Morning at the palace felt off. The air was chilly, but not sharp like usual. The sky above Aetharion was a hazy gray, like the sun was playing shy. The inner courtyard was dead quiet, just a few knights on duty, their footsteps nearly silent on the dew-slick stone freshly cleaned.
Out front, the portal to Winterbraun stood calm, its energy gently rippling, casting soft reflections onto the surrounding pillars. Not many folks knew that one of Aetharion's top nobles was dipping out of the capital today, having been relieved of his duties. And Glen himself would be the one escorting the ruler of the coldest region in Aetharion.
Thing is, Glen couldn't shake the feeling that doing so would come off as some kind of insult to the Duke, especially after their heated spat over Glen's attempt to strip his noble title. Sucks, really. But to Glen, it was the only way to make Etien realize that he was truly disappointed in him.
