The Walled City of Salazsar was silent at dawn. Silent, and cold. Frost touched the roofs and stone walkways near the top of the city. Even in the spring, it was so; the braziers that were always tended to with great attention were mundane, not magic, for that very reason. They kept the frost from becoming treacherous sheets of black ice that might cause a fatal fall.<\/p>\n
Perhaps it was a luxury. And indeed, the ever-burning flames that warmed Salazsar only provided their warmth to the highest floors of the city. The peaks, where, appropriately, only the richest denizens of Salazsar could afford to live. But it was hardly a small place. For Salazsar was the second-largest of the Walled Cities. Where Pallass was a fortress, and had been constructed to fend off attackers from any conceivable direction or even altitude, Salazsar was different.<\/p>\n
The canny [Architects] who had laid plans and designs in countless years past had not trusted to the mere might of walls to protect the city. So they had trusted to something far older, stronger.<\/p>\n
They had built Salazsar into the side of a mountain. There it sat, a mountain-fortress, like the capital of Hellios, or the few other famous cities that had chosen to use geography to their advantage. The home of the Dwarves in Terandria was one such location. But, tellingly, the Drakes of Izril were not content to make their homes subterranean. Salazsar was part of the mountain, yes, but it was built of<\/em> it. As the mountain had vanished, stone by stone, Salazsar had emerged. The city was the mountain, and when the mountain died, Salazsar would finally be complete.<\/p>\n That was the conceit of the city. And it was all conceit. As a lonely Drake made his way from the highest towers and down across crisscrossing bridges in the sky, he reflected that each Walled City was defined by more than just its economic strength. Each city had personality. If Pallass was the City of Inventions, with its limitless capacity for change and burning desire to improve\u2014in politics, in industry, to change and adapt\u2014then its counterpart might well be said to be Salazsar.<\/p>\n For tradition held the city. Tradition\u2014the lineage of Wall Lords and Wall Ladies that had not been rendered obsolete by democracy as in Pallass. A profession\u2014mining, gem cutting, and the wealth and contempt, the arrogance such that even other Drakes pointed to Salazsar as a hallmark of pride. And was that truly a fault? Or had the Walled City transformed a defect into a glowing gem, a city beyond all other Drake cities to aspire to? He knew what he believed. But then, he was a son of Salazsar. The City of Gems.<\/p>\n And it glowed in the light. The towers shone, their stained glass and gemstone windows illuminating the city below with wondrous light from above. The city was a marvel of stonework, of craft, if not engineering like Pallass. No ugly elevators marred its walkways, and indeed, the ramps and stairwells down were sometimes inconvenient to climb. Simply travelling from the top of Salazsar to the bottom would exhaust the lesser-abled. Let alone the reverse. But each section of the city could sustain you; you hardly had to walk far to find amenities at hand or claw or paw. Assuming you were in the correct section. Because, of course, the higher you went, the richer everything was.<\/p>\n Statues passed the Drake by as he walked. Wall Lords captured in exquisite detail, stone busts gravely looking towards oblivion, even entire scenes carved out of stone and given color by gem or paint\u2014or sometimes left bare, starkly reminding the viewer that the past could only be caught in mere stone for moments. And the windows danced their colors upon these pieces of art as well.<\/p>\n It was indeed art that shaped the highest levels of Salazsar, from tower to tower. And why not? The bottom of the city, the width of the city set against the base of the mountain, was made of ancient walls. Already, they were three hundred feet high; anything above that was impossible to strike at. Even a trebuchet would struggle to even graze the tallest of the towers. And Salazsar\u2019s protections were such that no army had even taken the battle to those vaunted heights. Salazsar had fallen before, to treachery and even plague, but not to armies with sheer, destructive might. As the Drake peered over a railing, he supposed that nothing could threaten Salazsar\u2019s elite by air. Not even an entire migration of Wyverns, surely. But Dragons?<\/p>\n Perhaps Dragons. Yet, the ancestors of Drakes had long since passed from the earth. Perhaps all, or perhaps some remained. But they were not a threat as they had been in days of yore. So the Drake walked further down, descending into the main part of the city.<\/p>\n Salazsar was a vertical place. Unlike Pallass, which had floors, Salazsar had towers connected by walkways. Each one was huge, as large as any castle or citadel around the base and narrowing as it rose. Fingers rising to the sky, perhaps. And the Drake descended one of these towers, noting how the elegance shifted, became less pronounced. The statues and reliefs certainly grew sparser in number.<\/p>\n And yet, the majesty of the city never disappeared no matter how low you went. No dingy halls, or low-cut, rough ceilings for the Walled City\u2019s folk. Ilvriss looked up at the ceiling, a product of masterful architecture. Yes, each generation of Salazsar built upon the city, trying to outdo itself. You could capture the construction techniques across a thousand years if you went for a stroll.<\/p>\n It was to the tower closest to the mountain\u2014overshadowed by the retreating rock face\u2014that Ilvriss had journeyed today. The newest tower, being built upwards, was of a classic design. All sleek rock, smooth edges, minimalistic in the nods to, say, gargoyles or other protrusions. Ilvriss was mixed on how he felt about it. Still, it was his base of operations. And he was proud; it had been constructed in his generation. And when he died, it would be there. Standing as a memento to all those who had helped raise it.<\/p>\n That was the pride of this Walled City, beyond all the others. Salazsar grew<\/em>. It absorbed the mountain into itself. From the stones, the city was built. From the earth, its treasures were excavated. Because Salazsar sat on a mother lode of gems. The largest, most comprehensive and varied set of veins in the earth. From its mines, you could find exports of diamonds, rubies, metals like silver, mithril, even adamantine\u2014and rarer minerals still. That was what made Salazsar richest of the Walled Cities for thousands of years. A vein miles deep, seemingly without end.<\/p>\n Of course, one didn\u2019t simply excavate all those treasures with sheer abandon. Ironically, the Drakes of Salazsar had learned first-hand how easy it was to render gold, gemstones, or any valuable commodity useless by having a glut of wealth stockpiled. So they carefully expended their trove of treasures, digging deeper with each passing year, keeping themselves rich, but not bankrupting themselves by excess.<\/p>\n And some day, yes, some day, the glorious treasures of the earth might run out. But by that point, the Walled City would be the mountain itself. And the keepers of this great city had laid vast stockpiles of wealth against such a time.<\/p>\n It was said that Salazsar\u2019s streets ran with gold and gemstones. Which was a blatant lie; anyone who saw, say, a citrine gemstone lying on the ground would snap it up in a second. Who left money lying around? And Salazsar had its lower classes, Ilvriss was all too aware. It was not perfect. But it was richer than any other Walled City.<\/p>\n And its Wall Lords were richest of all. A match for the wealthiest of the Humans in the north, like the conceited Magnolia Reinhart. But they did things better in Salazsar, of course. Ilvriss walked up the newer tower and pushed open a door set into the stone. Instantly, the cold, even chill air of altitude vanished. And he walked into pomp. Possibly circumstance.<\/p>\n The interior of the latest tower was adorned in rich carpeting. Wood built into the stone made Ilvriss feel as if he were suddenly enveloped in warmth; the fire burning in the entryway certainly did that. He luxuriated in the warmth after his cold walk for a moment, then briskly strode towards the next door.<\/p>\n It opened into a large staircase, which branched off into smaller rooms. This high up, of course, each room was meant for only a few occupants. But further down, as the spiraling staircase widened, you could reach entire mess halls, complexes of apartments, indoor courts for exercise\u2014Ilvriss walked up instead of down. Not much further to go now.<\/p>\n Few people were up. Those who did see Ilvriss, sweeping along in his rich, dark clothing\u2014silk, thank you, pleasant on the scales despite the cold of outside\u2014bowed or nodded to him as was their wont. None exchanged words; they were all busy\u2014until a young voice called out.<\/p>\n \u201cWall Lord! Wall Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss turned his head. He saw a Drake child, scales as yellow as a flower, waving at him excitedly. He was tugging on the dress of a set-upon Drake, a [Tutor] perhaps, who was urging him into a doorway. The young Drake was dressed well; of course, he wouldn\u2019t belong to this area if he wasn\u2019t rich. Ilvriss strolled towards him, smiling.<\/p>\n \u201cYoung Felidel. Good morning to you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou too! Wall Lord, sir. They said you were back in the city! Did you kill lots of Goblins? They said<\/em> you fought with General Shivertail himself. Before he died.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss\u2019 smile slipped a bit. The Drake [Tutor] curtsied, her cheeks red.<\/p>\n \u201cApologies, Wall Lord. I\u2019m to teach Felidel\u2019s class, but he insisted on waiting for you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all, Miss\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHessa, Wall Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Hessa. And Felidel, I\u2019m gratified to see you. You\u2019ve grown since our last chat, but we mustn\u2019t inconvenience our fellow citizens, correct?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake child shuffled his feet.<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He looked up and caught Ilvriss\u2019 smile. The Wall Lord nodded to Felidel.<\/p>\n \u201cI have been gone a substantial time. I would have worried, but I\u2019m sure you\u2019ve protected our city while I\u2019ve been gone?