There was another word Damen didn't understand, but feeling foolish enough already, he refused to ask after it. Instead, he followed Matthias the few remaining steps and into another hallway seemingly exactly like the one several floors up.

Had he ever been in a fortress of this size? It lacked the artistry of a palace, even of his home in Ios, but the size...

'What is the purpose then?' he asked, dread a coil in his belly. 'Are we meant to serve someone? Is there a war to be fought?'