Didi's heel caught on a rising root as the palace corridor tested whether royal blood could pass unchallenged.
Eirwen watched the roots close around Didi without letting palace custom become an excuse to seize a guest.
Whenever the companions moved down the hall, the mossy bark lining the passageway shifted in quiet alignment.
As Didi stepped toward the prepared foreign suites, three tangled root arches uncoiled across the central walkway.
The living wood wove itself into an impenetrable barricade, halting the young princess ten paces before the entrance.
Hajin stopped beside her on the flagstones, resting his fingers lightly upon the bronze refusal socket case.
The botanical palace held no fear of forged steel, but it feared the ancient royal blood flowing in her veins.
Eirwen stepped forward immediately, her twelve silver Shards dropping into defensive alignment around her shoulders.
