Two days passed. Curzon hadn’t brought up the subject of joining him since their encounter in the west garden. He simply accompanied her throughout The Bastion’s halls, telling her about the history of the palace or recounting stories of him and his younger brother.

“We stole two trays of meat pies from the kitchens and brought them up here. We ate so fast Atlas had to dart outside to throw it all up again in the north garden’s bushes.” Curzon laughed at the memory, a ...