Kian walked into the stone palace, the thick stone walls closing in around him as he passed through the open entrance. His footsteps were muted against the ground, but his thoughts were loud in his head, the gnawing concern over Isabella's state pressing heavily against him.
He made his way through the simple stone hallways, avoiding the flickering shadows cast by the few sparse torches, until he reached a room near the far end. It wasn't much—just a small area carved out of the stone with an open space for air and light to pour in from the cracks in the walls. The room was only a short walk away from the entrance, but it felt worlds apart from the stifling darkness of the other chambers.
He set Isabella down carefully onto the pile of animal hides strewn across the floor. The thick pelts were rough, but they would provide warmth, at least. The room was small, but it was enough. Enough for her to breathe.
