Atlas came back to the capital at dusk.
He landed in the inner courtyard without ceremony. The guards on the wall had already seen the streak of his approach and cleared the landing space. Dust settled around his boots. Eli waited at the foot of the steps with three of the dukes—Kess, Renn, and Solenne. Their faces were tight. Word had clearly traveled faster than he had.
Kess spoke first.
"Is it true? The independent kings sent men to the demigods?"
Atlas nodded once. "One of them did. Others were preparing to follow. I reached the high city before the conversation could go further. The messenger ran. The demigods were told what the consequences would be if they offered teeth to anyone against this empire. For now they have agreed to turn such envoys away."
Renn's jaw worked. "For now."
"For now," Atlas agreed. "That is why we are meeting tonight."
