The clang of metal gates faded behind them as Ethan and his team followed Selene's unit across the sunlit courtyard.
The fortress loomed in their wake, its white stone walls stark against a brilliant blue sky, banners snapping sharply overhead.
Outside, the knight stables bustled with squires preparing mounts for departure.
Horses pawed the ground, tossing their manes, while stablehands hustled about with bridles, saddle oil, and feed buckets.
The air smelled of hay, oiled leather, and the earthy musk of animals shifting restlessly in their stalls.
Selene conferred briefly with a stablehand, her silver hair catching the sun like spun metal. The young man dashed off and returned leading a series of sleek warhorses.
Each was a magnificent creature—broad-chested, muscular, and clad in light barding embossed with the sigil of the Swordmaster.