Prince Aeron Valdamar rode through the gates of the Imperial Palace looking less like a Crown Prince and more like a demon summoned from the abyss.
It was past midnight. He had ridden his black stallion nearly to death, covering the distance from the southern cliffs to the capital in a fraction of the usual time. His dark military uniform was caked in dried mud, road dust, and the unmistakable, acrid scent of sulfur and ash from the burning sea.
He vaulted from the saddle before the horse had even fully stopped, tossing the reins to a terrified stable boy who scrambled out of his path.
"Your Highness!" The Captain of the Night Watch rushed forward, bowing frantically. "The Emperor left word—if you arrived tonight, he requires your immediate presence in his study to discuss the... the situation in the South."
Aeron didn't even break his stride.
