Liam calmly trailed behind the guards as they exited the mansion and headed toward a sleek black carriage waiting in the moonlit courtyard. The air outside was crisp, a welcome change from the oppressive warmth of the festivities.
As they approached the carriage, one of the knights—a burly man with a grizzled beard and an air of authority—cast a sharp glance over his shoulder at Liam. "Make sure you don't slow us down, kid. This may be just a search for Lady Elena, but we don't have time for distractions or any hindrance to our mission," he said, his tone firm and laced with annoyance.
Liam's eyes flicked toward the knight, his expression calm, unreadable. 'Seems this man isn't thrilled about me tagging along,' he thought, taking a quick measure of the knight's stature and demeanor.
"Understood," Liam replied coolly, his voice flat and disinterested. "I'll do my best to be helpful."
The knight huffed, clearly unimpressed, but said no more.