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake\u2019s face lit up.<\/p>\n \u201cI have, Wall Lord Ilvriss!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI expected no less. And I trust you\u2019ll learn your lessons and grow into a Drake who can serve Salazsar well. Miss Hessa, I leave Felidel in your claws.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss straightened. He held out a claw, and Felidel shook it solemnly. The Wall Lord smiled. He nodded to the two Drakes, and then he was gone. There went Ilvriss. Purple-scaled, unaccountably handsome, regal even, one of the most respected Wall Lords in the city. A terror to Salazsar\u2019s enemies, a champion of all Drakes.<\/p>\n Bereaved. Periss was dead. And few, too few knew or cared of her passing. Ilvriss walked slowly up the steps to a room near the top of the tower. There he paused, checked his clothing, and entered.<\/p>\n A Gnoll was waiting for Ilvriss, bending over a desk with a younger Drake and consulting a sheaf of papers. They had been sent up by a pulley and dumbwaiter; the Gnoll expertly rifled through them as the [Secretary] sent a reply written on neat, clean paper. The Gnoll, dressed in clothing almost as impeccable as Ilvriss, noticed the Wall Lord and turned. Ilvriss nodded to him.<\/p>\n \u201cAlrric.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWall Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n Alrric nodded his head deferentially, but with only a touch of it. He was wearing a suit, a proper, tailored dress to Gnoll specifications, loose enough for movement and tailored to their form; not some ill-fitting suit. And he fit the part, despite suits being a Human conceit. His fur was short-cut, neatly trimmed and combed unlike the vast majority of Gnolls. It shone with a faint oil, and Alrric himself cut a dignified figure. Except for the black eye. Ilvriss eyed it as the [Secretary] bowed his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI see the day has more than one surprise for me. Good morning, Josial. I\u2019ll take the morning\u2019s reports in my office. Alrric, if you\u2019d care to join me?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll nodded. He pushed open the double doors, and Ilvriss stepped through. Down one short corridor with a branching intersection; this series of rooms wasn\u2019t much. It was just big enough to contain what Ilvriss and Alrric considered essential staff for the management of his estates; it was all reports and managing up here. Ilvriss strode down the hall to the next set of double doors and into his office.<\/p>\n You could spend time describing what Ilvriss kept in his office, but that mainly became a description of endless binders and bookshelves of paperwork. Ilvriss kept his office bare of most interesting things, preferring that to his personal rooms. His office was to work, and so his tools of the trade were sealing wax, ink, quills, magnifying glass, spectacles, geological maps, an abacus, and, oh yes, a small bell.<\/p>\n And paperwork. A folder was already there, waiting to be perused. Ilvriss sat down with a sigh. Then he glanced up at Alrric. The Gnoll stood patiently with paws folded behind his back.<\/p>\n \u201cA recent injury, Alrric? Or trophy?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI gained this last night. I thought I\u2019d keep it for a day or two to remind everyone what it was for, Wall Lord.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I see. The regular dispute, then?\u201d<\/p>\n Alrric smiled thinly.<\/p>\n \u201cA few upset Gnolls I encountered while relaxing at a bar. They took issue with my appearance. I needn\u2019t tell you what\u2019s said.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnlighten me?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll shrugged his shoulders.<\/p>\n \u201cThey call me a City Gnoll, sir. But worse, a pet. <\/em>I\u2019d use specific language, but I\u2019m afraid I didn\u2019t hear much after I took objection to their objection.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd then you challenged them to\u2014what? Fisticuffs?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss smiled. Alrric grinned at the joke.<\/p>\n \u201cI would not use that<\/em> word to describe it, but something like that, yes. You know, they think I\u2019m your [Butler], Ilvriss.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wall Lord sat back in his chair. He tapped his claws together, eying Alrric. He shook his head dismissively.<\/p>\n \u201cA common misconception they get from watching Humans. Did you explain to them the difference between your job and a Human\u2019s before you took them to pieces?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI may have omitted that part.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake\u2019s expression was wry.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps it bears repeating for those who don\u2019t know your class. I can see why they might object, though. Very few Drakes would suffer to be a permanent servant. And Gnolls likewise, Alrric. Could you do what the Humans do? Dress me each morning with your paws? Help me adjust the fit of my clothing? Powder my face?\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll\u2019s face said it all. Ilvriss imagined Alrric fussing over him each morning. Helping him bathe. <\/em>The two shuddered as one.<\/p>\n \u201cHumans. I can dress myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I have my dignity, your Ancestors be praised. Will you review your holdings? We hit a vein of beryl the other day. Aquamarine, more\u2019s the pity, but perhaps there\u2019s some variation.\u201d<\/p>\n Alrric gestured to the documents, and Ilvriss supposed the matter of the black eye was dropped. Gnolls did police themselves, and if it wasn\u2019t an incident Alrric was willing to speak on, he could handle it himself. He nodded absently, paging through the document.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t send word I\u2019ll be along; call it a surprise inspection. Hm. Are the reports\u2026?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLeft side of the desk. You also have a guest waiting on your pleasure.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wall Lord signed with gratitude and pulled the papers over.<\/p>\n \u201cAh, efficiency. I have missed it. In that case, I\u2019ll review, touch base with you on the holdings that have been underperforming in my absence\u2014I think my Skills should improve efficiency just by my return, but we can review the [Manager]\u2019s performances. And\u2026did you say I had a guest?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWall Lord Brilm. He\u2019s waiting in the guest room. Not for long; I will send him in directly. It\u2019s good to have you back, Ilvriss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMy pleasure, Alrric. I couldn\u2019t leave my affairs out of place for too much longer either. I know you had it well in paw. Even so\u2014it\u2019s good to be home.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll smiled. He went for the door and opened it smartly. Ilvriss sighed. It was good. Managing his investments in his city, seeing to staff, enjoying his home<\/em>\u2014it had been too long. First a pointless campaign against an alliance of cities and fighting with Zel Shivertail in a bloody conflict, running up against the Goblin Lord, tracking down Ryoka Griffin in Liscor and staying there for\u2014Ancestors, months<\/em>\u2014before returning home. It truly felt like years. Ilvriss was inspecting the first report in his pile when the door opened. Another Drake, pinkish-beige of scale and somewhat heavier than Ilvriss, but the same age, thrust his way into the room.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone home? Ilvriss!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He spread his claws. Ilvriss got up. He walked out behind his desk and the two clasped claws.<\/p>\n \u201cBrilm. A pleasure. To what do I owe this?\u201d<\/p>\n The heavier Drake chuckled. To call him heavier really was mean; he wasn\u2019t exactly overweight, just with a bit of extra flesh. And he cut a very dashing figure in his red-and-orange conflagration he called an outfit. Brilm was as energetic as Ilvriss reserved. He paced to Ilvriss\u2019 desk and hurled himself into the chair.<\/p>\n \u201cVisiting my friend after he\u2019s been back for less than a week isn\u2019t an occasion in itself? Ancestors, Ilvriss, but you haven\u2019t called, and I\u2019ve been remiss. Can\u2019t you take a break from all this for a day or two and savor being back?<\/em> You\u2019ve been on the road for ages! This must be the height of luxury compared to what you went through.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hardly me camping out with a handkerchief held over my head. I had my command.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue. But it can\u2019t have been easy. And after losing Periss, your best subordinate\u2014ah, I\u2019m sorry.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss\u2019 face froze for a second as he sat down. He cleared his throat.<\/p>\n \u201cThank you. I\u2019ve spoken to her family, but it\u2019s\u2026a blow. Yes. I regret it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn Zel and his army. We might have been at odds with his cities, but he cut apart our army. No love for fellow Drakes, is there? No wonder he threw us over for the Humans at the end.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt wasn\u2019t like that.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo? Tell me what it was like. Ah\u2014never mind. I\u2019m sorry. I shouldn\u2019t speak ill of a war hero. And you were in the same spot as him, weren\u2019t you? Tell me when I\u2019m in a better mood.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss glanced up at Brilm\u2019s sour face.<\/p>\n \u201cProblem?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOnly your Gnoll, Alrric. He showed me in without so much as an ounce of courtesy. Used my name and everything. I can\u2019t fathom why you keep him around\u2014it was hard enough dealing with him when you were gone. I know he\u2019s efficient, but dead gods, there are limits to value, Ilvriss!\u201d<\/p>\n The Wall Lord sighed. Suddenly, he remembered all the little issues that came with being home. Such as squabbles like this. He carefully avoided looking at his old childhood friend.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s a busy fellow, Brilm. An [Administrator] cannot be expected to genuflect at every moment to a Wall Lord, can he? Let alone my [Gemstone Administrator] and executive director in command of all my affairs.