Chapter 39. Queen of Perth

“... The child must not be born! We must kill it! For it cannot be!”

--Grygnev

***

“We summon the grand Oracle, the one whose body is a sacred temple for the great Grygnev, the reaper of souls, the dead, divine, and the eyes of the gods!” The number of times he has repeated this line is exhausting, and like before, nothing happens.

Silence covers the hall like a thick duvet, confusion scribbled on the people’s faces. The state of the room is unchanging until a messenger dashes in with an alarming urgency. A black leather bag hanging on his shoulder twists and dangles as he runs, and the warlords make way for him to push through.

On getting to the edge of the platform where the throne sits, he halts and bows, presenting the bag to the spokesman. His loud breaths are audible, and as soon as the bag is collected from him, he hurries away!