India believed their source of power came from the Bowl of Brahma, a creation deity. According to our translations, ancient empires credited the source of their Forging power to a variety of mythical artifacts. PART I From the archival records of the Order of Babel The Origins of Empire Master Emanuele Orsatti, House Orcus of the Order’s Italy Faction 1878, reign of King Umberto I The art of Forging is as old as civilization itself. And then, from the corner of her vision, a heavy rod swung toward her head. A handful of them roosted there, like dozing stars. In front of her, Forged moth lights with emerald panes for wings glided across the ceiling. The matriarch of House Kore did not have time to gasp. Someone prying her ring from her fingers. She never saw the blade, only felt the consequence of it-a sharp pressure digging into her knuckles, the snap of finger bones unclasping, hot wetness sliding down her palm and wrist and staining her expensive bell sleeves.

Her heel caught on her dress, tripping her. Chandelier light washed over her and for a moment, she thought she’d escaped. The matriarch marched toward the open door and stood on the granite threshold. She hadn’t wanted to, but it was for last week’s Order auction, and some traditions could not be denied … Including dinners with the head of a House.

Yesterday, she’d stripped the mark of Kore off an object. The ring’s power made her feel like a goddess cinched to human shape. She’d never forget the first time she’d left her House mark on an artifact. Like every Forged object in her home, the wallpaper had been House-marked. When she touched the wallpaper, a symbol flashed briefly on the gilded patterns: a twist of thorns. And until then, only she and the House Nyx patriarch would know the ring’s secrets. She knew her descendants and even members of her House were counting down the days until she died and passed on the ring, but she wasn’t ready yet. The ring had been welded to her index finger the day she became matriarch of House Kore, successfully beating out other members of her family and intra-House scrambles for power. Her Babel Ring-a twist of dark thorns shot through with blue light-gleamed. We are very nearly ready.” The matriarch flicked her wrist in dismissal.

A Crown of Wishes by Roshani Chokshi