The travel through the skies took less ti than any of the Khulman warriors thought it would. On the sa day, just before nightfall, they were already descending as they had arrived at Avalon. From the observation deck of their airship, Bakhi once again leaned forward, stunned into silence just as he had when they had left Markoth.
From high above, the city looked like a perfectly designed image, one that had been drawn on the map before being built for real. Which was exactly the truth, but he hadn't realized it yet. While Lancelot felt that Khulman City was weird and troubling, this ti around, Bakhi was feeling the sa thing. Avalon was artificial... and he didn't like it.
Shaking his head, he swallowed hard, pushing down his first impression, moving his eyes to pick out as many details as possible. It was then that he finally looked away from the city and saw it hovering in the air.
If the Stormbringer they were riding on was a marvel, the massive vessel in front of them was a floating fortress. He finally believed Lancelot and that the Calot was real. It was indeed twice as long as theirs and broader than a city block as their airship passed by it, going to its designated landing platform.
“That’s... bigger than a palace,” one of Baki’s n whispered, gulping.
"I told you," Lancelot just grinned, standing with them. “That’s our flagship, The Calot. Usually, it is under my Father's command. The news he sent to us says it had just returned, bringing along an envoy from Ishillia, one who will also et with us in the Palace. Co, let's get to preparing; we will soon land, and I will bring you all into the city!”
He was about to follow him, but as they descended toward one of the upper landing pads, a flash of movent below drew Baki’s eye. It was coming from a sleek black-and-silver... snake... Coming along and blowing white clouds from its front.
"What's that?" He asked without thinking.
"Hm?" Lancelot looked back, glancing down, "Oh? That? It is a train. Because it spews white smoke, it is a steam engine variant, so it is probably one from our allies... We are already phasing those out... Hm. It is coming from the west, so I guess, by the colors, it is one of the trains we sold to Lacri."
"Train?" The Khulmans looked at each other, understanding exactly nothing of what he had just said. "What?"
"Think of it..." Lancelot shrugged, not wanting to get bogged down with explanation, "To be a tal caravan rolling around a track. You will probably see it up close later... co! We can talk about it on the way!"
Following him this ti around, Bakhi didn’t even realize he had stopped breathing until the ramp of the airship touched down, and the ship's doors hissed open, letting the Avalonian air rush into the main bay. Like soone who was hypnotized, he walked behind Lancelot, who was dressed in his military uniform, walking with a straight back, ignoring the still-present pain from his ribs. What brought Bakhi back to reality was the figure waiting for them.
Thanks to Lacnelot's previous description, it wasn't hard to recognize who she was.
It had to be Yuri, the third wife of the Sovereign, a forr bandit and now a reford woman. True enough, she had to be a warrior, Bakhi thought, still seeing the combat readiness in the woman's posture and the hidden daggers in her eyes as she scanned them all. Beside her stood a dozen other soldiers in uniform, each looking young, likely teens, probably people in training, and... won? It was another surprise for him to see that Avalon let won serve in its army.
“Welco ho, you rascal,” Yuri chuckled as soon as Lancelot stepped onto the ground, looking him up and down, reaching out and touching his chest.
"It's still healing..." Lancelot tried not to wince but failed miserably, so he quickly tried to change the topic: “It’s good to be back.”
"Go, find Mikki; she will put it together. I do hope you gave the one who did this to you a proper ass-whooping!"
"Nah, I lost. Completely."
"So did we." Pion stepped up, lowering his head, making Bakhi a bit nervous, but Yuri just raised her eyebrows, finally leaning to the side to glance at the Khulman envoy and his group.
“You must be Bakhi,” she said, stepping forward. “Huh, not as tall as I expected."
"..." Was it... an insult? Probably. But Bakhi and the rest tried not to show any anger. He was also too old to get hung up on sothing like such an obvious provocation.
"Oh well! My hubby is expecting you, all of you, so welco to Avalon!” she giggled, looking at them all, but her smile was that of a wolf and not of a human.
"We greet you," Bakhi bowed stiffly, caught between military and regular formality, not really knowing how to properly choose between the two. “It is an honor, Lady Yuri.”
"Sure, sure," She nodded, waving her hands, then turned on her heel. "No need to bow around ! Let's go, I'm starvin', and tonight Luna made lamb stew... I don't want it to get cold!”
...
....
......
Welcoming the Khulmans into my ho, I sat at the center of the throne room. It was late, so no ministers were here, and I made sure I excused rlin, too, to be with Elena and let him shock the Khulmans tomorrow. They had a lot to digest already, anyway, and my Pri Minister would be too much... I also made sure that my posture was relaxed, direct, and, well, ordinary. I guess.
Beside , Mikan stood there quietly, her hands folded before her. It was she who suggested that we should do it this way, to ease their possible misgivings, treating the envoys like scared little kittens. Which was a cute thought. Yet it was also she who sent Yuri forth to get them... I knew that I should let her et Lancelot first and foremost, but I also knew that she would probably put so stinging words into her greeting as they did injure Lancy. Well, nothing serious should happen while she gets them into the Palace... I guess.
As if sensing my thoughts, Luna looked at from the other side, her mismatched eyes telling that I should not take that for granted. Then, with a smile, she just looked over her shoulder, glancing at Galahad, who stood just a few steps to the left of us.
