followed his example, landing with a dull thud on the stone slabs. Harven Gut’tan immediately offered to help and took the saddlebags containing the evidence. Bleist thanked him with a nod and headed inside. Unlike the building opposite, here, just beyond the door, there was an elongated lobby stretching across the entire width of the ground floor. In each of the side walls, there were four passageways leading deeper into the Palace, each guarded by two Golden Guards. Opposite the entrance stood tall pedestals, from behind which clerks peered out.
Bleist headed straight towards them. He didn’t want to waste his time pointlessly running around the offices when there was someone he could ask his questions of.
‘Good evening, Colonel.’ One of the Guardsmen sitting behind the counter came down to Darius’s level so as not to look down on him. ‘How can I help you?’
‘Good evening.’ Earl merely nodded. ‘Is the Marshal still in office today?’
‘Unfortunately, Marshal Zilven has travelled to Mortis to witness the official signing of the ceasefire,’ the clerk informed him.
‘And General Leigher?’ Bleist had to sort everything out as quickly as possible. He didn’t want to suddenly find out that, because of his delay, something bad had happened.
The Golden Guard looked back at his colleague, who gave a quick nod.
‘General Leigher should be in his office.’
‘Thank you.’ Darius nodded again and set off deeper into the Palace along paths he knew very well. Fortunately, the Azure Guard’s offices were on the ground floor, so they weren’t far away. The commander’s office was also on the west wall, offering a magnificent view. Although Bleist couldn’t imagine his superior enjoying the panorama.
The heavy footsteps of the armoured Guards echoed unnaturally everywhere, reverberating far into the deserted corridors. The colonel and his heavily armed men reached Leiger’s door very quickly.
‘Wait for me,’ said Darius, taking the pouch containing the evidence from Gut’tan.
He then stepped forward and knocked.
‘Come in!’ The general’s voice was strong, but one could sense the fatigue in it.
Darius tried to put on an impassive
