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Ki’Remi whirled around and chased him down, grabbed the priest by his collar, hauling him close.

‘Don’t you have better things to do with your time?’ he growled, deep and thunderous. ‘Try coming at her again, and I’ll show you some balance.’

The holy man gasped, terror flickering through his fanatic eyes.

The Sableman shoved him from him.

Issa’s hand closed over his wrist.

‘Enough,’ she whispered.

She’d left the transport, and Ki’Remi glanced down at her, her hand pulsing to calm the rage inside him.

She turned to the throng, lifting her chin.

‘I have made my path clear,’ she said, her tone ringing with quiet command. ‘Sulfiqar will decide my fate. No one else.’

Her eyes flamed, and her body shimmered as she let loose some of herSsignakhtpower.

Flames pulsed around her, and the crowd fell back.

Accepting defeat, one by one, the mob dispersed.

However, as they left, their eyes still burned with belief.

‘We are not done with you, fallen one,’ the priest muttered with a sly smile as he slinked away.

‘Let’s get out of here,’ Ki’Remi growled, leading his woman back onto the skimmer. ‘So much for a welcome.’

‘I never expected one, only ridicule.’

They sat back down, and at Ki’Remi’s chin jerk, the skimmer continued its journey.

Traffic eased as the flyer ascended above the avenues, heading toward a nearby roof, where a diamond crystalline landing pad sat.

They touched down with a whisper and were led out of the flyer.

Two more Ssigis warriors awaited them at the threshold of a magnificent gilded and crystal palace.

The pair of tall, armored titans had their faces hidden behind smooth, featureless golden masks. Their shoulders were draped in celestial white cloaks that rippled despite the lack of any breeze.

The atmosphere shifted as Zavei shimmered from thin air.

With a chin lift, he acknowledged Ki’Remi and Issa. ‘I got word that you entertained the locals on your way in.’

‘Is that all we are, an extravaganza?’ the Rider growled. ‘Is that why you paraded us through the city?’

‘You do provide a form of amusement,’ came the dry reply.

Ki’Remi sucked his teeth, even as Issa’s hand intertwined with him, her thumb stroking to calm him down.

How she was taking in all this humiliation without ripping the Saatifa’s commander apart, he’d no clue.

Zavei walked ahead of them, his midnight cloak unfurling like the night sky.

In front of them, the Seat of Eternity stretched into infinity, a schloss of impossible geometry, spirals, floating arches, and suspended corridors that curved into nothingness before reforming anew.

The air thrummed with unseen power, the scent of storm-churned ether curling through it, the whisper of ancient voices flickering in and out of hearing.