Triumph

[Sámiel]

The searing sun hung mercilessly above Bandar Eban as Samóch, a harbinger of the Shadow, returned to the city. Having pledged his services to the High Lord Sivikawa following the completion of a cryptic errand the previous night, he honored his word with unwavering dedication. Little did he know, a sinister development had unfurled in the dead of night, plunging the Domani king's household into the abyss of dread. While the official story spoke of the king's recuperation from the long night of revelry, a select few held the truth close to their hearts; a truth quickly disseminated through the clandestine network of Seanchan spies.

Samóch met the light of day with all the scrutiny of one born of darkness. His face was pale as the moon, and despite the sweltering heat, the shadows of his robes formed an imposing figure whose being mocked the brightness around him.

The phantom of Samóch's presence had stalked the High Lord's visits to the palace before, akin to other ethereal specters. He was usually dismissed as an oddity, evident in his attire and vacant gaze, clearly marking him as a foreigner in Seanchan territory. However, his whispers invariably found their way into the High Lord's ears. More astonishing still, the High Lord lent a willing ear to this otherworldly advisor.

On this day, as the entourage presented themselves at the palace gate, they were met by a trusted confidante of the King—a mysterious woman whose presence had occasionally graced the edges of court, vigilant as a bird, silent as a mouse. She was someone the King held in utmost confidence.

Bowing gracefully before the High Lord, this elderly woman couldn't help but avert her gaze from Samóch's captivating aura, as if bewitched by his unnatural magnetism.

The High Lord's Voice, Dilek, broke the silence. "The High Lord Sivikawa, in his benevolence, offers a discreet solution to quell your pressing predicament."

With a signal from the High Lord, two women stepped forth and bowed in silence, their enslavement all too evident. Yui's gaze flickered with a momentary doubt as she beheld these bound channelers.

Samóch's lips curled in a sinister half-smile as they were invited into the inner sanctum of the King's abode. Merely a day prior, a treaty had been signed, and within the span of a single sun's journey, the Blood of Seanchan now strode brazenly through the palace's hallowed halls, commanding damane at his whim.

All this, and the truer evil strode among them.