The snow had just stopped, and sunlight spilled across the front of the silver-mantled Baron's Castle.
Murphy wore a deep gray mink cloak over a dark green velvet formal tunic, the collar adorned with the Duval Clan's crest of mountains and rivers.
Ten Knight's Attendants stood in neat formation behind him. They wore matching deep blue, black-trimmed uniforms over Chain Armor, with Knight's Swords at their waists, standing solemnly still in the biting cold.
In the distance, a procession of five gilded carriages slowly approached, its wheels cutting deep ruts into the snow.
Once the procession halted, three Knights in full Plate Armor spurred their horses forward.
Their Silver Armor gleamed with a cold light against the snow, etched with the Royal Family's purple-and-gold Griffin sigil.
