Keiser cast a glance back over his shoulder. The window he had noticed earlier, a tall, arched opening high along the temple wall, remained wide open, spilling in the pale light of the moon.
Then his gaze returned to the present climb. The stairway beneath their feet seemed endless, winding ever upward through the heart of the Saint's temple.
This time, however, it was not the knights or the elf setting their pace. It was the Saint herself, the Sixth Princess, leading the way. Her steps were steady, brisk, and her cloak trailed behind her like a pale banner. The others followed, cloaks drawn low to hide their faces.
Knights stood stationed along the ascending halls, armor gleaming dully in the lantern light. Their eyes tracked the princess and her party, but not one of them moved or questioned her passage.
