Sanctuary in Velvet

I walked back through the iron gates and quiet corridors, the long march from the arcade having settled a welcome stillness into my limbs. Entering the darkened parlor, I approached an open mahogany coffer lined with tufted black velvet upon the low credenza. Setting my metal goblet upon the polished wood, I stepped across the brass hasp into the cushioned recess. The dense silk yielded softly beneath my boots, cradling the heavy folds of my mantle. Leaning back against the padded bolster, I allowed the chamber's profound silence to wash over me, granting myself an unhurried respite from the restless world outside.