when so many have died
After his speech, the ice was passed out, returned, and counted. The crowd shifted and murmured during the count, until finally the elder lifted his head. From his white beard he declared Noah the Warden of Halo.
Relief flooded his chest, and he turned to Theo to reach his hand to the familiar-stranger. Turning back to the crowd, Noah let his voice ring out over them again. "Let's return Halo to glory!"
wait for it








