Silence persisted as the three returned through the white stone corridors of the palace. Kael walked ahead, his shoulders tense, his hand still resting on the hilt of his sword as if he did not trust even the echoes of his own footsteps. Liora followed close behind, her face pale and her eyes lost in something distant—not exactly fear, but something that touched him more deeply: unease. Exelia walked with soft steps, but her eyes were alert, as if she expected the shadows of the columns to turn into teeth at any moment.
The double doors leading to the Queen's Hall were ajar. The muffled sound of voices ceased as soon as the guards saw them, hurrying to make way. The light from the large stained-glass windows tinged the floor with shades of blue and purple, and in the center, seated on a throne of intertwined roots and living silver, was Aelirenne.
She rose immediately.
"What happened in the gardens?" she asked, her voice marked by genuine concern, but not surprise.
