[Silthara Palace — The Departure Court — The Next Morning]
Morning arrived with ceremony.
Unlike the quiet dawn of the previous day, the palace courtyard had awakened early. Servants moved swiftly across the polished stone, guards stood in full armor along the outer arches, and the imperial banners of Zahryssar fluttered high above the gate towers.
Today was not an ordinary day.
Today, the Malika of Zahryssar would depart the capital.
They had been preparing the great courtyard before the eastern gate since before dawn. Horses stood ready, their harnesses decorated with silver ornaments bearing the serpent sigil. The imperial carriage waited at the center, its dark wood polished until it reflected the morning light like glass.
Beside the carriage stood Raevahn and Captain Varesh, both already in armor; neither of them spoke much.
Both watched everything, carefully.
Because Malika's journey was not a simple visit, not anymore.
