Even if we had reached the better roads, it was still going to be so ti before we reached the capital. We rolled on for a couple of hours before Altria grabbed my attention. She had been leaning against the window aimlessly looking out of it, when she suddenly sat up and called out to .
"Hey Theo, you should co and look. I think you'll want to see this."
"What is it?" I asked, half dozing sat in between the other girls.
"Just co and look."
"Sure."
I got up from the seat and stepped over to the edge of the carriage to see what it was that Altria wanted to see. I placed my head right up to the window so I could look along the road. The road was steadily rising up in front of the carriage and there were several carriages trundling along in front of us. There were also many people walking up the hill to the sides of the road, but none of this was what Altria had called over to look at.
I pulled my gaze further up the road and into the distance. I soon realised what it was she had called over for. The capital city had just co into view and it was unlike any of the other cities I had seen. It was vast in size in comparison and sprawled out over the large hill it was built over. The buildings caught the last of the evening sun and glistened, but that wasn't what really caught my attention. The place was built in amongst a forest, with lanes of trees intersecting the built up area's and the summit of the hill was crowned with towering trees that dwarfed the tallest buildings. It was an impressive sight.
"The forest is part of the city?" I blurted out as I looked on.
"Yes, this city was built for all the races of the alliance, to live together as one. The elves and other races ca from the woods. Not all people live in artificial hos like the humans. The capital combines both of these worlds." Altria explained.
"I've never seen anything quite like it before."
"It's even more impressive up close, but I thought you would appreciate the view from here as it is your first ti."
"I do! Thanks for pointing it out for ."
"No problem. It'll probably be dark by the ti we arrive in town, so you'll have to wait until tomorrow to see it properly."
I stayed at the window taking in the sight for a few minutes, until I decided to sit back down. Our carriage had slowed right down now. As we got closer to the city more and more traffic joined the main road and before long, we were in a queue waiting to enter though the main gates. It took almost two hours, before we reached the guard post situated at the entrance. As we drew close it beca clear why, as almost every cart and carriage that passed through had its docunts and cargo checked. I wondered if this was usual procedure or just because of the upcoming summoner ritual and the security was increased.
"I swear that every ti that we co here the security has increased." Complained Lillia.
"Well, we are at war and with the ritual happening tomorrow it's no surprise that security is tighter than usual." Serin offered an explanation.
The carriage ca to a halt as we reached the guard post. The inspector first spoke to Rosa and checked over her paperwork, once he was satisfied there, he ca to inspect the rest of us sat inside. He tapped on the window and made a signal for us to open up. Altria slid the window and greeted the man.
"Good evening, officer."
"Evening… Docunts and identification please." He replied a little gruffly.
"Yes of course." She replied before showing him her adventures guild tag.
"Docunts, what do I need to show him?" I asked.
"Just show you guild tag like Altria did." Serin explained.
"Right."
Lillia and Serin both showed their guild tags to the inspection officer without him batting an eyelid, then it was my turn. I took the tag off from around my neck and passed it through the window just like the others had. He took one look at, then glanced over at and opened the door to the carriage.
"Could you step outside please?" He asked coldly.
"Sure… Is there sothing wrong? I asked concerned at my different treatnt.
"Just need to make so checks, co with ."
I did what he asked and climbed out the carriage. As soon as I had stepped out the man grabbed tightly around the wrist and pulled in the direction of the guard house. However, seeing what was happening, Lillia jumped out of the carriage and followed after us.
"What is the aning of this?" She asked loudly.
The officer was slightly surprised by the sudden shout from behind and the questioning tone from my fellow passenger.
"Just procedure. The rest of you can head into town, but he is staying here to answer so questions." The officer replied curtly.
"Questions! What for?"
"He is young man from the boonies, that's strange enough in itself. What's more the only docuntation he has on him, is his guild tag."
"The only identification we showed was our tags, but you aren't hauling us inside for questioning!"
"His tag is barely a month old, and yet he's coming to the city from the country. It's suspicious. Don't worry, if we can ascertain who he is we'll send him on to you safely. Good evening." The officer said, cutting off the conversation with a smug grin.
He turned around and continued to pull towards the guard house.
"I'm not having it. He is with and under my protection. I demand that you unhand him imdiately and treat him with the respect a hero deserves!"
The man stopped in his tracks.
"A hero?"
"Yes!"
"Well, even if that happens to be true, we still need to go through the proper procedures." He replied clearly annoyed at the tone Lillia was taking and went to turn back to the guard post.
"It wasn't a request for you to unhand him. It was an order!" Lillia shouted loudly.
"Listen, you may be a ranking adventurer, but you have no right to go barking orders at like that." The officer replied angrily.
I was starting to worry that Lillia arguing with the man was only going to make matters worse for .
"If you had done your job properly in the first place, you would have realised who you were talking to and wouldn't be questioning following my orders."
"Look, I told you before, you adventurers don't hold any sway here!"
"That may be true, but what about this?" Asked Lillia as she pulled sothing out from her pocket.
"A royal seal?" The man gasped, dropping my hand imdiately.
He stepped forward to closer inspect the object that Lillia had produced. He quickly realised that it was the real deal and dropped to one knee.
"I'm deeply sorry for the confusion princess Lillia."
"That's quite alright. Just make sure to conduct your inspection properly in future. Theo co here."
I did as she asked and quickly ran back to the carriage, then climbed inside before the officer decided to change his mind. As I did the head of the guard who had noticed the commotion had co over to see what was going on. He imdiately recognised Lillia and bowed.
"Princess Lillia. Is there sothing the matter?" He asked clearly worried.
"It is all cleared up. Just make sure to keep a closer eye on your n in future. Good day."
"Will you be requiring an escort to the palace?"
"That won't be necessary."
Lillia turned around without saying another word and climbed back on board. The head of the guard waved on our driver and we rolled through the main gate and into the city. As we left, I could see the head of the guard asking the inspection officer what had happened. The poor man got a slap around the head and a good shouting at once he told him what had occurred. The guard might have been a bit of a jobsworth, but as far as I could tell he was only trying to do his job. It must have been a rare occurrence for man with only a month's record and no other docuntation to appear from the countryside.
We had soon passed through the city walls and were travelling up the main street through the city. The streets were ever so busy compared Dunshelm, but that wasn't the only thing that grabbed my attention. In amongst the many won, were n. It was such a shock after barely having seen them since I had arrived here. Sure, the guards at the gate were n and I did know that in the capital there were more, but it was still a surprise.
It wasn't as if they were everywhere and it was probably under a quarter of the crowd that were male, but it was still a striking difference from everywhere else I had been here. What Serin had told before really hit ho now I could see it. The nobility really had pulled back their forces to the capital and had left the common folk to die, while they hid behind the city walls.
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