Oh no, sir.

His smile never faded, and he placed his hand on her shoulder near her neck to lead her out of the room, sweeping her along with him and the many-peopled entourage. No one spoke as they walked, until Stelon asked, “Breakfast, outside? Isn’t it too cold for that?”

Larkin laughed, “Oh no, not outside.”

“But in the garden?”

“Yes, in the garden.”

The lower levels of the castle bustled with people. Not only were there servants, but men wearing rings on their fingers and women brightly jeweled. All were to be in a hurry to do something important. As Larkin came through, they parted and paused to lower their heads and eyes until he passed. They gave him wide girth, and glanced warily at his new personal guards.

Larkin watched Stelon from the corner of his eye. She was distracted by the color and vibrancy of the castle, of the people, but Larkin was more pleased to see her reaction to the gardens.

They left the active hallways and came into an entrance hall, the stone pillars carved to look like trees, the branches reaching up into the ceiling, which became glass halfway through. Outside the glass, trees towered over it, bursting with flowers and bright green leaves. Stelon stared up into it and Larkin gave her shoulder a gentle squeeze.

A pair of doors ahead was opened for them. A wide stone path, lined with spindly trees and flowers of all colors, led them into the gardens. The air was moist and warmer than inside the castle. The path split again and again, until Stelon was sure she could not find a way back on her own. The place was huge and all inside in the palace, not out. A glass dome could be seen through the trees. The canopy was not thick enough to conceal it. It was just right to let enough light through to the soft, green grass and flowers on the floor.

The clearing Larkin took them to was already filled with people. There was a tree, purple blossoms falling from it, with a small white table and two chairs set beneath it. There was food on the table, and servants standing at attention. Daniel was among them.

Larkin watched Daniel for a long time after he sat, but Daniel never once sat his eyes on neither him nor Stelon. Satisfied, he turned his eyes to the food on the table and waved his hand for Stelon to help herself. He watched.

The servants and guards, and a few who weren’t, became spectators. They sat themselves in the grass, a polite distance away from Larkin and Stelon, pretending as if they would be completely unaware of all happenings at the table. Larkin looked to see Daniel with his back to them.