Sterile Palace

~Chapter 122~

Mae's feet couldn't move fast enough as she made her way to the palace gates. Even as the autumn air had a distinct chill to it, the suns radiated more warmth than it could quelle, especially given the hour.

Mae had been up all night working on Xial's mask. She'd been inspired by the time they had spent together on their walk, where he had taken her to his favored spot, high up on the inner wall that separated the citizens, the city, and the cliffs of Neferion bay. Stretching between the palace wall and the city's outer wall, it was a third of the height, a simple barricade to keep the riffraff out, and to act as a walkway between the guard towers. The staircase up was blocked by an iron gate, which seemed odd, given the avian nature of the city's inhabitants, but Xial explained it was only meant to be a deterrent to those unable to fly.