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Drake made a disgusted sound as he picked up Ilvriss\u2019 monocle and stared through it.<\/p>\n \u201cOne step below a Wall Lord and you choose a Gnoll for your second-in-command. I\u2019m not questioning you, Ilvriss. I just think it\u2019s odd.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss leaned back in his chair, frowning.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Do you want to know how to light a fire under the tails of your Gnoll workers and have them try to outperform their Drake counterparts without actually lighting a fire, Brilm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEnlighten me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMake a Gnoll your top [Administrator]. And give anyone who works for the opportunity a chance to advance. I have six Gnoll [Head Miners] on my staff, each of them the best I could ask for. They came to me because they knew I\u2019d give them the positions they earned. You might consider it yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI employ many Gnolls.\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm waved a claw, looking mildly offended. Ilvriss corrected the edge of his papers against the desk.<\/p>\n \u201cHow many working in your offices?\u201d<\/p>\n Wall Lords controlled holdings, particular mining areas, or just enough wealth to finance the various sectors that kept Salazsar alive. They were, in truth, the hearts of the city. From their businesses, smaller shops, operations, and so forth flourished. And so each employed individual owed their allegiance to one particular Wall Lord. One\u2026house of Salazsar. That was how the city operated, with efficiency unlike a democracy like Pallass. A Wall Lord had to actively manage his affairs or hire someone to do the job competently.<\/p>\n Brilm ignored the question. He eyed the reports Ilvriss was holding and abruptly changed the subject.<\/p>\n \u201cHeard about the mining crew down on the old Creler-nest shaft? I hear they declined an offer to work for Wall Lady Tielma. Are you going to snap them up? I\u2019ll make them an offer, but if you want another crew as good as they are\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did make them an offer already.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDamn. How much? Mind trading me a [Foreman] or two?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m afraid you misunderstand. I was rejected. Flat out. I fear this team might try to finance themselves and work independent of any support. We might be seeing the growth of an independent mining operation soon, Brilm. Doesn\u2019t that worry you?\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm laughed incredulously.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd how would they finance all their supplies? Tools? Guards against monsters? I hear rumblings like that every few years, Ilvriss. It\u2019s nothing to worry about. To succeed in Salazsar you need a vast amount of wealth.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOr to strike a lucky vein.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTrue\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The two fell silent. Mining was more expensive than a lot of people thought. Even if you dug up a lot of riches, processing and selling your goods was work. Protecting yourself against monsters who loved magical stones was a huge risk. And feeding miners, making sure they were well-equipped, defending against [Thieves] or the unscrupulous who might raid a mining site\u2026it was why the Wall Lords were the founts of all industry. But Ilvriss had read of Drakes and Gnolls who\u2019d created their own magnates from nothing in Salazsar\u2019s history. He wasn\u2019t as sanguine as Brilm.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll talk it over if it\u2019s a problem later. At a dinner party. Mine this time. I\u2019ll have my [Chef] put out a proper spread. Something to make you forget about any privations you may have had.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake smiled warmly. Ilvriss smiled as well, but he shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was hardly as arduous as you might think, Brilm. I was at Liscor when I wasn\u2019t on campaign, and it\u2019s no Salazsar, true, or even a Manus. But it has its strengths. For all its rustic qualities, I found myself enamored with the\u2014the spirit of Liscor\u2019s inhabitants. And there were a number of interesting diversions, for all it was trying at times.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? You\u2019re saying this? Ilvriss? <\/em>Ancestors, you have<\/em> changed! I thought I\u2019d hear nothing but a litany of complaints from you! I was prepared to hear you out and everything\u2014I even brought a gift to cheer you up! I thought you didn\u2019t tell us all about the horrid food and disgusting customs\u2014not to mention the Antinium<\/em>\u2014because you were trying to spare us at your dinner party! Which was a hit, I might add!\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm slapped the table. His rings struck the wood, and he adjusted one absently as he spoke. Ilvriss smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cI wouldn\u2019t let polite company hold me back from my real objections. But you enjoyed the dinner party?\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm blew a kiss with his claws into the air.<\/p>\n \u201cMagnificent. New dishes, fascinating conversation, tales of a Goblin Lord\u2019s defeat, Antinium to worry over, even you pulling out a Pallassian [Captain] into your service out of nowhere\u2014brilliant stuff! And that\u2014that condiment you served with those potato wedges! Wonderful stuff. What did you call it?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMayonnaise. A Human invention, but my [Chef] managed to make it quite palatable. I only regret that I couldn\u2019t bring back more souvenirs of the journey. Some of the things I encountered were quite valuable.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. Yes. The magical door.\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm nodded seriously. He looked at Ilvriss and shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a treasure. We could use it. Not least to transport our miners from the lower veins to the surface! Or facilitate trade; a shame you couldn\u2019t steal it. But I suppose with those damned Pallass fools trying to obstruct your travel back home, it was hard enough getting back. Congratulations on giving them the slip, by the way; we were leaning as hard as we could on them to let you through, but they weren\u2019t budging. I was worried they\u2019d sent their people after you.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI prepared for that. And the magic door did assist me in my escape.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt did? All the more reason to make a bid for it. But\u2014later, later. And speaking of trinkets, I brought this to cheer you up. I might as well show you ahead of my dinner party; have a look at this.\u201d<\/p>\n So saying, Brilm put a small object on the table. Ilvriss eyed it. It was\u2026a gemstone. Quartz; common, fairly worthless until he noticed the shimmer of pink inside the cut crystal. Then he identified it.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. Pure quartz. Clearly holding a spell. Not a powerful one, though. Some kind of single-use spell? A charm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCharm? Do I look like I use charms<\/em>? Please, Ilvriss. Give me some credit. No, this is a recording. Listen. It\u2019s a song<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n So saying, Brilm rubbed the quartz and spoke a word. Ilvriss heard a garbled sound, and then a blast<\/em> of beating drums and a loud, Human\u2019s voice. She was singing\u2014well, shouting something out of the stone. He covered his earholes reflexively.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is<\/em> that racket?\u201d<\/p>\n The sound cut off. Brilm looked offended.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s music! Don\u2019t scowl! <\/em>Listen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s horrendous is what it is. You call that music? Are you on some kind of drugs, Brilm?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no taste, Ilvriss.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve listened to more forms of music than I can count, Brilm. And that is worse than Dullahan love songs. Or Garuda scream-songs.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss grimaced. Brilm glared at him and then, grumbling, reached into the bag of holding he\u2019d pulled the first stone from.<\/p>\n \u201cI should have known not everything would change. Picky, picky\u2014okay, try this one.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulled out another quartz, this one glowing faintly blue from within. Ilvriss ignored the color; that just told him the stone was slightly magical. He watched as Brilm whispered the activation message for the second stone. At once, a soft melody began playing. Ilvriss tried to place the instrument\u2014and then he heard a voice.<\/p>\n It was the same voice as before. A female Human\u2019s voice. Ilvriss braced for a cacophony, but the words that came out were slow, sonorous, spoken with a slow melancholy. And the song\u2014<\/p>\n Brilm smirked as Ilvriss\u2019 eyes widened. Then he looked at the quartz. His own face softened, and his eyes closed. Ilvriss stared at the stone as the song played on. The music swelled, and horns and flutes accompanied the sad, slow song. But it wasn\u2019t just pained. There was a triumph to it. A\u2026passion that the female singer captured. And yet\u2014the words could have come from Ilvriss himself.<\/p>\n The female voice sang on, as soulful as if she were in the same room as the two Drakes. And the words spoke to Ilvriss, in a way few songs had before. Because this was no [Bard]\u2019s melody, certainly no tavern song. And the instruments, the composition\u2014Ilvriss was a studied connoisseur of music in many forms of art. But this was a new style to him. You could feel it in every line. And yet, the song was polished.<\/em><\/p>\n And when it ended, Ilvriss felt himself exhaling a breath he didn\u2019t know he\u2019d held. The last notes of the horns and stringed instruments faded out with the young woman\u2019s voice, and Ilvriss stared at the crystal. It stopped playing music, and he looked at Brilm. The Drake raised his brows silently.