The notice was delivered by a junior page with squeaky boots. It was a single sheet of cheap parchment, the ink still slightly wet.
'Effectively immediately: All South-Eastern tower assets are diverted through the Iron Gate. Previous corridor clearances are revoked.'
Elias read the words twice.
He folded the paper and tucked it into his belt.
On the surface, it was a minor change. The palace was always under repair. Bricks crumbled, tapestries needed cleaning, and routes changed. But Elias knew better. This reroute broke every rhythm he had built over the last week.
It broke his timing windows. It took him away from the stairwells where the clerks gossiped. It moved him away from the gallery where he could watch the hall. Most importantly, it moved him into the most heavily guarded part in the entire castle.
He stood in his small room and closed his eyes. In his mind, he redrew the map.
