trick—there is no Rest.
Second-death—
Another end, another new beginning.
★When a spirit is drained of Lifeblood.
★The moment a spirit is Fused to another spirit(s) in order to return to the Land of the Harvest.
★Troikans foolishly believe a spirit enters into “the Rest.”
Secondking—
Bow or break.
★One of two sons of He Who Shall Not Be Named.
★Ambrosine, Prince of Ravens, rules Myriad.
★The Other Who Shall Not Be Named rules Troika.
★Ruler of a realm.
Troika—
Self-proclaimed leaders of justice, equality and freedom
of choice.
★The realm of Light, ruled by the Other Who Shall Not Be Named.
★Supposedly untouched by gloom, where hard work isn’t an expectation but a way of life, equality isn’t an ideal but a standard and fear isn’t a treasured friend but a hated foe; “logic” always trumps emotion; people are governed by a strict set of rules, never allowed to play, and violators are punished.
★Motto: Light Brings Sight.
Unsigned—
Punishment rides the wings of the damned.
★A human who fails to make covenant with a realm before Firstdeath.
★Cursed to spend the Everlife inside Many Ends.
Veil, the—
Choose us and enter in.
★A doorway leading into one of the realms.
★The Veil of Midnight protects Myriad.
★The Veil of Wings protects Troika.
MYRIAD:
Laborer Sloan Aubuchon: S_A_5/46.15.33
Sir Zhi Chen: Z_C_4/23.43.2
Abrogate Javier Diez: J_D_2/43.3.19
Laborer Killian Flynn: K_F_5/23.53.6
General Hans Schmidt: H_S_3/51.3.6
Laborer Leonard Lockwood: L_L_5/19.36.2
Laborer Dior Nichols: D_N_5/62.4.1
Laborer Victor Prince: V_P_5/20.16.18
* * *
TROIKA:
Laborer Raanan Aarons: R_A_5/40.5.16
General Jane Adamson: J_A_3/19.37.30
Messenger Clayton Anders: C_A_6/53.1.4
General John Blake: J_B_3/19.23.4
General Tasanee Bunyasarn: T_B_3/19.30.2
General Shamus Campbell: S_C_3/50.4.13
General Spike Jones: S_J_3/62.5.5
Conduit Ten Lockwood: T_L_2/23.43.2
General Chanel Moreau: C_M_3/5.20.1
General Marcos Pereira: M_P_3/45.10.9
Laborer Archer Prince: A_P_5/23.43.2
General Luciana Rossi: L_R_3/51.3.15
General Bahari Sekibo: B_S_3/51.3.13
General Agape Stavros: A_S_3/42.6.31
General Alejandro Torres: A_T_3/23.40.29
General Mykhail Vasiliev: M_V_3/54.5.8
General Ying Wo Li: Y_L_3/59.1.2
Troika
From: A_T_3/23.40.29
To: L_R_3/51.3.15, J_A_3/19.37.30, S_C_3/50.4.13, C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31, T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8, J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9
Subject: Tenley Lockwood
Fellow Generals,
We have two orders of business to discuss. The first: animals. Because of the recent bombings inside our realm, our Secondking has issued a decree. Every citizen will be appointed a guardian, whether four-legged or winged. However, we all have the right to decline. I suggest you do so, and encourage your people to do the same. We haven’t trained with these animals. There’s a good chance they’ll be more of a hindrance than a help.
The second order of business is the most important. For the first time in our realm’s history, the Prince of Doves has decided NOT to hold a vote for the Resurrection. I don’t know why, only that protests will not change his mind. Instead, Tenley Lockwood is tasked with selecting which of our fallen soldiers will leave the Rest.
No doubt she plans to choose one of the following (in order of rank):
General Levi Nanne, her trainer
Leader Meredith Cordell, her grandmother
Laborer Archer Prince, her friend
Laborer Elizabeth Winchester, her teammate
We have twenty-four hours to plead the case of our revered brother, General Orion Giovante. While I love and respect the others, Orion is the one we need. The war with Myriad is heating. We are outnumbered and outgunned, and Orion is a warrior among warriors, our greatest hope for victory. He has what Levi doesn’t: a killer instinct. Toward the end, Levi softened. He worked with Killian Flynn, known by our Laborers as the Butcher. Mr. Flynn is also Miss Lockwood’s biggest weakness. Their romantic relationship puts us all at terrible risk.
Orion will deliver Mr. Flynn’s Second-death without pause or concern for Miss Lockwood’s feelings. He will help us focus on the only thing that matters: Myriad’s annihilation.
First,
