The herald did not stick around to chat. As soon as he finished speaking, he turned and walked out of the session hall.
The effect on the room was immediate. Usually, when the gathering was finished, the princes and their advisors would linger. they would trade insults, make small talk, or try to squeeze more information out of the court officials. Not today. Today, the room cleared out in record time.
Lena followed Caelum. She stayed exactly two steps behind him, just like she was supposed to. She kept her face blank, but her mind was working at full speed. She was doing three things at once.
First, she was looking at everyone they passed. She watched the way the guards shifted their weight. She watched the way the other princes' servants whispered to each other. She was looking for threats, but she was also looking for information. People show you how they feel by how they stand when you walk by.
