The doors of the King's private study shut with a soft click, cutting off the low hum of the monarch's voice. Cherion let out a quiet breath he hadn't realized he was holding, the rigid tension in his shoulders dropping an inch.
"Well, that went better than expected," Cherion murmured, turning around. He began walking down the wide corridor, looking back over his shoulder at Marielle, who followed just a half-step behind. Her chin was held high, her posture a perfect mirror of northern discipline, but there was a flicker of satisfaction in her eyes. "I honestly thought he would make us jump through a few more administrative hoops before granting the permission."
"His Majesty knows better than to stall when the North makes a reasonable request," Marielle replied, her voice cool and steady. "Besides, we were just simply..."
THUD
