In the darkness, amidst the screams and the low sobbing of women, only the King of Sand, Barbaltan, remained motionless, his hands tightly gripping the armrests of his chair, seated upon his throne, the veins on his pale hands bulged. A deep and resonant voice emanated from his chest:
"Silence everyone—"
As if out of habit, a sudden silence descended around them.
The King of Sand showed a blank expression, making it hard to guess what he was thinking—perhaps he was thinking nothing at all.
His penetrating voice gradually calmed the surroundings, and people naturally tend to follow the crowd, especially those who could ascend this high platform, as they generally came from distinguished backgrounds. Of course, once a portion of people restored order, the others gradually calmed down as well, leaving only the low cries of women.
In the distance, there was still some chaos, with noises coming from below the square, where it remained pitch black even after the bonfires extinguished.
