Secretary sorting out some papers at his desk.
-Good morning.- He greeted politely and smiled when the clerk raised his eyes.- I have been summoned by the Grand Master.- He added before the man there had time to ask anything. In addition, he did it loud enough to be heard by the watching soldiers. He did not like it when someone referred to him with such poorly concealed distrust as they did. Of course, he knew that they were tasked with keeping all uninvited guests and intruders out of the vestibule, but nevertheless, the colonel of the Azure Guard was no mere supplicant, and even without holding the position of military advisor, he would have the right to enter the Grand Master's office without a pre-arranged visit, and the Watchmen could do nothing to him.
-Hello, colonel.- The secretary smiled in a friendly manner.- The Grand Master is waiting for you, please do not be shy.- Before Darius turned to go to the study he noticed that the official wanted to say something else, but hesitated. Bleist stopped and raised an eyebrow in anticipation.- I'm sorry, but we had no one else to send with the invitation, and dispatching the City Guard...You know how sir, that would look...- The man seemed embarrassed and indeed must have regretted sending an arrogant assistant.
-You have to put up with him on a daily basis.- Bleist grunted and nodded his thanks for the apology. Without waiting for the conversation to continue he walked quickly to the door, knocked gently and after a moment entered.
The Grand Master's office was not at all large or full of expensive furniture. The room was no more than eight metres long and four wide. In the middle stood a small table with four chairs around it, and further behind them was a sizable desk of polished walnut wood. Behind the desk sat an elderly man with a long snow-white beard braided in dwarven fashion into three braids. The gaze of his ice-blue eyes was fixed on a letter lying on the tabletop. The man did not lift