Of course, my youngest son was as still as a statue, his hands clasped behind his back, his face calm, but I could see in his eyes that he was annoyed. He was working on his machine day in and out... And now, my preventing him from buzzing there for a few days was like taking out a half-eaten candy from a child's hands. He wasn't happy about it.
Still, his eyes shifted, and he did what he did best when the envoys entered the room. He was already studying the new arrivals like he was sitting down before a puzzle. He was morizing their stances, their expressions, and the tiny, unspoken tensions in how they moved or twitched.
Of course, he was not alone. I forced Morgan to be here, too, not allowing her to skip her duties as my daughter, no matter how hard she tried. She, of course, argued that Leyla and Arthur are not here... but, duh. They were away, visiting Atuvia with my mother as we worked on connecting Markoth with Avalon. Still, even if she was in a pouting mood, she had leaned slightly forward beside Galahad, trying not to betray the curious glint in her eye, as she was still interested in how these foreigners looked and spoke.
Then, there was the last mber of the welcoming committee, Fila.
Just as before, she was still a quiet girl, dressed in soft violet that did little to hide how tightly she held herself, trying to hide behind us all. She arrived yesterday but... She’d spoken four words since dismounting the Calot, and I suspected that four... three were rehearsed greetings for when eting . I had the gut feeling Mirian didn't send her here to play the envoy but only to keep pushing her onto Galahad. Which, honestly... I was not against it anymore because the two were indeed clicking. I even heard Fila speak ten words with him!
Tearing my thoughts away from the kids, I smiled faintly at Yuri and Lancelot, nodding, before I glanced back at Bakhi, coming up right behind them.
He was one of the Khulmans who had entered first, telling he was the leading figure of this detachnt. From what I could gather, his walk was steady, but I saw the careful tension behind his steps. As for the rest... Behind him were the warriors in golden armor, their helts off but their expressions stiff. I had an inkling that they were mimicking how Pion and my n acted in Khulman. From the reports... it was exactly how they did it. Huh. Was this intentional? Or a coincidence? I don't know, but it was amusing to see. Not wanting to make them stand there in awkward silence, I rose to my feet, letting my voice carry across the chamber, clapping my hands before opening them wide as if trying to hug them.
“Bakhi of the Khulman Empire,” I said, offering a warm smile. “Welco to Avalon. You are the first formal visitor from your city of Dagar Khun so that alone makes this a day worthy of record! I do hope you will find my little city to be comparable to your ho~!”
Hearing speak, they bowed as one, sharp and clean, but I could see a grimace hiding on Bakhi's face. He was probably thinking I was playing with him, calling my city little... Damn. I just wanted to be friendly... Oh well.
"We are not worthy of such praise, Sovereign of Avalon," Bakhi replied with the stiffness of a man trying not to let his honest feelings show and look antagonistic. “Still, we are honored by your reception.”
"Please, raise your head, and allow to introduce everyone!" I gestured toward my family after they straightened up, “This is Luna, my third wife. She is Mikan, my fourth. Then, here is Galahad, my youngest son, and Morgan, Mikan’s daughter. And, of course, last but not least, our honored guest, Princess Fila of Ishillia. She is here on behalf of her mother, Empress Mirian, to witness the arrival of the Khulman Envoys and to welco you just the sa.”
Watching how each one of them acknowledged the Khulman warriors with the exact degree of formality required, no more, no less, I couldn't help but smile again, especially after Fila offered a shallow curtsy, eyes darting between them like she just rembered that she was also here and visible.
Well... To not make it more embarrassing, it was best to keep moving forward.
"I know the travel had to be... intense." I descended the steps, keeping my tone light, walking before Bakhi, standing at arm's reach. “I’ll be brief. You are now, as long as you are in my Avalon, considered to be my personal guests! And as such, you’ll be given proper residence, personal guides if required, and freedom of movent throughout the city.” There it was... A surprised blink of his eyes. Keeping up my smile, I let the silence hang for half a breath, then chuckled. “What? You expected guards? Constant supervision? A cage? A pretend tour of my domain?”
"I..." He started to speak, but then closed his mouth again and said nothing. I didn’t need him to answer. It was written on his face that he was indeed expecting it. So, I stepped closer, maintaining his gaze.
“Avalon is a realm of law that I created,” I stated, the warmth in my voice cooling slightly. “We are free here, and while you are visiting, it is the sa for you, too, people of Khulman. I will look at you as if you were my citizens, with the sa privileges. So, you are free to go wherever you wish in my city, just like my people. But... Just as my citizens, please do follow my laws. We do not allow chaos. Break my decrees, and you will answer for them without exception. Then, I will have to restrict your stay as you expected it to be.” I stopped for a breath and let my words sink in. Not too long. Just enough. Then I smiled again and clapped a hand on his shoulder as I passed by him. “But if you can respect the rules of my city, then go ahead! Walk my streets. Speak with any of my people. Learn our history. Explore to your heart’s content!”
"Can we... really go... wherever?" Bakhi finally asked after I passed by him.
"Inside my city... Yes," I continued as I walked toward the windows, watching the light shift across the floor. I also hope that you will inform you, Kahn, of what you see here,” I added without turning. "Leaving nothing out. I won't stop you from sending letters, whatever thod you may use.” From the corner of my eye, I saw him flinch for a mont before I continued speaking. "Be free, Bakhi, from Khulman. I want you to experience Avalon and to tell your Kahn your honest feelings. The reality about this part of the continent... Be it good or bad."
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