Chapter 8 – Declarations
Master Keleusyn paced across the Temple of Kota's ancient stone floor. He occasionally glanced at the half-buried black crystal in the chamber's center. As usual, the red sparks in its interior performed their mad dance. He averted his eyes from the bloodstained altar.
“You worry too much, Keleusyn,” Master Sthenys said. The former Reliant sat on the floor next to the crystal, stroking it with his fingers. Or pretending to, anyway; he couldn't actually touch the thing. But the difference didn't seem to matter to him. His expression was one of euphoria. “The Mentarch has everything under control, as always.” He gave the crystal a fond smile. “Equivalency; conformity; indistinction. We are Reliant.” His voice became soft and gentle, like that of a mother comforting
