The morning sun washed the inner sanctuary in a pale, golden glow, filtering through the high windows of the fortress. Cedric and Aika were both now in their private quarters, standing in the center of the Lord's Suite.
They had both spent the last hour exploring the vast expanse of the castle, and it was far more expansive and beautiful than they had ever imagined.
Beyond the echoing Throne Room, the private quarters, and the many formal and informal dining chambers, the fortress held a labyrinth of luxury. There was a vast library with empty shelves that climbed toward a domed ceiling, a sun-drenched conservatory filled with exotic plants, a quiet observatory at the highest peak, and even a few bathing chambers.
Cedric and Aika noticed something during their extended tour of the lower levels. The castle was divided into two, with the other part being a darker, more subterranean wing hidden behind heavy, reinforced obsidian doors.
