Paths as well as vines, fountains, and sitting areas are decoratively placed through out the courtyard. It's a place where people are welcome and arrive to enter the castle of the court.
Courtyard exterior, Outside Palace
merchant
guard
I guard the castle.  I guard the king.  I would kill to protect the royal family.
Hello merchant. Have you seen my sword? Good day, guard. I have not. However perhaps I can help you find it. Did you lose it in this courtyard? I lost in inside the guy I stabbed. He was trying to kill the king. Have you seen him run in ehre? Oh dear- sounds like it's been quite the day for you! But hoorah for saving the king. Surely there will be great riches. I did see some blood on the side of the fountain. Did he come this way? Oh yes! I'll look over there. He is probably dead somewhere with my sword.  Say- I have a number of mighty fine weapons in my bag you might find useful. See any you like? Oh, nice. Look here at all these fine weapons. Which one is the sharpest I wonder. See this stabby forky thing? That's what I call it! It's a newfangled weapon guaranteed to rip the guts out of your foe. And unlike your sword, it comes out clean! I want it! It can come out clean and I can use it to stab others quickly. But it won't come out clean! It'll come out RED.  Ah, so true! Red with the blood of your enemy! You are a wise guard - I'll give it to you for nothing more than your protection as I cross through this courtyard.  Of course I will protect you. The King is being guarded by my trusted comrade.  Thank you, kind guard. I'm on a quest and am traveling a far distance, and you never know where trouble may lurk.