The carriages stopped in front of huge iron-wrought gates with a symbol of a large oak tree gilded in gold. From the conversation of her companions, Oriana learned it was only one of the side gates, an entrance meant for servants to use, yet it was still styled lavishly. The enormous palace walls, about a hundred feet tall, loomed on either side of the gate.
She looked outside the window of the carriage and found the coachman from the Ahrens showing a certain scroll to the gatekeepers. Once the royal guards approved it, a small door at the side of the iron gate was opened to let them in.
The coachmen knocked on their carriage door. "I can only bring you till here. Farewell, everyone. I wish all of you luck."
"Thanks, Jimmy."
"Your things, here, let me help—"
