"We thank you, gentlemen, and ladies," the Princess said with a nod to Heidi. "You have offered Our fair city some hope for salvation. Your commission shall be drawn up and delivered with supplies this afternoon." Rising, which made all the courtiers and Councillors stand too, she gestured to the terrible-with-names Captain of the Guard. "Captain, please escort these good people as far as the city gates, and return their weapons to them."
"Your Majesty, if I may," Tolan added, "I shall accompany them to the gates and return their weapons personally."
"So be it," the Princess nodded, and, gathering up her skirts in her hands, she breezed majestically from the hall with her ladies-in-waiting close behind.
"Come, gentlemen," Tolan offered, gathering up the list of supplies the Shadow Riders required. He studied it as he walked with them through the castle and to the entrance to the city. "Such a list will take us some time to procure," he said honestly. "It will be delivered as soon as we are able." They had walked some distance as he'd read, and he looked up to see the gates of the city as they were pushed open. "Your weapon, sir," he said, taking Evenflow from the guard that carried it and handing it formally to the Dark Elf.
There was more that he wanted to say, more about the Outworlders and the precarious position Tolan felt he was in. But he knew better than to say them here, in public, before a group of new palace guards that he barely knew. Indicating the list of supplies, as if he wanted to be absolutely sure of where they were to be delivered, he asked, "Where did you say you and your men would be camped again?"
