Rohmhelt when she explained it to him that evening atop Heldraht Palace overlooking Methrangia.

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“My entire thrust is that I’m not asking anyone to kneel and simper and now I’m supposed to essentially offer the whole empire up to the High Angel?” Rohmhelt grumbled. “It’s absurd.”

“It’s only symbolic. You would still be Emperor and ruler of Methrangia,” Evinda insisted. “It’s not as though Forynda will address petty matters like appointments to your court or the raising of taxes.”

“Symbols matter, especially to the masses of levy troops. I’ve learned that much. And if I’m still ruler of Methrangia, what are we even doing here? Making her ruler of… all?”

“She already is ruler of all. This is only accepting that fact,” Evinda retorted.

Rohmhelt leaned against the rampart and tapped his foot repeatedly as a stiff night breeze rustled his thick blue-green hair.

“As these trials mount, your subjects are going to demand something more than fighting for an emperor. Forynda offers that to them and, truthfully, she offers it to me,” Evinda continued.

Rohmhelt’s head snapped up. She almost regretted veering into that line.

“Even for you? My cause isn’t enough to motivate you?”

“For a war against Duronaht, certainly it is,” Evinda laughed and smiled, but phased rapidly toward a serious tone. “But for this wider conflagration, this is about securing what our descendants will inherit, thousands of generations of them.”

Sighing, Rohmhelt turned back toward the city and then stared up at both moons as he muttered to himself.

“Very well. Do as you will on this. I see that there’s no escaping it so we might as well,” the Emperor groaned.

“In time, you’ll see that it’s more than that,” Evinda said, kissing his cheek.

After consulting Matriarch Yldrina as well as the Etelets, Evinda was certain that Forynda would descend to accept their declaration. To provide a suitable display of their fervent loyalty, Evinda obtained three divisions of their most loyal troops, Karmandian pikemen, as well as priests and priestesses from all over the city of Methrangia. Grudgingly, but in full regalia, Rohmhelt joined her and held with her the circlet that they would offer Forynda, representing their recognition of her dominion over the mortal realm as well as Ceuna.

By the time the entire assembly was finalized, it was late in the day. Twilight fell upon the gathering situated to the capital’s north on a flat plain. In the growing dark and with cold Autumn winds battering them, grumbles began to arise from the soldiers.

Then, a crack like a thunderbolt sounded out above. Descending in a ray of glowing golden light came the High Angel, rapier drawn. As per the Emperor’s instructions, the assembled divisions didn’t kneel, even with the absolute shock of her sudden and intimidating appearance contrasting violently against the darkening sky. The ruler of Ceuna and Vorlanys was every bit as majestic as even the most extravagant art portrayed with flowing white hair, silver skin, and glowing golden eyes wreathed in shimmering robes. Forynda scanned the full assembly gradually, turning her head from one end to the other in silence.

As she did this, Evinda cleared her throat to address the High Angel.

“Mighty Forynda, the Emperor and I wish to offer you this glorious circlet,” she stated as they both jointly and cautiously raised the circlet. It drew Forynda’s gaze. “It symbolizes our fealty to you, the greatest of all of Ceuna’s angels. We pray that you find out service in your cause right and just.”

Forynda grabbed hold of the circlet with a wave of her hand and placed it immediately upon her head with perfect precision. This drew cheers from the assembled soldiers and others.

“It is my intention that I shall break this circlet once this war is concluded.” Forynda boomed, her voice carrying clear across the land, undiminished by distance or object. “I shall only remain amongst you here in the mortal realm as long as is necessary to purge permanently the remaining betrayers in our midst. It is our ultimate mission that mortals shall be free to rule their own affairs. When that is achieved, our kind will withdraw to its destined place. Rest assured, your faithfulness will be rewarded with a resounding triumph that will carry for all eternity.”

She paused. Silence, total and crushing silence, ruled for several seconds.

“So it shall be,” she concluded and jutted her rapier skyward.

“Hail Forynda!” cheers broke out. They broke out again and again. “Hail Forynda! Hail Forynda! Praise be to Forynda!”

Rohmhelt and Evinda shared a smiling glance as they stood before the High Angel.

And so we venture forward…