CHAPTER 124
The great banquet hall of Charlenugo's palace had been transformed into a spectacle meant to reassure the realm. Chandeliers of polished bronze held hundreds of candles, their flames painting warm light over gilded arches and polished marble floors. Long tables ran down both sides of the hall, already laden with roasted fowl, spiced lamb, wheels of cheese, and bowls of glistening fruit brought in from distant provinces. Silver goblets stood waiting to be filled, catching the candlelight in their polished curves.
At the center of it all, a raised dais overlooked the gathering. There stood the high table, its carved legs shaped into lions with open jaws. Banners of the kingdom hung behind it, heavy velvet pieces embroidered with the crown's crest. The court musicians tuned their instruments at the far end, their strings humming faintly, while the low murmur of nobles filled the air.
