[Thalryn Empire — Imperial Palace — Evening]
The evening sky above the capital of Thalryn had already turned pale silver, the last light of the sun fading behind the frozen ridges beyond the city walls. Cold wind moved through the high towers of the imperial palace, carrying the faint scent of snow across the stone courtyards.
Along the long road leading toward the inner gate, the carriage of House Veyrhold rolled forward at a steady pace, its wheels grinding softly over the thin frost covering the ground.
Behind the carriage rode Captain Varesh and Captain Raevahn, their cloaks shifting in the northern wind, their eyes never still even for a moment.
Raevahn leaned slightly closer and muttered under his breath, "Too quiet."
Varesh did not look at him as he replied in his deep voice, "This is an imperial palace; it is never quiet… it only pretends to be."
The carriage slowed.
