The square had filled since dawn. Women, men, children, soldiers, elders... many faces and even more eyes.
In the corner, Valerian stood silently among the crowd. Beside him, Zenith stood with his arms crossed. After hearing there would be an announcement, they came and met on the way.
A sudden silence swept over the place, as if the entire city held its breath at once.
King Yaram appeared.
Then he breathed slowly and extended his hand forward.
"My children of the kingdom..." he said in a calm but strong voice, "Great people of Evis."
Selena's heart trembled, standing among the crowd not far from Valerian, under a light cloak that hid her hair. She hadn't wanted to be there, but something inside her pushed her to come. Maybe guilt.
"I know what we've lived through these past weeks wasn't easy..." the king continued. "The tears shed, the children who didn't return, the betrayal that broke our hearts... These are wounds words cannot heal."
