As Zebulun read the law, a halo formed around him. It was subtle, at first, then grew in intensity until it shone with the white-gold light of sunrise. The light seemed to come from behind him no matter where the observer stood. It left his face wreathed in shadow.
Murmurs went through the crowd.
"Are you doing this?" Davion whispered to Quinn.
It’s not me, Quinn whispered into his mind.
Quinn whispered to Amalek, Is that you giving Zebulun the golden glow?
Not I, said Amalek. I thought it might be you… but I can’t seem to unsee it, no matter how I try. I don’t think it is sorcery.
The three of them watched in awe like the rest of the crowd.
As the halo formed, Zebulun saw himself from the outside. He saw himself through the eyes of every person present: man, woman, cyclops, angel, and dragon. He saw himself looking back at them.
Zebulun finished his reading of the law. The halo faded. They saw his face again.
Zebulun handed the scroll back to Davion, turned back to the people, and said, "That’s it. All of it."
The applause grew slower, this time. The last round had been riotous; a celebration of the destruction of something old and cruel. This round was a reverent appreciation of something new and different.
"The Kingdom of Ur will obey its own law," said Zebulun. "We will treat other nations and peoples with respect. We will make war on no one but invaders, bandits, and pirates."
"Furthermore," said the king, pointing towards the luxurious royal palace, "I will raze that palace to the ground. In its place, I will build the Temple of Ur, where The Law shall be carved in stone for all to see."
Someone in the crowd cried out, "But where will you live?"
Zebulun looked down upon his people and said, "I’ll find more modest accommodations."
The crowd laughed. Zebulun looked up into the sky and smiled.