THE DEVIL'S JEWEL
The castle's stables were a world unto themselves, filled with the familiar scents of hay, leather, and the earthy musk of horses. Eryndra had always found something comforting about stables, no matter which castle she found herself in. There was an honesty to them that the gilded halls of power lacked. Here, at least, things were straightforward. Horses needed food, water, exercise, and care. There were no hidden agendas or political machinations, just the simple needs of living creatures.