Linus is dead. Stabbed in his sleep by a malcontent mortal who'd pretended friendship to invite the Archangel to stay in his home for the night after singing away a storm. The killer was himself killed by the Archangel's brother, along for the trip, but this does not the less widow the angelica. It does not the less leave the country without its Archangel.

There were eighteen years left in Linus's term, and someone has to fill them out. Alleluia shoos her acolytes and addresses her interface.

The Archangel Linus is dead. Who will be the next Archangel?

The angel Isabella, daughter of the angel Rinnah and the mortal man Charles.

Alleluia's met her... She's very young, she would have been readier if she'd succeeded Linus at the natural end of his term, but Isabella it is.

...She should wait for this news to reach the Eyrie and for Isabella to ask her, but this is an emergency interim change of leadership. Perhaps Isabella would like to have the answer ready as soon as she touches down at Sinai.

And who will be her angelico?

Darius, son of Noah and Abigail.

That's... Well, that's not her acolyte's father's name, but -

- but isn't he adopted -

Alleluia clears the interface. She goes into the acolytes' dormitory and knocks at Darius's door.