Queen Mother Beyta led Cillian down a dark wood corridor with elaborate tapestries, hanging at evenly spaced intervals. Her slippers padded with little noise as they walked along the hard floor. Cillian could hear music, laughter, and many people talking ahead. The scent of food caressed his nose, tantalizing him and urging him to hurry but he kept pace behind Beyta.
They exited a wide door and stepped into a vast courtyard behind the house illuminated by dozens of torches. The space was paved in colorful terrazzo tiles. A band of musicians played in the opposite corner of the courtyard. Women in rich gowns made of velvet, damask, and silk with slashed sleeves that revealed flashes of light and dark contrasting color as they danced and twirled in time with the music. The men wore expensiv
