The seven fragment-carriers came first.
Not all forty-seven — seven who Senn identified as carrying the most complete fragments, the ones where the suppression's interference had fractured an ability that was close to full expression rather than reduced to near-nothing. If the root fracture worked as the map suggested, these seven would express most clearly and most immediately, and their expression would confirm the approach before Kael attempted the full forty-seven.
They gathered in the settlement's largest room at dawn.
They didn't know what they were carrying.