<\/p>\n \u201cHm. That\u2019s\u2026genuinely impressive. What\u2019s the name of this song?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI believe it\u2019s called My Way<\/em>. Originally performed by\u2026Frank Sinatra. I have no idea who that is. Look, it\u2019s written here. But the song itself is being performed by the\u2014the Queen of Pop.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm waved a claw.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what she calls herself. There\u2019s no country called Pop\u2014don\u2019t bother looking for it. I already did. It\u2019s a nickname. She\u2019s known as the Baroness of the Beats. The Queen of Pop. The Siren of Songs. The [Singer] of Terandria.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAll that for one Human?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss raised a skeptical eyebrow, but he was rattled despite himself. He looked back at the quartz. Brilm nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cAfter listening to that song, I\u2019ll call her the Countess of Catchy Music. She\u2019s growing in popularity. And these song-stones are hers. A [Merchant] brought some to me, and I brought all three.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are more?\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss was interested. Brilm held his claw up, protecting his bag of holding.<\/p>\n \u201cNot so fast! I have to show my guests something.<\/em> You\u2019ll like the last song. It\u2019s good too. But I only have three of these crystals. They\u2019re rare. Obviously; it\u2019s a magical recording of a performance. I had to pay dearly for it. I gather it\u2019s only really catching on around Terandria, where this Queen of Pop is based. But if she puts out more music like that\u2014she\u2019ll get my business.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss nodded absently. It might be good to look into. He eyed Brilm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are a hawk for the newest trends, Human or not. You\u2019re planning to back this Human financially, aren\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou make your businesses prosper, Ilvriss. I respect that. I find new<\/em> business and invest in it.\u201d<\/p>\n The other Wall Lord studied his claws, looking pleased with himself. He gestured to the first crystal.<\/p>\n \u201cSure you don\u2019t want to give the first song a try? I had the same reaction as you, but after a few more listens\u2014I like it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHave some taste.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss rolled his eyes good-naturedly as he reached for his reports. He skimmed through them as Brilm stowed the gemstones. And Ilvriss resolved to get a copy of the song if at all possible. It was why it was good to have Brilm as a close friend; if he invested in this [Singer], Ilvriss would be able to get any number of song-crystals from him.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t a new concept, storing music in an artifact to be played later. Like the rat-catching flutes and so on. But storing it in a stone? That was somewhat novel. Could you record pictures in one? No\u2014Ilvriss suspected that the quartz would lose the imprint of the music within a month. Even rocks forgot. He wondered if Brilm knew.<\/p>\n He was about to tell the Drake that when a report caught his eye. The [Secretary] had placed it near the top of the pile, and Ilvriss saw why at once. Brilm looked up as Ilvriss laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cSomething catch your eye?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. I don\u2019t know if you know, but Liscor\u2019s going through a democratic phase. They\u2019re planning on having elections.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHah. That is<\/em> funny.\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. See here. One of the candidates, a Gnoll, is getting backed by the Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLess funny.\u201d<\/p>\n Alarmed, Brilm sat up. He peered at the report.<\/p>\n \u201cHang on, this is a copy of a message. From that Olesm Swifttail my [Strategist] was ranting about the other day. Did you hear? He was apparently vouching for Goblins to be\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBrilm, just read.\u201d<\/p>\n The Wall Lord fell silent for a second and skimmed Olesm\u2019s introduction to his latest newsletter. Ilvriss laughed to himself as he read it upside down.<\/p>\n \u201cYou see? He\u2019s apologizing. But\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe election in his city. I see. He\u2019s warning us all. You know this Olesm Swifttail?\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm slid the paper back, looking slightly respectful. Ilvriss nodded. He looked fondly at the letter, picturing Olesm in his mind.<\/p>\n \u201cClever lad. Bring up the Raskghar to make this an issue of security. And mix an apology with some astute commentary on the Antinium. Well done.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s more than astute. It\u2019s essential! Dead gods, those idiots at Liscor\u2014I knew they were touched to let Antinium build a Hive below their city, but they\u2019ll let them expand their Hive? Allow more<\/em> Antinium into the city? Madness! We have to back this Lism fellow.\u201d<\/p>\n Brilm urgently flipped through the newsletter, his neck spines standing on end. Ilvriss frowned, reading another page himself.<\/p>\n \u201cI see. It\u2019s trickier than I thought. Gnolls versus Drakes. I can see why this Gnoll\u2019s pushing for it. And at the same time, I\u2019m certain that with young Swifttail at his back, this Lism could win any regular election. Especially given the campaign topic. But\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n He drummed his claws on the table. Brilm looked up. Ilvriss sighed. He thought of Liscor and wished he\u2019d delayed his departure. If he\u2019d known this would happen\u2014but he had his own city to think of. Even so\u2014he looked at Brilm.<\/p>\n \u201cBy all means, Salazsar will back such a proposal. Funding Liscor\u2019s expansion and security is a matter the cities should be united upon. And I may, as a private individual, make a donation to young Swifttail\u2019s cause. I imagine some of our peers might well do the same.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake pounded a fist on the table.<\/p>\n \u201cNaturally! If it means keeping the Antinium from stealing more power, I\u2019ll give that Drake a few hundred gold pieces myself. So long as it\u2019s going to a good cause. Is that your worry? That this Olesm or Lism will pocket the gold?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot at all. It\u2019s simply that I don\u2019t know if they\u2019ll win.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat\u2019s the problem? We fund Liscor\u2019s expansion, and the Antinium don\u2019t have a leg to stand on. Surely Liscor\u2019s citizens aren\u2019t that far gone that they\u2019d reject\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not them. It\u2019s her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss stared out the window of his office. Gently, he traced his claws across the table, and his claws went to one of his fingers. His\u2026ring finger. And the groove of scales, slightly indented. Brilm looked down, noticing the gesture. And his eyes went round.<\/p>\n \u201cYour ring\u2014<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n He grasped at a golden band on his own ring finger. Ilvriss looked up. He covered his hand discreetly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt will find its way to me. And I gave it with purpose, Brilm.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou. Gave your ring. To whom? Your future wife?<\/em> Ancestors save me. Are you getting married?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ilvriss ignored the question. He looked thoughtfully at the report.<\/p>\n \u201cLiscor is an interesting place, Brilm. You should visit it. And they need more security. More funding. And more space, by all means. All these things are pressing. But for donating to young Olesm\u2019s campaign\u2014I think I\u2019ll wait. Until Liscor\u2019s most dangerous Human makes her move.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMost dangerous Human. Liscor has Humans?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAt least one. Erin Solstice. Say, Brilm, you wouldn\u2019t happen to have more of those recorded songs, would you?\u201d<\/p>\n The other Wall Lord smiled distractedly.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll put you on the list. But about this Human. What will she do? What can any Human do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2026<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u201cLiscor! Meet Pallass!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin spread her arms and shouted. Hundreds of faces stared up at her through the magical door. And from four hundred miles away, Liscor\u2019s people stared into Pallass.<\/p>\n \u201cAncestors. Is this Pallass?\u201d<\/p>\n Wonderingly, a Drake poked his head out of the door. He stared at the crowd gathered on the street near one of the four central staircases of Pallass\u2019 city. Stout Dullahans in armor, bright-feathered Garuda flying up off the ground for a better look, Drakes in every color of scales, and Gnolls, their fur less colorful but shaded in patterns of grey, brown, dark red to blonde, black\u2014but never white\u2014staring and perking up their ears.<\/p>\n And beyond them? Pallass<\/em>. City of Inventions. It might not have been Salazsar, but that did not mean it was any less of a wonder. The city lay below the staircase, floor upon floor of buildings, each floor the size of a smaller Drake city or larger, home to a hundred thousand souls. Pallass, a city of millions.<\/p>\n It was the first time Selys Shivertail had ever laid eyes on it. Really seen <\/em>it, rather. She had been to Pallass before. But that had been when she\u2019d been searching for information on the Heartflame Breastplate with Pisces. And he had almost trivialized the event. And Selys herself hadn\u2019t taken it in. But now?<\/p>\n Grimalkin stood in an opening in the crowd, lifting a weights bar over his shoulders. He lifted the bar loaded with weights in a perfect shoulder press. Watching him was a giant of a Dullahan, a blacksmith. Maughin, the famed [Armorer] of Pallass. And a dozen other [Smiths] had descended from their ninth floor to join the crowd. They were debating weights as Grimalkin did another press. The [Mage] nodded in satisfaction and handed the bar off to a Drake nearly as burly. Relc.