An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works
Stiles continued walking with Isaac in silence through the private galleries toward the tower reserved for the heir, while servants lowered their heads at the sight of the ivory and ebony of the Chancellor’s office passing by. As they crossed the threshold to the garden passage, Isaac closed the distance almost imperceptibly. With a scribe’s practiced touch, he slipped a small folded piece of parchment into Stiles’s sleeve.
“From the Margrave, my lord,” Isaac whispered, his eyes watching the end of the corridor.
Upon entering his private chambers, where pale vines covered the white arches of Belvalà Manor, Stiles paused. He let Isaac remove his cloak and finally felt the air lighter against his chest. With trembling fingers, he broke the black wax seal protecting the old parchment and traced the firm strokes of Peter’s handwriting.
The cold formality of the quarterly assembly seemed to vanish from the marble sanctuary. Stiles folded the paper, pressing it to his chest as he found it impossible to fight the smile taking over his face. He turned to his trusted Scribe, eyes alight.
“I’ll see him again tonight, Isaac.”
(English is not my first language)















