Following Uriel's voice, the guards stationed at the entrance moved in perfect unison.
The shafts of their spears slammed against the stone floor with a heavy thud that echoed throughout the enormous plaza.
The sound spread across the gathering like a signal, instantly drawing every gaze toward the palace entrance.
A figure emerged from within the grand corridor. For a brief moment, even the crowd seemed to forget how to breathe.
A gorgeous woman stepped forward.
No.
Gorgeous was far too simple a word.
The woman who appeared carried herself with a presence that transcended ordinary beauty.
She was regal without appearing arrogant, gentle without seeming weak, proud without becoming overbearing, and composed in a manner that inspired confidence simply by looking at her.
Every quality people desired in a ruler seemed to have gathered within a single individual.
Above all else, there was a radiance about her.
