Zita followed the stranger through the winding corridors, her mind reeling with the encounter with Lord Arden. She couldn't shake the feeling that she was being watched, that the eyes of the palace were upon her.
As they walked, the stranger stopped in front of a small, hidden door. He pushed it open, revealing a narrow passageway that seemed to lead into the depths of the palace.
"Come," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We must go this way."
Zita hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest. Where did the passage lead? What secrets lay hidden within its walls?
But the stranger's eyes seemed to hold a deep conviction, a knowledge that she couldn't ignore. With a deep breath, she stepped forward, into the unknown.
As they walked, the air grew thick with dust, the shadows dancing around them like specters. Zita felt a sense of unease, a feeling that she was being led into a trap.
But the stranger seemed to know exactly where he was going, his footsteps sure and steady. Zita followed, her heart pounding in her chest, as they navigated the twisting passageway.
Finally, they stopped in front of a small door, the stranger's hand reaching out to push it open. Zita felt a surge of excitement as she realized that they were entering a new room, a room filled with secrets and surprises.
As she stepped forward, she saw a figure waiting for her, a figure shrouded in shadows. Zita's heart skipped a beat as she realized that it was a woman, a woman with eyes that seemed to hold a deep wisdom.
"Welcome, Zita," the woman said, her voice low and husky. "I've been waiting for you."