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Astolpho stood frozen, uncomprehending.
Everything happened so fast.
They were in the king’s smallest audience chamber, at Astolpho’s request. He hoped that King Carleman would meet with Michaela alone, but the king insisted on his high commander being here, too.
The king did, however, exclude his other various advisors. Only Astolpho and Lord Ganelon took their places on the platform on either side of the throne. Astolpho stood to the king’s left, Lord Ganelon sat to his right.
Astolpho had been inside this audience chamber several times over the past few years while serving as the king’s advisor and prophet. The room had obviously been designed to impress the various lords and dignitaries who sometimes visited, rather than designed for the king’s or anyone else’s comfort.
The f
