And then.
The air changes.
A pressure drop that makes my ears want to pop. The hairs on my arms rise. My stomach clenches before I know why.
I look at Koshin. His face has gone blank. Wiped clean.
Renan's hand moves to his side. Casual. Like he's adjusting his coat.
A Discord soldier appears at the edge of our section. He's breathing hard. There's blood on his sleeve.
He leans down to Renan's ear. Whispers.
Renan goes still. Completely, utterly still.
Then he turns to Koshin.
Koshin stands up.
The chamber stops. Every voice, every movement, every breath—cut off. A room full of gods and half-gods, frozen by a man getting to his feet.
"What's happening." Caius is already rising. His hand is on his sword. "Discord. What's happening."
Koshin doesn't answer. He's looking at Coin. Just looking.
Daiven hasn't reacted. His face is the same polished calm it's been all session.
That's what tells me everything.
"I imagine you've just received word." Daiven's voice stays level. Conversational. "The House of Coin has taken action against Discord's operations. The attack began—" he glances at a pocket watch, unhurried, "—approximately forty minutes ago."
The room explodes.
War is on their feet. Faith's delegates are backing away from the center of the chamber. Accusations, demands, shock that sounds rehearsed.
I can't move.
Discord headquarters. The compound. The tunnels and the chambers and the people who work there, who live there—
Renan's hand closes on my arm. "Don't react."
My jaw is locked so tight my teeth ache. I don't react.
Caius crosses the chamber in two strides. He's in front of Daiven before anyone can stop him—towering, furious, his face twisted into something uglier than anger.
"You attacked Discord during a Concord session. During a peace negotiation."
"The Concord is neutral ground. What happens outside these walls is not subject to—"
"You attacked them while their leadership was here. While they couldn't defend—"
"Discord has operated outside the Concord's agreements for too long." Daiven's voice hardens. The polish cracks. "They've interfered with Coin's interests, undermined our authority, and challenged our position at every turn. The House of Coin has exercised our right to respond."
"Your right." Caius laughs again. Ugly. "Your right to start a war."
"If that's what this becomes—" Daiven lifts his chin. "—then yes. The war has already started. Coin will not apologize for defending our interests."
Silence.
