Reiner carefully pulled the grand doors of the master suite shut, making sure the brass latch caught with the quietest possible click. He stood in the dimly lit hallway for a brief second, letting out a long, exhausted sigh that made his shoulders slump.
Inside, Cherion and Zarius were finally settling in for the night, and Reiner, having spent his entire life learning the intricate unwritten rules of serving noble lords, knew far better than to linger outside that door or interrupt them at such an hour.
Adjusting the cuffs of his dark attendant's tunic, Reiner turned and made his way toward his own quarters.
He had barely taken three steps when a towering, dark figure stepped smoothly out from the shadows near the stone archway, falling into step right beside him. Reiner didn't even need to look up to know who it was. The massive build, the quiet tread, and the heavy, metallic scent of polished leather armor gave Ezek away instantly.
