With so many lives lost, the palace was less crowded. There was no call for his chambers to be used for anything else, so Viran had been allowed to remain where he was. It was a comfortable prison, but a prison nonetheless. Guards were posted in his wing, and he’d seen the threads of sinister defensive spells woven around his balcony.
When he reached his floor, Viran paused. He did not return to his prison. He waited on the landing, letting the Allentrian guards join him.
“You’re to go to your room,” said one. It was Major-General Stormleaf, who had, judging by the bands of color on her white sleeve, been promoted to general. Many of the military higher-ups had been lost in the calamitous campaign.
Or discharged, Viran thought bitterly.
“General Stormleaf,” he said, bowing as he addres
