Evening draped the palace in deepening shadows, the last rays of sunlight gilding the silver spires. Queen Elysia stood at her chamber window, eyes fixed on the eastern horizon where darkness had already gathered. No sign of returning figures appeared on the road leading to the palace gates.
'They should have returned by now,' she thought, anxiety coiling tighter with each passing moment. Without allowing herself further deliberation, she strode from her chambers toward the courtyard.
Outside, torches had been lit against the gathering darkness. Elysia immediately spotted Lyra speaking with a palace guard, giving what appeared to be instructions—unusual, as guard deployment was typically Sorrel's domain. As Elysia approached, the guard bowed deeply before Lyra dismissed them with a gesture.
"Still no sign of them?" Elysia asked without preamble, unable to keep the edge from her voice.
