"A barrier?" Temeraire looked up, pupils widening as he took in the sight. "No, that was certainly not there before: I must have entered the palace half a dozen times, and never gone through anything of the sort--but then, of course, the palace was not under attack, at the time."

It was not as if it would be unusual--and perhaps it had been a sort of failsafe, to protect the palace, should Malicant come again. But it clearly had not worked, and now Temeraire was not sure if it was now meant to keep everyone else out, or seal something in.

"Can it be broken, do you think?" he offered. "Or ought it?"