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s too light for me. These weights you\u2019ve added are ten pounds each, Maughin? Can you add something heftier?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n The Dullahan frowned as he inspected the weights. He turned to Bealt, the Gnoll [Farrier].<\/p>\n \u201cIt shouldn\u2019t be too hard to cast some iron weights. I can see twenty, even fifty pounds of iron going on this bar. It\u2019s good steel.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cNot a problem. The only cost is in the actual iron\u2014which is considerable. And while we can use weaker irons, the bar needs to be quality steel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cExactly. But if Grimalkin\u2019s correct, and this is a business opportunity, the actual work is far simpler than, say, a breastplate. A single weight bar and rounded weights? We can do a sample set in a day.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah! Give me three\u2014no, four <\/em>hundred pounds! Come on! I can take it!\u201d<\/p>\n Relc roared happily as he did press ups with the bar. A pair of children, Garuda, and Gnoll, grabbed on to both ends as they descended. The weights bar wobbled, then Relc lifted it over his head to the delight of the shrieking children. He shouted, his muscles bulging.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is amazing!<\/em> Lift! Lift!<\/em> Hey, the rest of you runts grab on! I can\u2014lift\u2014it!\u201d<\/p>\n He did another shoulder press as six more children latched onto the bar. The Drake had to work for the next shoulder press, but he managed it. His pectorals and triceps bulged<\/em>, and Grimalkin, watching, nodded approvingly.<\/p>\n \u201cSimple. Safe. Efficient. So long as it\u2019s done right. Maughin, forget the sample. I\u2019ll take six sets. And here\u2019s my gold deposit.\u201d<\/p>\n He reached into his bag of holding and pulled out a handful of gold pieces and began counting them into the Dullahan\u2019s hand. At that, the other [Smiths] crowded around, quoting prices.<\/p>\n \u201cHold on! I can do a weights bar for\u2014eighteen gold pieces!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cEighteen? Hah! I\u2019ll do it for fourteen!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou swindling\u2014ignore him. I can do it for sixteen, pure steel, by evening! And I\u2019ll throw in four of those weights.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe bar came from my<\/em> forge! I\u2019ll do a batch myself!\u201d<\/p>\n Maughin elbowed the other [Smiths] back, shouting at them. Grimalkin looked around as Relc tried another shoulder press with eight kids handing on.<\/p>\n \u201cY-yeah! Yeah? No, wait, you\u2019re too heavy! Let go! Let\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n And that was just the conversation with the [Smiths]. At the door, Erin stood as both crowds from Liscor and Pallass shouted questions at each other. The noise was chaotic at first, but after a few minutes, it began to resolve itself as they took turns shouting at each other.<\/p>\n \u201cI saw this door! This was the one that the army went through! And where we saw those giant moths attacking the city! You can move<\/em> it?\u201d<\/p>\n A Gnoll demanded with an open mouth, pointing at Erin\u2019s inn through the door. He was one of the onlookers who\u2019d noticed the door on Pallass\u2019 side. On Liscor\u2019s side, a veritable crowd of citizens, all poached from the election debate on the street, were staring back wonderingly. Erin laughed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not? It\u2019s just a door!<\/em> Hi! I\u2019m Erin Solstice, [Innkeeper], and owner of The Wandering Inn! All of these people are from Liscor! Sorry\u2014no entry\u2014the door\u2019ll run out of mana! But we can talk!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThis is really<\/em> Pallass?\u201d<\/p>\n A Drake with pink-and-blue scales demanded on Liscor\u2019s side, looking urgently at Erin. The young woman nodded, looking perplexed.<\/p>\n \u201cYup. It\u2019s always been here. Did you hear?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI did. And I wanted to go through, maybe. Sometime. But\u2014Ancestors. I\u2019ve always dreamed of coming to a Walled City. But like this? I could just walk through and\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She waved a claw at the door\u2019s entrance and shuddered, looking pale. Erin\u2019s face went blank. She didn\u2019t get it. But Selys and Krshia and the other Liscorians, standing in the crowd, did.<\/p>\n Pallass.<\/em> It was right in front of them. A Walled City, one of the six wonders of Izril, just like that. The Gnolls and Drakes stared, almost aghast by the sight. Selys was there, along with Krshia, Elirr, and the rest of the Gnolls on Krshia\u2019s election campaign. But they\u2019d forgotten their campaign for the moment\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve never seen it. The streets are beautiful.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Someone whispered from Selys\u2019 right. She looked down and saw an old Drake man blinking back tears.<\/em> He pointed at the smooth blocks of stone that made up Pallass\u2019 streets, so unlike the cobblestones of Liscor or Celum. Pallass\u2019 citizens stared at their streets, nonplussed. One of them pointed at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was all this about you handing out that wet stuff? Ice cream?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYup! We\u2019re out for the moment\u2014all the [Smiths] ate it. But we\u2019re making more. Hey! You know you can come through, right? We can do like two people a day, but if you ask to go through, it\u2019s free<\/em>. It has been for ages.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot in Pallass.\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Dullahans folded her arms. Pallass\u2019 citizens looked disgruntled. Liscor\u2019s were still in a state of shock.<\/p>\n \u201cI always wanted to visit all six Walled Cities. It was my dream.\u201d<\/p>\n The old Drake murmured. Another Gnoll in his middle ages shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t. I always thought it was an exaggeration. When they told me stories about Pallass, I thought\u2014their walls couldn\u2019t really be that high. This is it?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked down the grand staircase and blanched. The perspective of the door was unsettling. If you looked at it a certain way, it felt like you could fall down <\/em>into the door and go flying into the heart of Pallass. Selys felt her stomach roiling at the thought. Erin looked exasperated.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, why didn\u2019t you ask to go through, sir? Or go earlier? You can travel.\u201d<\/p>\n The old Drake looked at her as if she were mad.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not so easy to travel. I can\u2019t just pack up my life like some [Wanderer]. I thought I\u2019d never leave Liscor in my lifetime. It was my dream. This? This is too easy. And what would I do? Spend a fortune I don\u2019t have on trinkets for my grandchildren? Pay for\u2014for what?\u201d<\/p>\n He waved a shaking claw at Pallass. Erin just shook her head. One of Pallass citizens laughed. A Garuda with a fiery red plume of feathers around her head that slowly shifted to orange raised her voice as she flew up a few feet, flapping her wings. The old Drake recoiled, staring.<\/p>\n \u201cYou needn\u2019t spend money, sir! Pallass has any number of free places to visit. Our library, for instance! The Library of Pallass has tens of thousands of books! See?\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed down at a lower floor. Liscor\u2019s citizens craned their heads to see. Erin oohed\u2014<\/em>Selys stared down at the familiar building. She hadn\u2019t been so blown away when she\u2019d visited it, but then, she\u2019d been with Pisces, and he was an expert at not seeming impressed by anything\u2014she glanced over her shoulder. The Horns were at the back of the crowd, tiptoeing to see.<\/p>\n Pallass\u2019 citizens agreed with the Garuda. More of them began calling out.<\/p>\n \u201cBy all means, visit! Even if you have only a few gold pieces, try the bazaar! First floor! Our markets on the first floor see hundreds of [Traders] and [Merchants] each day. We trade in countless thousands of goods.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWow. Is that it?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin pointed at a distant speck, far below. The crowd on Pallass\u2019 side nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cOr just ride a magical lift! Have any of you seen one?\u201d<\/p>\n Agog, Liscor\u2019s citizens shook their heads. The Garuda with the red feathers flew back and pointed out a huge elevator in the distance. Selys\u2019 jaw dropped along with Krshia\u2019s as she saw a small herd of cattle<\/em> ascending at dizzying speeds thousands of feet away. One of the Drakes on Pallass\u2019 side smirked in patriotic pride.<\/p>\n \u201cOur main cargo lifts can carry goods across the city. That\u2019s how we can have our forges on the ninth. And do you see the canals and water running up the sides of the walls? That would be our irrigation system. Note the water wheels? We\u2019ve developed a system that can efficiently transport water up<\/em>. We run a river through the entire city, from level to level. Anyone who wants drinking water can have it fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can make water run uphill? How? Magic?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMagic and<\/em> engineering, sir. You see, it\u2019s all about these water wheels one of our [Engineers] came up with. That, plus this system that allows us to convert magical energy into a pushing force that powers these gears<\/em>\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He launched into a technical explanation that Selys could only half-process. She was still staring. Then someone collided with her back and she nearly fell forwards.<\/p>\n \u201cWhoops. Sorry. Can you move? I\u2019m dying<\/em> to see.\u201d<\/p>\n An aggressive Gnoll pushed past Selys and stepped forwards. Too far\u2014hands and claws pulled him back towards the semi-circle surrounding the magic door. Selys looked around. The crowd in Erin\u2019s inn was a hundred strong and growing by the second. She looked at Erin, who was beaming and nodding along with the explanation.