By dawn, Linda rode into the capital on horseback, with an older woman riding beside her.
The woman's face was difficult to make out beneath the heavy cloak draped over her body, the hood shadowing most of her features as they passed through the city gates. They had returned earlier than expected. The king and queen had been told to expect them by nightfall, not at dawn, and under normal circumstances Linda would have sent word ahead to announce their arrival.
But the moment they entered the capital, she knew something was wrong.
The streets were too alive for that hour.
People were moving in one direction in large numbers, nobles in carriages, servants on foot, soldiers walking in clusters, merchants abandoning their shops, and even commoners hurrying with open excitement on their faces. It looked almost like the city was preparing for a festival, yet Linda knew there was no celebration planned for that day.
No feast. No public execution. No royal announcement.
