The roar shakes the world around them, an earthquake, a shattering blast, and the last time Alain heard anything of the sort was when the Beam that crossed beneath Gilead broke and they'd watched the city fall.

(all things serve the Beam)

But it's not the same. No, it's nowhere near the same, say true and say thankya, say hallelujah and amen. Where the Beam-quake had wreaked death and destruction and misery, the Lion's roar is a thing of beauty and defiance and power and strength and renunciation of all that is wrong or ever could be.

(cam-a-cam-mal, pria toi, Gan delah)

Silence falls over the glade in stages as the sound rolls into the distance and slowly fades. Alain lets out a soft breath and looks at Cuthbert, who looks back. Neither of them can find words to speak.