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The sun came up on the horizon and the people moved again. The warriors were able to sleep in shifts during the later hours of the night. Valerian sat with Quies as the coachman and held the reins. He could interact with the beasts and they trusted him.

The speed of the convoy was faster and they were moving ahead of schedule. One afternoon when they all stopped to have lunch, Azula asked, “Valerian, are they all fine? Can they keep up with this speed?”

Her question was for the beasts. She was worried about the speeding up a bit too much and exhausted themselves. The boy replied, ‘Rest assured, Your Highness, they are not so fragile.’

After a week, they arrived on a hill, the pass in front of them was the only way to get to their destination, the imperial city. From the high vantage of the pass, they could even see the city constructed below. Valerian was surprised, this was the first time he was witnessing something like this.

A city surrounded by pale golden walls. The city was made around a mountain, the foot of the mountain had golden fields surrounding it. Quies sighed and said, “Valerian, this is the imperial city.”

Valerian was lost in admiring the scenery and nodded dumbly. He used his signs to ask, ‘Is the military posted outside to stay on guard all the time?’

Quies nodded and said, “Yes, the task of a military is to safeguard the civilians, so they are asked to stay outside the city. They are people from all over the empire.”

Valerian nodded, he gazed at the city, it the dim radiance of the setting sun, and the lights from the households became even brighter and more beautiful. His state of mind was similar to the two ladies inside the carriage.

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...

Conixia almost had her face glued to the window glass. She asked, “Your Highness, you might be able to watch the whole city from the palace, right?”

Azula shook her head and said, “You can only watch one side of the city at a time, and that too, from the palace walls.”

Priscilla chuckled and said, “Your highness, can you not be so practical. Do not destroy her curiosity.”

During the past week of travel, they have come to develop a better understanding of each other’s character. Consano was meticulous and calm, while her younger sister was frivolous and haughty.

Consano gazed at the city and said, “The layered layout of the city is a very good strategic design.”

Azula nodded and said, “The forefathers were intelligent.”

The ladies all smiled and they began to discuss the city. It took them the whole night to cross the path. Quies said, “Go ahead and inform that the princess has returned.”

One of the warriors broke away from the formation and dashed forward on his mount. Quies said, “Before the city gates, we have to cross through the military outpost, so the guard will go ahead and inform the people, otherwise the checks and the documentation will take a long time.”

Valerian nodded and asked, ‘What documentation?’

Quies was surprised momentarily, then he said, “You are not fifteen years old. The empire has a standard identification system and those documents are proof of your identity.”

Valerian asked, ‘Why do you have to wait till you are fifteen to get the documents?’

Quies replied, “Because that is when you reach adulthood.”

‘So, does that mean only the adults have the right to be a citizen of the empire?’, asked the silver-haired boy.

Quies was surprised and then said, “The point of identification is to screen the criminals. When you arrest someone, you can maintain a record of the identity of that person and check if they had committed any crimes in the past.”

Valerian shook his head and said, ‘I do not understand, what if a child commits a crime? How will he be checked? Sir Quies, you should be well aware of what a child is capable of.’

Quies smiled and said, “Not everyone is like you, Valerian.”

The boy shrugged his shoulders and the journey continued. The speed was not slow, and just when the sun came up on the horizon, the convoy reached the military outpost. However, no one stopped them.

Valerian could see stone rooms on both sides of the road. He could also feel the battle intent radiating from the warriors here. Even in the capital was in the center of the empire, it was still to be guarded in case of rebellions.

Suddenly, a loud voice broke the serenity of the morning. “Old Quies, are you back?”

Valerian turned his head to locate the source of the voice and found an old man sitting in a chair waving toward them. Quies also raised their hand and said, “See you in the evening, at the old place.”

The convoy passed the place and a few people greeted Quies. Valerian did not know the identity of the old man. However, before he could ask what was going on they had arrived in front of the city gates. The guards here had a different uniform than the ones outside.

The military outpost had proper metallic armor, while these guards had only soft leather armor. Quies said, “These are the city guards, to make sure that they do not bully the civilians, they have soft armors.”

Valerian nodded in understanding, he did not care. The guards recognized the carriage and they also were informed by the warrior earlier. They all bowed and said, “Welcome back, Your Highness.”

The guard grabbed a conch dangling by his waist and blew it hard twice. Usually, the people were only allowed to get inside the city through the small door, but as a direct descendant of the royal family, Azula’s convoy enjoyed special treatment.

The giant gate, at least fifteen meters high was opened with the help of pulleys and gears. Valerian sensed Quies nodding and moving the reins he directed the Blizzard Bucks to move forward.

It was just the break of dawn and most of the city was asleep. Valerian could only hear the chirping birds and the clip-clops of the hooves on the cobblestone road. The road was very wide and clean.

The road was made like a coiling snake, spread around the mountain. For the first hour, Valerian watched the crop field at the foot of the mountain. The speed of the convoy was not slow, but it will take them at least six more hours to get to the royal palace.

They could not access the special channels made for emergency situations or the time will be cut down to a couple of hours. Valerian was engrossed in the fleeting scenery. Quies would tell him about the important locations spread on the route to the royal palace.

Valerian listened very calmly, absorbing the details. After six hours, just when the sun had climbed to the top of the blue sky, the convoy reached the final stretch to the royal palace.

The palace had a separate curtain wall, protecting it from the four directions, with watch towers and guards patrolling them. When they reached the palace gates, the warrior who was traveling ahead of them joined the formation.

Valerian, suddenly raised his head and asked Quies, ‘Do I have to kneel in front of anyone?’

Quies was aware this question will be thrown at him someday. He had no idea how to answer it and said, “You should talk to her highness, about this.”

Valerian rolled his eyes at the old man but did not comment any further. The carriage passed through the gates and the guards all bowed their heads slightly when they saw the carriage.

The uniform of the guards inside the palace was full plate cerulean armor. They all looked very dominating, their battle spirits were strong. However, the boy was indifferent in face of intimidation. He observed the palace layout and found it to be similar to the city, layered.

The carriage finally crossed the fourth gate and came to the actual royal palace. Quies asked, “What do you think so far, Valerian?”

The boy replied, ‘City within a City. This is a good way to describe it I guess.’

Quies nodded as the carriage moved slowly through the garden pathway and after moving around in half a circle it stopped in front of a rectangle doorway. Valerian jumped off the seat, came to the door, and opened up the steps.

Quies was still sitting on the seat. He did not tell Valerian that this was the task of the ushers on the door. The child did not give him the time. Priscilla got down first and helped Azula come down.

The guards bowed and said, “Welcome home, Your Highness.”

Azula replied with a polite, “Thank you.”

She looked around at the place, trying to see if the scenery has changed. Just then, a man dressed in a green tunic came out from the doorway, and said, “Your Highness, His excellency has summoned you.”