Chapter 5: The queen's party.

RENDER ENTERED THE back courtyard of the palace. The welcoming party for the royal Dagerstanteen was well underway, and he paused to take in the extravagant and decadent surroundings. He told himself he was doing a security check, but security was hard to think about with such lavish decorations.

The queen’s party was glorious.

To the left and right of the giant marble stone patio were orange, blue, and red pillars of fire. Directly before the seven-foot garden hedge at the edge of the space was a fountain of fire with sparks at the top. Tables of food had more delectable fare than he’d ever seen in his life. Maybe he could take some food and bring the treats to little Anoka. The sky was dark, and as soon as he was done with this obligatory meeting with the next king of the Dagerstanteens, he would head to the orphanage.

“Excuse me.”