Morning came early on neutral ground.
Twice on the outer door, a guard struck. She did not wait. 'Hearing call. Outer court hall. Now.'
Lucian was already half-awake. Sera sat hunched upright along the bench with the borrowed cloak draped around her shoulders, Istra pacing the entrance as though she had not slept at all the night before
'And'
Istra said. 'Together.'
They crossed the yard beneath thin light. More kept watch than the night before; officers perhaps, or brokers - someone wore house colors beneath a dull coat as though that might trick anyone left looking. The word had gone out that seal-breaker from the lower city was about to be called in.
Sera stayed close to Lucian's side. 'If this goes bad what's the play?
'Remain upright, '
Lucian told her, 'do not offer reason to restrain.'
'That's not a play.'
'The opening.'
