The declaration rolled across THE Elvarna Mining Expanse, and Achilles felt it twice.
Once in the air, the way everyone felt it, a pressure that leaned the whole sky toward the figure in emperor's robes. And once through the chains, because he was the chains now, and the binding network of the entire Expanse rang like a struck bell against his existence.
I AM.
The ore buzzed in his hands. The slivers of True intent in every vein of the mountain answered the voice above, recognizing something unbound, and for a moment Achilles simply stood in the deep tunnel with his palm against a half-eaten wall of ore and let his awareness climb up through the rock to look.
The being hung at the center of the burning sky wreathed in blue flames that moved like slow lava. Emperor's robes. An Intent rolling off him in tides so seamless that it made one want to kneel. Almost!
So that was THE Osmontian.
Taylor's voice hit his mind almost before he finished the thought.
