16



"The installation of the prism," Control declares, "will be the beginning of the end. But it will not be the end. We will still have to make extensive modifications to the Specular to guarantee our safe return. But Dr. Sabbatine will be there to guide us through the final adjustments."

With everyone's help, Control eventually manages to install Queen Acma's shard as the central diffractive prism of the Specular.

As the village helps repair the Specular, conversation focuses on the armies of the False Icon. Countless villages have fallen to attacks by the Crowned Serpent, and even the Ziggurat has suffered repeated raids.

And of course, people discuss whether the gray mountain really is falling. It is huge in the sky right now, close enough that it seems to give off heat. Its presence fills the world with silver light and knife-edged black shadows.

"We are close," Control says, "but we must first attend to procedures."

"'Procedures,'" Vecla says, carefully repeating the Koiné word.

Alexius rolls his eyes; "procedures" means the Empress wants her slice of the pie.