<\/p>\n \u201cErin. Hey, Erin.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman looked up. She stepped back, and Selys fought clear of the crowd. Panting, she joined up with Erin and looked back. Erin had moved her magical door to the side wall to allow as many people as possible to look through. But the inn was packed, and Selys saw more people crowded by the door\u2014and peeking through the windows! Erin looked miffed as she gazed at them.<\/p>\n \u201cOh, so now<\/em> they want to check out Pallass. They didn\u2019t all the other days it\u2019s been here!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo one really took it seriously, I guess. I mean, walking through a door and going to Pallass? I didn\u2019t know it was so huge<\/em>. Even when I visited, we just took an elevator down. But this view\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCool, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin smiled. Selys gulped. That wasn\u2019t her word for it. The sight was daunting. Terrifying. It made her feel insignificant. She had known Liscor all her life and thought of her home city as fairly big. But now\u2014it would fit on one of the lower floors!<\/p>\n To distract herself, Selys pointed at the door as she looked at her friend.<\/p>\n \u201cErin, what\u2019s all this? You said you\u2019d help me with Krshia\u2019s election! Is this part of your plan?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026Sort of?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin narrowed her eyes. She frowned at the crowd and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a work in progress. We\u2019re still waiting on two more parts, but it\u2019ll do.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHow? This isn\u2019t helping us. I mean, it\u2019s a distraction from Lism, which is what we need, but what can Pallass offer us? That\u2019s more of Lism\u2019s campaign\u2014they\u2019re promising to help pay for the expansion instead of the Antinium.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know, I know. But\u2014trust me, I think it\u2019ll work out. I just need to get some stuff from the kitchen.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin grabbed Selys\u2019 claws, smiling reassuringly. She turned as a harried young woman appeared.<\/p>\n \u201cLyonette! What\u2019s the word?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cErin! How did you attract half of Liscor to the inn?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] looked delighted and close to baldness as she yanked at her hair. Behind her, Ishkr, Drassi, and a dozen of the inn\u2019s staff were rushing in and out of the kitchen and behind the bar. Erin smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about it. No one\u2019s hungry\u2014yet. Just get that ice cream ready and have the ovens working, okay?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe need four more ovens and twenty more hands!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette bit her lip. Erin just shrugged. Both Lyonette and Drassi eyed her and both had an incredible urge to poke<\/em> the smiling [Innkeeper], if only to get rid of that relaxed grin.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have a plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Selys folded her arms. Erin nodded seriously.<\/p>\n \u201cI do. And\u2014wait for it, Lyonette. You\u2019ll get a chance to sell stuff. But wait. Are the Players of Celum here?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at the stage. Lyonette stood on her tiptoes, and then found a chair and stood on it to look over the crowd. Selys was the tallest of the three, so she could see by craning her head that there was a bunch of very nervous [Actors] on the stage at the far end.<\/p>\n \u201cThey arrived this morning like you wanted, Erin. But I don\u2019t think they\u2019re<\/em> ready to perform in front of a crowd like this.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey know Juliet and Romeo.<\/em> If they can put on a play, it\u2019s fine. I\u2019ll talk to them. What I need from you, Lyonette, is one of our pizzas. Hot and fresh.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI have six in our two ovens baking\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThe old ones are good. Can you warm one up? I\u2019ll talk to Temile. That\u2019s all I need. Selys, you just wait. I think I know what\u2019s going down. Tell Krshia not to worry\u2014I\u2019ve got this on lock! I think.\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake stared as Erin pushed through the crowd, who parted almost unconsciously for her. The [Receptionist] looked back at Lyonette. The [Princess] gave her a harried look.<\/p>\n \u201cShe says she knows what she\u2019s doing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight.\u201d<\/p>\n They stared at each other. Lyonette sighed.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got healing potions, and if we sold to just a tenth of the people here, we\u2019d make a small fortune! Selys, if you see Mrsha, please make sure she stays back from the crowd. I don\u2019t want her getting trampled. I warned her, but\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Selys looked around and spotted a flash of white balancing on one table. Mrsha and Apista craned to see over the crowd. She pointed mutely, and Lyonette frowned.<\/p>\n \u201cI suppose that\u2019s fine. Pallass, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n She looked at Selys. The Drake nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s something. Compared to Liscor.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Princess] gave her a look.<\/p>\n \u201cCompared to anywhere. My home kin\u2014my home isn\u2019t as impressive in a lot of ways. A Walled City is impressive. I should visit. I took it for granted too, really.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYeah.\u201d<\/p>\n Selys looked back at the doorway. But not just the doorway. At the soaring Garuda, the Dullahans. Species she\u2019d only heard of before, never seen in any numbers. And Grimalkin. Selys remembered his performance, and Maughin. Even Relc seemed small beside Grimalkin as the [Mage] reclaimed the weight bar. And that bothered Selys more than she could say.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get that pizza.\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette hurried off. Selys drifted back to the crowd. She looked to Krshia, thinking to reassure her, but the Gnoll was entranced by the conversation happening at the door. Pallass\u2019 citizens were no less curious than Liscor\u2019s, and now that a dialogue had been established, the questions were turning to Liscor as much as Pallass.<\/p>\n \u201cSo your city\u2019s the furthest north. What do all of you do?<\/em> I know your army fights abroad\u2014we had them, oh, three years back on contract for a nasty campaign against some Gnoll tribes who were raiding our trade routes. But what do the rest of you do?\u201d<\/p>\n A Pallassian citizen dressed in casual velvet\u2014which was a contradiction in terms\u2014looked interestedly through the door. She looked and felt richer than anyone Selys knew. Saving herself, perhaps. A Drake volunteered the answer, patting at his somewhat stained jerkin.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, there are a lot of regular crafts folk, [Farmers] in some of our villages, artisans\u2014you know how it is. [Miners] too, since we do have some deposits. Come spring and the rains, we\u2019re all [Fishers], of course. But I\u2019m a [Hunter] by trade. I\u2019d say there are at least a hundred or two of us in the city. There\u2019s a lot of good game on the Floodplains.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? Hunters?\u201d<\/p>\n The rich Drake lady had a blank look on her face that said that she\u2019d never picked up a bow, except of the ribbon variety. Some of Pallass\u2019 Gnolls looked interested, as did some Garuda, though. A Pallassian Gnoll raised a paw and shouted to be heard.<\/p>\n \u201cBut I hear your city\u2019s got lots of monsters about! How do you handle it? The area around Pallass is good for game and sport, but serious hunting?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, we do have Hollowstone Deceivers\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRock Crabs? Big, scuttling monsters. But you can scare them off with a bit of luck, or outrun them in most cases. They\u2019re not exactly stealthy. Sometimes, I have to abandon a kill, but the real problem is Shield Spiders. We\u2019re lousy with them\u2014it\u2019s actually our annual culling season for them. Prevents them from digging too many pit traps.\u201d<\/p>\n Pallass\u2019 citizens were appalled. The Drake woman spoke slowly as she nervously fondled a velvet sleeve.<\/p>\n \u201cShield Spiders? You have actual monsters living that close to your city?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell, not in<\/em> it\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n There was a tentative laugh from both sides. Selys wanted to, but she felt a constricting feeling around her chest. The curious Pallass Gnoll folded his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cLots of spiders, huh? I wouldn\u2019t mind coming through to Liscor. Bag a big one for my mantle, maybe. It\u2019d be a unique\u2026experience. Right?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked around. Some of the people in the crowd nodded with grins. Liscor\u2019s people looked mildly offended. The Drake [Hunter] coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s plenty to see. Not just our monsters. True, we don\u2019t have, uh, as much space as Pallass, but we have a few wonderful spots.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cLike what?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWell\u2014we\u2019ve got an indoor park. Terrific fun for the children. Enchanted, of course, by Wistram [Mages]. And we have public bathhouses\u2014the best for a hundred miles! The Human cities like Esthelm and Wales don\u2019t even have them. And we get [Merchants] from the north\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cReally? We don\u2019t see many Humans. A lot send goods by way of Zeres, but it\u2019s generally Drakes or Gnolls who make the land route. And a public park? We just leave the city if we want to run around. There\u2019s a lot of nice space to run.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll smiled. He gestured at the walls.