Interlude - War's Eve

General Rael was in a good mood when she entered her war tent.

She was where she belonged, out in the field putting down Heaven's enemies, without House Victoriam in her way as they had been since the last Heavenswar.

Years of putting up with the Son of Heaven's attempts to play general behind his father had almost soured her on her prospects. Now that Vinam was relegated to the Executioners, she could advance House Bellumos as the head of the Host. And with Arritel dead, perhaps she would cement her position enough to wrest the foretelling breeders from House Victoriam... though from what she knew of recent history, the line had grown entirely too thin.

Without the Daughter of Heaven, sure outcomes could not be foretold, and so Heaven - to Rael's mind - had spent the last twenty years flailing around with the useless Vinam at the helm. His ability to see the past through objects did not translate to anything needed to wage Heaven's wars.