The moment they stepped beyond the passage leading outside the bronze doors of the Vault, the muffled voices of the court faded behind them.
The passage ahead stretched long and solemn, its vaulted ceiling disappearing into shadow as braziers burned with pale orange flames along the walls.
Before the king left the vault chamber, he did dismiss the people in there, who had come to witness the investiture of the heir of virelia. Leaving only the king's hand, some guards, and the ministers...to guard the entrance of the vault. Also to ensure that the rituals were done and witnessed.
And once those people left the chamber, within minutes, they've told the others in the banquet hall what had transpired in the vault chamber and the knowledge that the queen had been kidnapped by the grand prince's concubine.
The people had been shocked at the news and everyone had been told to stay clear of the king because he was in a bad mood.
