Ilapara gets her first look at just how many people are in the convoy as they all disembark. Hundreds, at least. Lords and ladies wearing enough gemstones to buy a kingdom. Crews of the windcrafts in plain uniforms, humble but clearly overjoyed to be here. Warriors with shimmering armor and heavy typhonic weapons. Some wear gold-and-white capes, others cloaks as deep crimson as the sunset moon. An eeriness sweeps over Ilapara as they all follow Salo in a procession toward the lake. “I feel like we’ve suddenly joined a cult,” she whispers to Tuk. He doesn’t respond. His obsidian gaze is fixed
...more
