The following morning, the palace was already busy by the time Atheline and Lilith finished breakfast.
The invitation from the dragons had changed the atmosphere of the royal household considerably. It had arrived as a simple diplomatic document, but the subject of the meeting had made it impossible to treat it casually.
A new variant of corruption had arisen despite the ones already coming from the blood ocean. It worried Atheline that the elemental corrupted were now coming out of the ocean. He couldn't imagine what trouble that would cost. And now, barely a day after their return, the council had summoned them.
Atheline walked beside Lilith through the palace corridors toward the council chamber. Their little fox remained behind with one of the attendants, since there was little reason to bring it into a formal meeting.
When the doors opened, the atmosphere inside was noticeably heavier than usual.
