"You have a guest, Your Majesty."
The voice of the guard made them stop.
Inara exhaled sharply, pulling herself off Akamir's lap with a muttered curse under her breath.
She straightened her robe with a flick of her wrist and waved toward the door without turning around.
"Let them in," she called, her tone switching back to queenly grace in an instant.
'What worse timing could they have?'
Akamir adjusted his coat as he stood up and stopped just behind her.
He let out a sigh as he looked at the door.
The large doors opened slowly, and one by one, several figures entered the throne room.
Among them were the current dukes and duchesses loyal to the crown.
At the front was Lyselle, the Duchess of Polama, followed closely by Duke Dain of Marson, and a few others who took their places around the chair set beneath the throne's raised platform.
Inara remained seated on her throne as she looked at them.
Her posture straight and expression composed.
