By the time the carriage returned to the Black Orchid, the sun had almost disappeared behind the rooftops of the eastern district, leaving the sky washed in fading shades of orange and purple.
The courtyard was already illuminated by several floating crystals positioned along the surrounding walls, their pale light reflecting off the polished stones beneath the carriage wheels.
Ray leaned back against his seat as the carriage slowed, watching two servants cross the courtyard with baskets of freshly washed linen.
The afternoon had been considerably more eventful than he'd expected when Lady Seris first explained the assignment, although he couldn't say he was dissatisfied with how things had turned out.
One of the escorts opened the carriage door once the horses came to a stop, stepping aside to allow him through.
