Calling leave for entry, a trainee soldier quickly delivered a bundle of parchments wrapped in military green ribbon that was sealed by a sergeant’s wax mark.

He opened it without delay.

It took him an hour.

And he had to drag himself back to the desk to search through the drawers to find a calendar.

Thankfully, Wilmer’s secretary had noted the dates of the quakes in the king’s agenda.

But in making the connections, that was the only thing Alfie was thankful for.

He stared at the parchment on which he’d jotted all the dates with connecting lines.

He then bellowed, “Corporal!”

131

The New Airen

The People of Airen

The Royal Grazing Fields, South of Highgate, Sky Bay

AIREN

The cow herders in the fields and the soldiers that guarded the gate atop the cliffs were the only ones who saw them.

But at what they saw, the news would travel quickly as that news was two unicorns galloping into view from thin air, behind them riding their Prince Regent and his betrothed.

And then…

Then…

Oh, the spectacle!

The King and Queen of Firenze.

The King and Queen of Wodell.

The Dragon Commander and his Ice Bride of Lunwyn.

The Princess Serena and a man with the coveted mantle of a Firenz Trusted.

And finally…

Vast armies, including men, women, horses and supply carts.

Just as the ravens had heralded.

Just so.

Led by Prince Cassius and his golden-haired Nadirii queen, they entered the steep-graded, switchback avenue that climbed the face of the cliffs that marked the southern boundary of Sky Bay, riding toward Highgate.

The tall gates were open for day entry and the long procession rode right through.

And thus, it was the citizens of Sky Bay who witnessed what seemed to be a never-ending parade of royalty and military might making its way through the paved streets of the city, not dallying, but riding straight toward the lane that would take them to the Sky Citadel.

But birds had travelled far and fast since the Battle of the Heights five days ago, and the Battle of the Veil, which was just four.

Whispers had become open talk about the vanquishing of the Allied Gentry by their Regent in two places far away from each other, one battle which was described much more as a thrashing.

And these rumors, many found humorous.

Oh, those many Airenzian who clung so tightly to their traditions finding their just desserts in humiliation and defeat.

Really, what manner of man was threatened so by a woman?

She could cook and clean and mend and fuck, but not teach?

Not heal?

Not build?

Not guard?

The Nadirii warriors who assisted their Regent in trouncing the Allied Gentry proved all that so misguided, it was laughable.

And many, many, now free to do so, laughed.

Then again, the Nadirii had been doing such for centuries.

It was just now, those nitwits got a direct dose of it.