The guards stepped aside, letting the group through.
They had been forewarned of the arrival of foreigners but had feigned ignorance in order to display their prowess. It was a subtle message from the upper floors that rules of hospitality or not, the guests had to be careful not to overstep their welcome.
Le'Ahy led them to the center of the tree trunk where there was the only passage to the next floor through what looked like an elevator shaft. On every floor they were stopped and questioned by more guards while arrays sealed the access to the lower levels, trapping them behind more and more security layers.
By the time they reached the Parliament's Hall, the subtle message had become so glaring that only someone blind, dumb, and deaf might have missed it.
'This isn't just a matter of pride or security anymore.' Aalejah said via the mind link. 'They are trying to intimidate us.'
