Real.
The sound almost hurt.
A royal courier appeared at the balcony entrance, breathless and formal.
“Your Highness. Lady Sabine. A border packet has arrived under priority seal.”
Lucien took it.
He broke the seal and read quickly.
His face hardened.
He handed it to Sabine.
The packet contained provincial temples refusing the revised vow.
Three border houses calling the union invalid.
Eastern clergy declaring the altered rite a royal-temple schism.
One provincial temple calling for Serast’s authority to be upheld over Aeron’s command.
House Corvyr mentioned as being under review by houses refusing Sabine’s validity.
Marrow positioning politically.
Sabine read it twice.
The war was not military yet.
It was theological, legal, and political.
Serast had already sent messages.
The provincial temples were choosing sides.
Lucien’s voice was quiet.
“They are not done.”
“No.”
Sabine folded the border packet.
Then she picked up the list of hidden brides’ names from where she had carried it to the balcony.
She held both against the wind.
The packet in one hand.
The names in the other.
“We are not done either,” she said.
Lucien looked at the list in her hand.
“Tell me where to begin.”
