They stand in a massive throne room, with pillars that stretch and branch into the ceiling like carved trees of stone and a walkway down the center in a deep-green like the forest floor. It leads to a raised platform where a large throne sits, flanked by six seats on either side.

Behind those: An enormous pendulum swings back and forth, casting shadows with the light that trickles through the tall frosted windows it hangs in front of.

"Uhm, wow. Yeah. Er."

A bit stunned by the size and scale of the room, it takes Scorpius a moment to realize that they're not alone.

Clockwork guards line the throne room on either side. Guards who slowly turn their heads to look at them.

Scorpius starts talking, fast: "Right, so. Heart of the Palace? Could be the throne room? Maybe we need to stop the pendulum?"