Chapter Forty-One

The palace tower loomed large, casting a long shadow in the afternoon sun. It hadn’t been so imposing when Harmony followed the line of initiates while incognito for the Harvest of Talents. That had been before she’d received the queen's recognition. The queen wasn't there now. Her public schedule had her out on business greeting dignitaries. The incoming flow of authority was coming from elsewhere. You could almost use it as a compass.

There would be no doing this if the queen was here. Adric deserved better than that. It had already been too long since she'd visited. A little over two days, when was that too long? To become so needy over a pet, yes, a friend too, but that felt lesser than a primal bond throbbing with a connection inside her soul.

“Ahem.” Drew, the guild bodyguard ahead and to the left, cleared his throat.

They were blocking traffic. Six bodyguards, one giant black toad, a personal maid hiding at least one bird in her skirts, and the smallest of them all Lady Harmony White dressed head to toe in armor that could barely be considered armor. Fine, it's time to move forward.

Up the stairs along with the crowds submitting petitions or entering for whatever function was being held on the second-floor ballroom or other more open to the wealthy public floors. From here there was an entrance to the private royal floors, Adric was on the fifth. The group made their way in that direction.

At the private entrance, six palace guards waited. One was special, their uniform had more decorations. The boss guard, then. They formed a wall.

Drew, Nick, Justin, and Jeff in their guild-labeled attire stepped forward while the city guards covered the rear. Because this was an official visit they made their presence known loud and proud rather than in the background. They were all still a little heated about what happened to Harmony when she was last at the palace. Her vanguard met the palaces’ defenders, faces so close, that everyone had better checked their breath today.

The one Harmony dubbed 'The Boss' stood separate as the mouthpiece. “Lady White, what a pleasure to see you. You’re welcome to go up and visit Adric in his room.”

So much was unsaid and implied in that statement. The man had to have a political-based profession. Courtier? Diplomat? Used carriage salesman? She was welcome. But the others? Poor Adric wasn’t even referenced as the prince he was, authority and profession be damned. It was a miracle the temperature didn’t drop. Not a hint of frost leaked out. A testament to how stable she was since acquiring her latest skill, at least for now.

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“Grrrrrrruuuupt,” Hyacinth spoke with a growl, so deep and menacing, that the shadows around them seemed to tinge a little darker. It even held a little bit of the authority he carried for Harmony.

“Of course your familiar may accompany you, same as any guest who has partnered with one.“ The boss guard stated a little nervously as he watched the toad use his tongue to lick his lips. At Hyacinth's size swallowing the man wouldn't be a problem.

Harmony tilted her head and looked up at Ambrosia who waited at her side within arm's length as any good servant ready to assist, perhaps the least noticeable of the group due to a lack of visible weapons. Her eyes locked back to the guard with a look that was clearly asking, “What about my personal maid?” without making a sound.

“A servant is often allowed for social visits. Yours is welcome to join you.” The man continued, cracking a little more under the silent pressure. “We don’t allow personal armsmen to accompany guests to any of the higher floors.”

The bodyguards didn’t move an inch at that. Were they waiting to be told to stand down? And if they disobeyed?

“Good thing I don’t have any personal guards oathed to me. You’ll have to take any issues these fine folk up with the guild master and commander of the city guard. Their opinions on the protection the palace guard can give me seem to be tainted after what happened during my last visit.”

[Recall] checked the guards' faces to her memories, two had been there the night she’d been stabbed through the back. One had joined the escort of her away. The other, a guardswoman who’d helped capture the rogue priest, and tried to heal her too late, face looking down in horror at the corpse left behind. Now they stood with the others staring down her assigned bodyguards.

“I have no say in them, but perhaps all of your fine organizations can find a way to work together while I go up and visit Prince Adric.” With a final bit of authority added to her voice she finished. “But do it quickly as I have places to be and my dear pet to visit.”

She strode forward towards the door to the private stairway. No point in giving them time to do anything but react. Now will someone open the doors for her?

The palace guards did just that, dancing out of the way. Harmony would have opened them herself. It’s not like she wouldn’t get her hands dirty. It was good for them to recognize their place, though. Is this who Lady White is? It would have been simpler if they didn’t force the issue.

Stairs. Hyacinth groaned through their bond.

It’s not like I can pick you up and carry you. You wanted to come, now hop to it and climb. She snapped back from her side of the bond. Maybe by the time they make it to the fifth floor, all those guards can stop seeing who had the longest spears or sharpest swords.