The sun was sitting lazily across the horizon. The sky was cloudless, making for an intensely scorching afternoon. After the King dismissed them, Amy, Gideon and Henri set out to the courtyard to wait for the Queen Riviera.
“The Queen is one of the few mages in Noira that can open portals,” Henri told her on their way out.
“You mean, you cannot do such magic?” she asked.
“Unfortunately, I can’t,” he kicked a pebble that was on his path. It flew a couple of feet away from him and settled on the brick-laden courtyard. “We’re here,” he announced as they exited the inner gate of the Grand Tower. The Dukesguards bowed as they passed. Each one of them held the reins of their horses. Jonathan was holding the Duke's, the Knight's and the Duchess's horses' reins.
“If the Queen could do such
