The party stepped through the palace gates, their boots echoing softly against the polished stone as they entered a grand hall. The air inside was cooler and strangely heavy with the scent of old wood and a wonderful smell that came from somewhere.
This situation is in a stark contrast to the dust and heat of the streets outside. Tall pillars lined the corridor ahead, leading deeper into the heart of the palace, and without a word, they kept moving forward.
Kaela broke the silence first, her voice light with humor.
"I thought you were gonna rip them apart back there," she said with a low chuckle.
Eccar glanced at her, a grin tugging at his lips. "Of course not. What do you take me for? Some barbaric thug?"
But as he turned his head, he caught sight of Mark, Selene, and Thorne exchanging glances between themselves. They didn't say it out loud but their shared look made it clear that they had all thought the same thing.
