Two Days Later at the Royal Palace of Estalis, Inner Sanctum
The towering marble gates of Estalis parted slowly as General Turik rode through them atop a black stallion, flanked by a dozen elite Zuran guards in burnished silver armor. Banners bearing Zura's golden dragon against a backdrop of red snapped in the breeze—bold and giving a defiant statement.
The guards of Estalis parted to let them in, their expressions wary but silent. A year ago, Zura has sent their princess for a political alliance, and Turik has visited the palace quite a few times.
In the palace's high atrium, where golden pillars reached for the painted ceiling, Crown Prince Callan of Estalis stood waiting. Young, sharp-featured, and draped in robes of sapphire and gold, Callan bore the practiced smile of a man born into power—but beneath it, shadows flickered in his eyes.
Beside him stood Princess Lirea, the first Princess of Zura. She stood with poise, her eyes gleaming with quiet triumph.
