Two days into Ayla and Samuel's visit, Liam had stopped pretending he could predict what either of them would find interesting.
Samuel had spent nearly an hour examining the palace heating system after learning that sections of it predated the Gate, while Ayla had dismissed three centuries of imperial architecture within ten minutes and then become fascinated by the western training courtyard because two guards had been sparring beneath the colonnade.
Now both occupied Liam and Arik's usual sitting room while Rubis finalized arrangements for the gathering planned in their honor that evening.
It was not technically a state reception.
Liam had made that distinction several times.
