News of Lord Ambrose's dramatic return spread through the capital's noble circles with the speed that only truly scandalous gossip could achieve.
By the time the sun had fully set, half the aristocracy had heard some version of the story: how the newly appointed Imperial Defender had threatened to remove a guard's ears for disrespect, how his mere presence had cowed the man into submission, and how he had ridden through the Noble's Gate like he owned the city itself.
The tale grew with each telling, as such stories always did. Some claimed Grim had drawn his sword. Others insisted he had used magic to intimidate the guard.
A few of the more creative storytellers suggested he had arrived with an escort of mysterious warriors who melted away into the shadows once he was safely inside the gates.
In the imperial palace, word reached the Empress as she sat in her private study, reviewing reports from across the empire. A discreet knock at her door announced the Chancellor.
