Finally the road became level and turned inward to pierce another 
unguarded gate in another high wall, and Princess Nell found herself in a 
green, flowery court before the King's keep—a high palace that appeared 
to have been hewn from a single diamond the size of an iceberg. By now the sun 
was sinking low in the west, and its orange rays ignited the walls of the keep 
and cast tiny rainbows everywhere like shards from a shattered crystal bowl. A 
dozen or so messengers stood in a queue before the doors of the keep. They had 
left their horses in a corner of the yard where a watering-trough and manger 
were available. Princess Nell did likewise and joined the queue.