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just a few minutes\u2019 walk, tops. Our lifts are very<\/em> efficient. As for bathhouses\u2014well, Liscor might be the best in a hundred miles. You should come and try ours.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks, but ours are fairly famous, you know?\u201d<\/p>\n Another Drake chuckled in The Wandering Inn. The Gnoll on Pallass\u2019 side just shook his head. He pointed down at a lower floor at a large, circular building.<\/p>\n \u201cSee that? That\u2019s one of our bathhouses. We have five. Each one can hold thousands of people at any moment. We even have pools to swim in. Fed by our river.\u201d<\/p>\n Pallass\u2019 citizens nodded. On Liscor\u2019s side, the Drakes and Gnolls fell uncomfortably silent. The Gnoll glanced over his shoulder.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s the other one. They\u2019re themed, you see. In the style of each continent? I personally like the Rhir architecture myself, and they\u2019re all cheap\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His pointing pa w was blocked for a second by a flurry of movement in the air. Selys frowned. What was that?<\/p>\n \u201cAre those birds?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n She pointed at a bunch of dark shapes, a flock or something, that had blocked the view for a second. The Gnoll glanced over his shoulder. The Drake in velvet laughed. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cBirds? No, no. Oldblood Drakes in training. We might not have Oteslia\u2019s winged corps, but we do have hundreds of fliers in the city.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHundreds?<\/em> Wow.\u201d<\/p>\n Someone muttered behind Selys. Selys felt the same sentiment. But she refrained from saying it out loud. One look at the Drake lady\u2019s face said too much. She smiled\u2014politely\u2014and stared back through the door at Liscor\u2019s crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat else does your city have?\u201d<\/p>\n And there it was again. That same wavering in the stomach and heart that Selys had felt looking upon Pallass\u2019 forges the first time. Liscor\u2019s citizens drew back a step unconsciously. And no one spoke. Of course, their city had lots of wonders. Tons! The\u2014the dungeon for instance? True, that wasn\u2019t exactly a plus. And it had lots to see. Wishdrinks, for example. Great bar. Or how about Market Street? It was always bustling?<\/p>\n Or\u2014or Stonesong Boulevard? That was where all the aspiring [Singers] or [Bards] were exiled. Liscor didn\u2019t have many high-level musicians, but it was a good place if you wanted to hear some nice music and a few duds.<\/p>\n It had plenty, thanks. Only, it was hard to say that to Pallass\u2019 expectant, almost\u2014no, definitely <\/em>patronizing\u2014crowd. With their stupid five bathhouses. So what? Liscor wasn\u2019t as big.<\/p>\n And that was it. That was the thing. Liscor wasn\u2019t as big. And if you lined them up like this, with an open door so you could see<\/em> their city and yours, it hurt. It might have hurt more if they were on Liscor\u2019s cobblestone streets, wonderful, but\u2014narrower. Humbler. Selys looked around desperately. Wouldn\u2019t someone say something?<\/p>\n \u201cWell, I\u2019d like to visit. Just once or twice. I didn\u2019t see the need, especially with that five gold entry fee. But maybe a visit or two? But later\u2014I think your side should come through and have a look. Shame that you can only do, what, two per day? But come on over, by all means! It\u2019s a wonderful thing, this door. For both cities.\u201d<\/p>\n The Pallassian Gnoll looked around, to murmurs of agreement from Pallass\u2019 crowd. Selys opened her mouth, but no words came out. She felt in her bones that she had to defend her home! But what could she say? What could she point to? The citizens of Liscor looked on as Pallass\u2019 citizens started to drift away, looking so smug\u2014<\/p>\n And then a cheerful voice rang out. A familiar scent caught Selys\u2019 attention. Erin Solstice walked through the crowd, and they parted for her. The young woman beamed, stepped through<\/em> the door, and lifted what was on a large serving platter.<\/p>\n \u201cHey! Anyone want a pizza?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Pallass\u2019 citizens turned. They blinked at the strange, round object that Erin was holding. A pizza. Selys recognized it at once. Just a pizza. She must have eaten at least ten already, so it was no surprise to her. Big, round crusts, warm, melted cheese, and slices of salami\u2014it looked good. Even if Selys wasn\u2019t hungry. But for some reason, it stopped Pallass\u2019 crowd in their tracks. The [Smiths] arguing over weights looked up. So did Grimalkin.<\/p>\n \u201cPizza? What\u2019s that?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin innocently raised it over her head, waving at Maughin and Bealt and the [Smiths].<\/p>\n \u201cI thought I\u2019d bring some out. As a thank-you. Come on over and have a slice! You don\u2019t need a plate, but I do have napkins.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The [Smiths] looked bemused, but some of them who knew what was what by now pushed forwards, including Bealt. Maughin had to edge forwards slowly so he wouldn\u2019t crush any toes, but Relc wasn\u2019t so restrained. He dropped the weight bar at once and punched a fist up in delight.<\/p>\n \u201cAw yeah, pizza! Grimalkin, buddy, get over here. You have to try this.\u201d<\/p>\n He towed the [Mage] forwards. Erin offered the platter, and Relc pulled off a gooey slice, crowing in satisfaction. He lifted it up and took a bite.<\/p>\n \u201cSo good! Erin, I love you. This is free, right?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFree for my friends! Don\u2019t you dare take another slice! Grimalkin, want one?\u201d<\/p>\n The [Mage] looked bemused as she watched Relc holding his slice on his scaled palm.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t use a plate? Ah\u2014like Lizardfolk walking foods. I had something like this on Baleros, but they were skewers.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got a napkin if you don\u2019t like greasy palms. Here.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin expertly flipped a bit of cloth onto Grimalkin\u2019s hand and offered him a slice. He took it, bit into it, and his eyes widened.<\/p>\n \u201cHm! Better than that sugary stuff! Fascinating. And quite good!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRight? Can I have another slice, Erin? Please? Please?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got one pizza! No! Maughin, here.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin lifted her platter off, fending Relc\u2019s claws back with her free hand. The Dullahan delicately took a slice with one huge hand and lifted it up. Erin lowered it and offered the pizza to Bealt and the other [Smiths]. Three [Smiths] and an apprentice snatched the last four slices. There was a moment as everyone watched the eight chewing, and Selys felt a rumble in her stomach. Then Maughin smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHot. Good food. Too much cheese for me, but it\u2019s novel.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI like it.\u201d<\/p>\n Bealt was wagging his tail hard. So was Relc, and the other [Smiths] all gave silent thumbs-up. The crowd, eying the wagging tails, looked at the empty platter. Someone\u2014the supercilious Gnoll\u2014coughed.<\/p>\n \u201cYou wouldn\u2019t happen to have another one of those, would you, Miss? Where is that from? I\u2019ve never heard of it. Some kind of local dish?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNah. It\u2019s just new. I mean, I haven\u2019t seen anyone else selling it. And sure! I\u2019ve got at least three more in the inn. Want to try them? Say, eight copper a slice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOne silver\u2019s easier! One silver!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette hissed at Erin as she rushed three more pizzas out of the kitchen. Liscor\u2019s crowd watched, bemused, as Erin grabbed the pizzas and began doling them out on handkerchiefs.<\/p>\n Selys bit her tongue. One silver<\/em> for a pizza slice? But Pallass\u2019 citizens didn\u2019t even object. They pulled out silver coins and practically tossed them at Erin, even fighting to get the pizza slices before they were consumed. And after the lucky twenty-four had gotten their slices, a call went up for more.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is it? Good? I\u2019ve<\/em> never seen anything like it. And I was in Oteslia just last week!\u201d<\/p>\n The velvet Drake lady complained as she watched the Gnoll devouring his. He was biting it cautiously. His brows shot up as he took a bite of the tip, then he peeled back the cheese on the rest of the pizza and studied it with a practiced eye.<\/p>\n \u201cI detect a bread-like base. Clearly a tomato sauce. And\u2026cheese on top? With those slices of salami of course. Not hard to replicate.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked expertly at the crowd. Selys sensed at once that he was a [Cook] or [Chef] or [Baker] of some kind. He sniffed the pizza, took a huge bite, and swallowed. Then he turned to Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss? I\u2019ll have another slice, if you don\u2019t mind? To go?\u201d<\/p>\n He had a cunning expression on his face. Erin turned to him and raised her eyebrows.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry. I\u2019m out. We have six more on the way, people!\u201d<\/p>\n Lyonette nodded rapidly from inside the inn. Pallass\u2019 citizens looked discontented, but the Gnoll, his expression and fur around his mouth both oily, shook his head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo need. I can make some of these myself.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou can?\u201d<\/p>\n The velvet female Drake was intrigued. The Gnoll puffed himself up. He grinned, pointing at the remains of his pizza slice in his hand.<\/p>\n \u201cYes. And it\u2019s hardly a hard recipe to follow. We could get this to our restaurants within an hour with some experimentation. Even improve it. Say\u2014you Liscor folk.\u201d<\/p>\n He pointed through the doorway. Erin put her hands on her hips, smiling with a glint in her eye, but the Gnoll didn\u2019t notice. He pointed at the Drake [Hunter], and waved the slice of pizza at him.