At the center of the formation was a group of knights carrying a massive banner. It displayed the royal family's formal symbol, a gryphon with a sword held beneath its wings.
The enormous banner rose high above the knights, its fabric moving gracefully in the morning breeze.
The royal knights themselves were a sight to behold.
Their armor was dark, almost the color of polished obsidian. The morning sunlight reflected from its surface with every step they took. Thin golden lines ran across their armor, covering the edges of their shoulders, chest plates, and helmets.
There was nothing excessive about their armor.
It was simple. It was powerful.
And it made their authority clear.
They marched straight into the courtyard without looking left or right. Their faces remained hidden behind their helmets, their movements perfectly synchronized.
Once they reached the center of the courtyard, the knights separated into two long lines.
One group moved to the left.
