They did not speak as they moved through the palace. The hallways were quiet. Most of the servants had retired to their quarters. A few guards stationed at their posts nodded as they passed. Galen led her past the outer wall through a rarely used gate. The guard on duty let them pass without question. They crossed into a field of dry grass and then entered a line of trees. The path was narrow. They walked for about twenty minutes. The trees grew thicker, and the moonlight filtered through the canopy in wide patches.
Galen stopped at the edge of a large clearing. He turned to face her. "Here. This is where I run whenever I need to let go of tension. And believe me when I say, my wolf likes it here," he said.
Aveloria looked around the clearing. The grass was worn down in places from repeated use. She could see the trails leading off into the woods on the far side, paths carved by paw and claw over time.
