Elowen stood at the far end of the Hale sitting room, arms folded lightly, observing the hustle of servants dashing to and fro across the grand hall. The morning sun streamed in from the vast stained-glass windows, lighting up the gleaming marble floors and casting prismatic colors across the golden trims of the walls.
From her distance, she could see the courtyard transforming—the long banquet tables now cleared to make way for the annual Reunion Games. Carriages arrived one after the other, bringing nobles from surrounding towns. Servants clipped red and gold banners to the fences. Archery targets stood aligned under canopies while spears and blades lay polished by the horse stables.
But her thoughts were miles away. Her mood still soured from that morning's shopping incident.
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Earlier, in the Market of Dunbrae's Island...
