They took the lower halls, driving Vane's men back into the throne room. To keep the men's spirits high, Soren ordered a brief respite and a feast from the captured larders.
Mika spent the hour moving among the wounded. He didn't just give them water; he used the crystals to knit their flesh back together. When he reached Commander Silas, who had taken an arrow to the shoulder, Silas knelt in the dirt.
"I was wrong," Silas said, his voice cracking. "You aren't a toy. You are the heartbeat of this Legion. Long live the Sovereign Queen."
The cry was taken up by every soldier in the hall. Mika looked at Soren, a heartwarming smile touching his lips. They weren't just a couple anymore; they were a kingdom.