Arlo followed the guards at a steady distance, keeping his steps even and his breathing calm. The corridor they took was quieter than the rest of the castle, with fewer servants and more stationed soldiers. The air felt heavier here, and the usual casual chatter was gone. Instead, there were short, controlled conversations, the kind that stopped the moment someone unfamiliar walked by.
He kept his pace natural, not too fast, not too slow, his eyes forward while his attention stayed on the two men ahead.
"…they're already inside the borders…"
"…orders haven't been confirmed yet…"
"…it's only a matter of time…"
Their voices were low, but in a quiet corridor, it didn't take much to hear enough.
'…so it's worse than the gate guards said…'
