Father Sephas let them in and barred the door behind them. Even in the short time it had taken them to cross the square, people had already begun pointing and shouting. “There they go!” some had yelled. “The black cursebringers!” “Don’t worry,” Father Sephas said. “There will be no mob. They’ll have to run to defend the walls first.” He was trying to reassure them, but he had also barred the door. “Have you heard?” Mother Dinendra asked, joining them from the stairwell. “Bestillos leads them.” Even in the orange light of the devotional lamps, Father Sephas went white. “The wall is finished, isn’t it?” Hunter asked. “Do you think it can withstand the Ardismen?” Priest and priestess shook their heads. Mother Dinendra spoke first. “The Dragon Touched general who killed my father died at the hands of High Priest Bestillos.
