The court remains gathered beneath the corpse-blue chandeliers, trapped in its own calculations. Dan raphln reaches the servants’ stair alone, leaving the dowager queen, herald, and nobles behind.
A breathless young servant rushes from the lower passage and catches Dan’s sleeve. He presses a blood-dark signet into Dan’s palm, its metal cold despite the warmth of his hand.
the young servant
Cael Arven is below the palace, under guard. He sent this crest so you would know I speak truly.
The signet bears Cael’s crest, sharply cut beneath a smear of dark residue. From far below comes the muffled ring of iron against stone, then silence.
the masked herald
That signet was buried with its former owner.
The masked herald stands at the stairhead, silver staff resting across both hands. Behind the mask, the voice is quiet enough to make the servant recoil.
the young servant
No. I took it from Cael himself. He is alive, but the guards below are changing shifts.
+ New Item Acquired
Blood-dark signet