Chapter 44: A Royal Audience

The golden doors opened inward, revealing the queen's throne room. Makuran was shocked how much it resembled Darkwood. The positioning of columns was the same, as was the design of the queen's marble throne. Even the slight arch of the ceiling reminded him of his old lair. They must have been built in the same era of Geyron's history. *Once this is all over,* he mused, *perhaps I could pick Kalann's brain about that.*

The one difference was the addition of a great stained-glass window behind the throne. It depicted a warrior in silver armor, his sword pointed toward the sun and blazing with light. Dark shadows lurked in the window's recesses, but the knight's light kept them at bay. Something about the image had a calming effect on Makuran; he suddenly felt quite at ease with himself.