On the stone steps before the Governor's Mansion, two guards who had stood watch for half the night paced back and forth.
One of them, carrying a halberd, opened his mouth wide in a yawn, squeezing a few tears from the corners of his eyes. He hurriedly wiped them away with the back of his iron gauntlet, muttering complaints about the tardiness of the men due to relieve them.
The other's eyelids drooped, his head sinking little by little, as though he might fall asleep against his halberd shaft at any moment.
Only when an attendant leaned halfway out from behind the door and pulled the heavy panel inward did the two guards snap awake, hastily straighten their halberds, and stiffen their backs.
Amid the low rasp of the turning hinges, Governor De Sousa stood beneath the portico, wiping sweat from his temples and neck with a silk handkerchief.
He had just descended the spiral staircase and was breathing heavily, his fleshy chest heaving beneath his silk shirt. The skin at his collar had turned a dusky red from the sweat.
Even so, he kept pace with the Black-Armored Swordsman behind him, chatting as they headed toward the courtyard.
After breakfast at the governor's invitation, the two walked out into the courtyard of the Governor's Mansion.
The morning breeze swept in from the harbor, stirring the magically preserved flowers in the courtyard beds. Dew tumbled from their petals and leaves, and a sweet, fresh floral scent drifted through the air.
Governor De Sousa tilted his head back, his nostrils flaring as he drew a deep breath that stretched the front of his shirt even tighter. A satisfied expression appeared on his face, and he spoke without looking back:
"Sir Renato, I've already issued instructions about those strange magic circles you