Radeon returned to his pavilion and climbed to the second floor, where the grand array core slept beneath newly lacquered boards.
It was the throat of Cairnlight Barterhold. A network that reached through the whole city, through incense stands and corner shrines, through little golden images made in the likeness of the statue atop the peak.
A copper coin per stick. A promise sold as comfort. Ward off bad luck. Calm the mind.
The incense smoke drifted into the array like pale river mist, and with it came the voices.
"If this is true, whoever Venerable this is, please make me earn a lot today."
"Luck, huh. A copper coin would not kill me. Better than nothing."
"I want to get a job to feed my family. Please."
Thousands at once. Some whispered with a real tremble in the chest. Most were only tossing a pebble into a well to see if it echoed back.
Radeon took them all the same. He let the prayers pool inside his skull.
