The Broken Halo

The seven lords of the east were not merely seven powerful demons who governed seven cities.

They were the holders of the Seven Seats.

Each Seat controlled one of the pillars required to maintain the eastern region, and its authority extended across every city, clan, and territory beneath the royal family.

One lord oversaw the eastern armies. He controlled troop deployment, conscription, military appointments, and the defence of every major stronghold in the region.

Another controlled the treasury. Taxes, mines, hell-stone reserves, emergency funds, and strategic materials all passed through that Seat.

The third administered royal law. High-level trials, prisons, investigations involving nobles or officials, and punishment for crimes against the kingdom fell beneath that lord’s authority.

Another lord supervised the major clans and noble families. He settled succession disputes and ensured that private rivalries between powerful families did not grow into wars.

The fifth lord controlled the eastern foundries and artifact workshops. Weapons, armour, military tools, and large-scale artifact production could not be distributed across the region without that Seat’s approval.

Another governed provisions. Food, medicinal resources, water reserves, emergency storage, and everything required to keep cities and armies alive during long campaigns belonged to that office.

The final lord directed intelligence and internal security throughout the east. Spies, counterintelligence, rebel investigations, hidden threats, and sensitive information that never appeared in public reports passed through that Seat.

They were called the seven lords of the east because, within their respective duties, their authority stood above that of ordinary City Lords and clan leaders.

Together, they governed the eastern region in the royal family’s name. And whenever a White Crown appeared, all seven answered to him.

Prince Varen looked across the low table at the Biggest Kev.

”Since I am here, they will have no choice,” he said. ”All seven will participate in the campaign to Earth.”

Kev’s helmet tilted.

”Will all of them cross through the rift?”

”Participation and crossing are not the same thing.”

Varen reached for the pitcher and poured the drink in it into one of the cups.

”The road cannot carry every important demon and every army at once. Some of the seven may enter Earth during the early stages. Others will remain on this side to protect the rift and ensure the eastern region does not weaken while a large portion of its forces is elsewhere.”

He lifted the cup but did not drink.

”However, each of them will contribute troops, resources, weapons, information, and their personal authority. None will be permitted to watch from a distance while the kingdom bears the cost.”

Kev gave a slow nod.

”You plan to summon them to Velmora.”

”I already have.”

The Prince finally took a small drink.

”The royal summons left before you entered this room.”

Kev’s dull-yellow eyes narrowed behind the Blood Jaguar helmet.

”Do you trust all seven?”

Varen lowered the cup.

”I trust that they understand the consequences of disobeying the White Crown and the royal family.”

Kev’s left eye twitched.

”That was not my question.”

”I know.”

Varen placed the cup on the table.

”Black Banner has repeatedly obtained information that they should not have been able to obtain normally. Until I discover every source, I will not treat rank, reputation, or years of service as proof of innocence.”

Kev folded his enormous arms.

”So summoning the seven lords is also an investigation.”

”You’re not wrong.”

A faint smile appeared on Varen’s face.

”Through my command, it can reveal who delays, who sends excuses, who attempts to replace themselves with a subordinate, and who begins contacting demons they have no reason to contact.”

Kev considered his words.

”You turn everything into a trap.”

”I prefer to call it an opportunity to show one’s honesty and loyalty.”

”Nobody else calls it that.”

The Seventh Prince smiled.

”Well, I think differently from others.”

A low laugh rolled from Kev’s helmet, then he spoke with a slightly solemn tone.

”Bringing all seven to Velmora could also create problems,” he said. ”Each one controls enough demons and resources to crowd the city before their personal forces even arrive.”

”I will not allow their entire households to follow them,” Varen replied. ”Their escorts will be limited, and their campaign forces will report to designated camps beyond the central districts.”

His eyes shifted toward the sealed reports.

”Scattered across the east, the seven can hide delays behind distance and authority. Here, their movements will be easier to observe.”

Kev stared at him for several seconds.

”You truly suspect everybody.”

”I suspect what I have not confirmed.”

”That sounds like everybody.”

”For now, it is.”

Silence passed between them.

Then Kev pushed himself out of the reinforced chair. The floor gave a quiet groan beneath the sudden return of his full weight.

”If there is nothing else to discuss, I want to leave.”

Varen looked up at the enormous demon and nodded.

”You may leave.”

Kev took two steps toward the door before the Prince added, ”Thank you for answering my questions, Biggest Kev.”

The armoured demon paused.

His helmet turned halfway around.

”You finally listened.”

Kev chuckled.

”I always listen.”

Kev released a satisfied grunt, opened the door, and walked out of the receiving room.

The white flame beside the entrance remained unchanged as the door closed behind him.

For several breaths, Prince Varen did not move, then the light smile disappeared from his face.

He looked at Blackmoon’s report resting across his knee, then toward the other sealed documents waiting near the wall.

”Seven lords, hidden rebels, a dead Tempest Tyrant, and one young Archfiend standing close to far too many impossible events...”

His fingers tightened around the report.

”Too many hands are reaching for the same door.”

Days passed.

To most of Velmora, life continued.

Merchants opened their shops. Fighters crowded Red Sand Hall. Gambling dens swallowed hell stones. Citizens argued about the failed convoy, Black Banner, and the strange suffocating presence in the central district. Rumors spread that royalty had arrived, but some did not believe because there was no public announcement.

Beneath that ordinary movement, the city changed.

Black Horn restricted entire sections of its headquarters. Investigators summoned clerks, soldiers, rune masters, and officers one after another. The rift consumed mountains of energy while damaged formations were repaired, tested, and forced toward completion.

Royal summons crossed the eastern region.

The seven lords answered.

One after another, their reduced retinues entered Velmora, while their armies, resources, craftsmen, healers, and supplies gathered in designated campaign grounds.

Elsewhere, the road’s bones travelled through routes that appeared on no public map.

The citizens continued living beneath the crimson sky, unaware that armies, rebels, nobles, assassins, and unseen organisations were gathering around a single road between worlds.

Then the final day arrived.

Across Velmora, Black Horn’s campaign bells began to ring.

The rift to Earth was ready.

The day of the invasion had come.