If Oliver had been permitted a sword on his hip, no doubt that gesture would have been a more intimidating one, but even armoured as they were, every single one of the weapons of his guardsmen had been confiscated at the gate, along with Oliver's own blade.
He had chosen a different sword to wear that morning, instead of Dominus', and instead hidden his treasured blade elsewhere, figuring that, if there was an act of pettiness to be had available to the High King, it was best to see it avoided in advance. The sword he had ended up giving was one that he would not have missed, even if they were to be petty and refuse to give him it back.
The Patrick men that he had brought settled in around Oliver, forming a relative shield against the crowd. The guardsmen seemed to have disappeared at some point, after urging them onwards, towards the many steps leading towards the throne room's open doors.
