"Stop it, you fool! You don't know what you're doing!" Suddenly there was a silent spell, after Manguino went down on his knees and pounded the floor with his fists. Far in the distance the cawing of Boyce's crow, Zoro, was heard as it circled around the city in a frenzy. Orren helped Manguino to his feet and they went over to the window. The moon was out and it was full, its light filling in the shadows of the buildings made by the city pole lights. As they watched, red streaks began to etch themselves across the surface of the moon. It looked as if it was bleeding and very soon the entire surface was red. Manguino and Orren both felt ice-cold as they watched the four Angels of Mons appear before the moon and ride towards the city. The sky around the Mons flashed with lightning that was absent of thunder, and overhead they saw a great comet slowly pass into the horizon. They fell aback as if hit by a huge boulder. "What happened?" cried Manguino as he held on to Orren's arm. Orren pushed him away and as he got to his feet he felt the floor tremble beneath him. "It was an earthquake, or maybe it wasn't -- I don't know!" said Orren, a little bit irritated by Manguino's effeminate actions. They thrust their heads out the window and watched the Mons slowly walk their horses through the streets. The horses' clip-clop echoed throughout the city, replacing the thunder when the lightning flashed. Halls shook, but the rest of the city appeared to be calm and oblivious to the signs. "You are truly stupid for reading the manuscript to me. I have told you many times, never read it to me. I made that a law. You have brought doom to Phoride." Cardinal Orren listened to the ArchBishop and when he was finished, turned to him. "How you have ruled Phoride for such a time is beyond me, Manguino, but if you will, I will take responsibility for whatever befalls this great land." he promised Manguino, then added. "You go back and practice your bestial arts with Eckma, and with whomever else strikes your fancy. I have served you for a long time, and I will continue to serve you until one of us dies!" He huffed towards the office doors before he exited the room and he stopped. "Jessuum should've warned me about you!" Manguino hollered at Orren. "You can go fornicate with Jessuum, as well. He may just give you the pleasure that you have been searching for." Orren slammed the door of the office and Manguino turned his head and looked out of the window. Zoro was flying around squawking his head off while the stars, in the dawn sky, began to fade away. CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE Something strange had taken place over the last couple of weeks in Pomperaque and the rest of Phoride, as well. Under normal circumstances, something like this happening would have been welcomed by those at Halls, especially if they were the monastic guards -- the police force.