As they moved away from the bustling hall, David followed the Earl down a narrow staircase concealed behind the throne. With a mere touch of the Earl's hand, a hidden panel in the stone wall clicked, sliding open with a soft groan to reveal a shadowed corridor.
The heavy, secret door closed behind them, leaving the faint echo of laughter and clinking glassware from the grand hall fading into the distance. Nobles and commoners alike, unaware of their absence, were now being served by the castle's maids, their attention entirely focused on the sumptuous platters of delicacies and refreshments that decorated the long banquet table.
