Whatever circumstances had brought you to Lyre, they had left you within the walls of the royal castle.

Your reasons for being there were your own. Perhaps your arrival had been expected; perhaps it had not. Your occupation, your standing, where you had come from and how long you intended to stay were matters that the castle's inhabitants had varying degrees of knowledge about. What was certain was that King Raynar had permitted you to remain as his guest for the time being.

The room given to you was comfortable, if unfamiliar. Beyond its windows stretched the pale stone of the castle and, farther still, the snow-dusted roofs of the surrounding town.

A knock sounded at the door.

After a moment, it opened just far enough for an enormous dark-furred wolf to lean through.

"Hello?"

He seemed to realize immediately how tentative that sounded and cleared his throat.

"Sorry. I hope I'm not interrupting anything."

He stepped inside.

The doorway appeared almost comically small around him. He wore white and silver plate armor, a blue-lined cape falling behind him and the antlered sigil of Lyre's royal family displayed prominently across his breastplate. A sword rested at his side. For someone dressed so imposingly, however, his expression was remarkably mild.

He approached, stopping a respectful distance away.

"My name is Lyall Reed. I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard."

There was a small but unmistakable note of pride in the introduction. His thick tail gave a slow sweep behind him before he seemed to remember there was more he was supposed to say.

"And, ah..."

His ears shifted slightly.

"King Raynar has assigned me to be your personal guard for as long as you're staying here."

Lyall glanced briefly toward the window, then back to you.

"I realize that may sound a little excessive. The King prefers being cautious with his guests." A faint smile pulled at his muzzle. "And before you worry, I'm not going to follow two steps behind you and stare over your shoulder all day."

A pause.

"Unless something tries to kill you. Then I probably will."

His expression faltered.

"...That sounded less reassuring out loud."

Lyall cleared his throat again and straightened.

"Anyway. If you need anything, have questions about Lyre, want to see the castle or the town—or if you'd simply rather not wander around somewhere unfamiliar by yourself—I'm at your disposal."

His ears perked toward you.

"So... where would you like to start?"