Philia kept his pace measured, his boots making a dull, flat sound against the floor. Behind him, Valen followed in silence, his presence like a shadow.
The deeper they went into the servants' quarters, the louder the noise became. Raised voices bounced off the walls from every direction. Orders were barked, furniture scraped across the floor, boots thundered through the corridors, and somewhere farther ahead, someone was crying so hard they could barely catch their breath.
The hallway outside the servants' quarters was packed. Guards had sealed off both ends of the corridor, forcing a growing crowd of anxious maids and kitchen hands to remain where they were.
Some clutched one another's sleeves, others whispered prayers beneath their breath, but every pair of eyes stayed fixed on the rooms being searched. From inside came the steady sound of drawers being emptied, trunks forced open, and heavy furniture dragged aside in the relentless hunt for anything suspicious.
