Chapter 105
We reached the palace gates just before noon.
Two guards with towering figures stood there in matching silver armor that gleamed in the glaring sun. Their faces were set in identical scowls, which made me think they'd been born that way.
I stepped forward and handed over the parchment.
One of them took it with gloved fingers like he was scared we'd contaminated it. He scanned it, looked at the seal, and then examined us like we were two-day-old fish at the market.
After what felt like an eternity, he finally gave a short grunt and called out to someone else.
A moment later, a young man in slightly less polished armor jogged up, looking like he hadn't slept in a week. Dark circles hung under his eyes, and everything about him screamed overworked and underpaid.
"This is Cedric," said the scowling guard, voice flat. "He'll take you in."
