Chapter 20, Soto:Soto strolled through the halls. No matter how his mind raced, he needed to present the appearance of calm normalcy. This new feeling didn’t help his troubled mind. A person could only handle so much bad news without cutting a bloody swath through the peasants.
Unconsciously, his feet led him down a little-used corridor. It led to the gardens protected by the curtain walls. Ages had passed since he’d wooed Joanna in these very gardens. He’d not returned since her passing. The years slipped away with an increasing speed.
At the entrance, he left his guards stationed with a wave of his hand. They were smart enough to remember the routine. If they forgot, a place on the front lines waited for them.
In what seemed like a former life, he’d carved out a portion of his morning