<\/p>\n \u201cSir, how would you<\/em> like to have one of these \u2018pizzas\u2019 at a lower cost? With better ingredients? I\u2019m sure we could shave at least a few coppers off the price. Imagine it, a new dish, served in my restaurant, the Wyvern Steakhouse\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He was surprised by the chorus of laughter from Liscor\u2019s side. Selys grinned openly as the Gnoll blinked at them. The [Hunter] from Liscor shook his head, highly amused.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry, sir. No discredit to your Skills, but even the most superior pizza wouldn\u2019t tempt me. I had one just the other day, and it\u2019s not new to us over here. We\u2019ve been eating pizzas for months, Mister [Chef]. And we\u2019ve had all different types. Fish pizzas, mushroom pizzas, Yellat pizzas\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n The elderly Drake nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cThey do a really nice all-meat pizza. Have you been to that Gnoll [Baker] down Cherile Walk? She makes this pizza with eight different cuts of meat\u2014goat, Corusdeer, beef\u2014all crispy<\/em> and tender.\u201d<\/p>\n A few of the others in Liscor\u2019s crowd smacked their lips. The [Hunter] turned to the elderly Drake, intrigued.<\/p>\n \u201cReally? I have to visit sometime. Myself, I enjoy a good soup, but I enjoy the novelty of this kind of food. It doesn\u2019t sit as well in my stomach, mind\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Pallass\u2019 citizens just stared. Crestfallen, the Gnoll [Chef] looked around.<\/p>\n \u201cThis isn\u2019t new? But we<\/em> haven\u2019t heard of it.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cProbably because it came from Liscor. Or at least, this inn. Maybe Pallass just hasn\u2019t gotten the latest recipes? Ice cream\u2014Erin knew how to make that too.\u201d<\/p>\n Selys called out, laughing with delight. The red-feathered Garuda exclaimed in excitement.<\/p>\n \u201cThat<\/em> was what it was? But I heard it was from Terandria! It\u2019s rare even in First Landing!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s okay. Too sugary for me. We\u2019ve had it as long as the pizza.\u201d<\/p>\n The [Hunter] waved a claw, looking at the others with an expression of deep pride. Selys saw the expressions go slack on Pallass\u2019 side. Erin smiled and winked<\/em> through the doorway.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not for everyone. But<\/em> I have more! Lyonette! How\u2019s our ice cream?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m selling a bowl at four silver!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFour silver?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Selys and the crowd on Liscor\u2019s side looked aghast. Pallass\u2019 citizens stared at each other. Then they tried to rush the doorway. Erin had to hold them back, blocking the entrance and shouting as Lyonette exchanged money and bowls at the door. Ishkr, a long-suffering look on his face, held a bowl steady as Drassi scooped out the ice cream into bowls that Mrsha was holding up. And Selys felt that knot in her chest easing almost without her noticing it.<\/p>\n Then she saw Erin turn. Someone shouted<\/em>, and the crowd\u2019s press around the door broke up. A group of yellow-armored [Guards] fought through and formed a curtain around the door. Pallass\u2019 City Watch. Selys stared as an angry Drake strode forwards, shouting the crowd back. He whirled, and Erin smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHi, Watch Captain Venim! How\u2019s it going?\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake took one look at Erin, the door, the crowd beyond, and closed his eyes. When he opened them, Erin was still there. He looked at her, half-furious, half with the resigned look that Zevara wore whenever she saw Erin. Still, it was only his fourth or fifth time, so he mustered some genuine outrage.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Solstice. What is the meaning of this? You\u2019ve caused a blockage on the southern stairwell, and my Watchman on duty claims you strong-armed him, absconded with two of our most prominent citizens\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He broke off, eying Grimalkin and Maughin. The Dullahan winced, but Grimalkin just folded his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsconded, Watch Captain Venim? What am I, a kidnapping victim? Master Maughin and I went through that door of our own free will. As we are allowed to do? And the last I checked, public gatherings aren\u2019t considered a crime.\u201d<\/p>\n Venim backed up a step. He worked his jaw, and then spoke civilly to Grimalkin.<\/p>\n \u201cMy apologies, Magus Grimalkin. However, this is a disturbance. What is\u2014what\u2019s going on?\u201d<\/p>\n He only now seemed to realize exactly how<\/em> many people were standing in Erin\u2019s inn. Watching him. It was a mark of his experience that Venim only paused for a second before smoothly turning to Erin and pretending the crowd didn\u2019t exist. Erin smiled a bit guiltily. She looked over Venim\u2019s shoulder at the [Guardsmen], the fuming Kel, and shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry. I know I\u2019m causing a fuss. But\u2014I\u2019m just having a fun conversation! Selling some food out of my inn.\u201d<\/p>\n Venim passed a claw over his face.<\/p>\n \u201cSelling food. You mean, like a street vendor? Miss Solstice, you need a permit, and you\u2019re not allowed to sell outside of designated areas\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNope! Out of my inn.<\/em> Which is right there.\u201d<\/p>\n For proof, Erin pointed. Venim turned and caught a few hundred pairs of eyes again. He wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cEven so, it looks <\/em>like\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI can move! If it\u2019s illegal. Or is it just inconvenient?\u201d<\/p>\n The young woman gave Watch Captain Venim another innocent stare. He wavered.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd the crowd?\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Liscor\u2019s citizens. Lyonette silently circulated their ranks, passing out bowls of popcorn and receiving copper coins in return. Erin beamed.<\/p>\n \u201cThey want to see what your awesome city looks like! Is that illegal?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. Of course. I mean\u2014it is a crowd. In Liscor. We have loitering laws, you know. But if it\u2019s Liscor\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The Drake Watch Captain was clearly struggling to keep up. He glanced over his shoulder and decided there was no help for it. He saluted smartly.<\/p>\n \u201cCitizens of Liscor, a\u2026pleasure. But Miss Solstice, this is<\/em> blocking a major stairwell.\u201d<\/p>\n He looked at Erin as a pleading note entered his voice. Erin was at once instantly reasonable.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it? You\u2019re right! I\u2019m so sorry. We can move back to the old spot! Hey Grimalkin, Relc! Mind shifting the door a bit?\u201d<\/p>\n The two Drakes looked up. Grimalkin shrugged, and Relc grinned. The [Guardsmen] hesitated as the two burly Drakes walked at them. They looked at their Watch Captain, but Grimalkin just pushed aside a Dullahan in Pallass\u2019 uniform and casually lifted a corner of the door. Venim bit his tongue as Relc cheerfully scooted past two Gnolls who didn\u2019t quite want to bar his way.<\/p>\n \u201cCity Watch, we\u2019ll give the door an escort. And\u2014and maintain a presence to enforce the peace. Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin cheerfully nodded. She pointed, and the two Drakes lifted the door with a grunt. Inside the inn, Selys experienced vertigo and a sense of movement as she watched the door proceed down the street\u2014despite her not moving her feet. Elirr, standing next to Krshia, murmured.<\/p>\n \u201cHow odd. But fascinating! I would pay money to have someone walk this door around the city, yes?\u201d<\/p>\n Someone else nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cMe too.\u201d<\/p>\n On the other side of the door, Erin walked with Venim. And the crowd walked with the door. They were certainly not about to disperse when the fascinating doorway was leaving. Even Maughin was tromping after the door, holding the weights bar. Perhaps he smelled more opportunity for business in the air. Or perhaps, like Bealt and the other [Smiths], who\u2019d doubled in number since Erin had last looked, they\u2019d been caught.<\/p>\n All according to plan. Although\u2014Erin looked around swiftly. She didn\u2019t recognize the two faces she was really waiting for. Still, her plan was mostly going in the general direction she\u2019d hoped for. And Venim was just a happy accident. She smiled at him, and the Drake gave her a long-suffering look.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is this about, Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI dunno. Just a bit of city-to-city sharing, Watch Captain. Say<\/em>, can I offer you a bowl of ice cream? On the house? It\u2019s that super-expensive stuff from Terandria, apparently.\u201d<\/p>\n She proffered a melty bowl of ice cream. Venim opened his mouth and hesitated.<\/p>\n \u201cWh\u2014ice\u2014you know that bribing an officer is a cause for offense, Miss Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho said anything about bribing? I just asked if you wanted ice cream. I\u2019ll make you pay if you want. Four silver! No, wait, two silvers? Half-off for our boys in\u2026yellow!\u201d<\/p>\n Venim tried to object, but Erin thrust the bowl into his hands. He reluctantly took the wooden spoon, ate a bit of ice cream, and the rest was history. Erin watched the bowl disappear in moments\u2014after an obligatory pause for brain freeze\u2014and called into the inn.<\/p>\n \u201cLyonette! Ice cream or pizza for the [Guardsmen]! And two [Guardswomen]. Priority! And get me some hamburgers!\u201d<\/p>\n She hadn\u2019t missed the looks on the City Watch\u2019s faces, especially the Gnolls. And as the [Princess] hurried back and the [Guards] dug at their pouches, Erin turned her head. She just had one more thing to do before Rufelt and Lasica arrived. She was interrupted from asking Venim if he liked the ice cream by the panting Gnoll [Chef]. He practically shoved Venim out of the way.<\/p>\n \u201cWait, what\u2019s a hamburger?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n Lorent the [Sharpener] was honing the edge of a nearly-pristine knife with a whetting stone and eying his next potential customer on the somewhat empty street. He was trying to find someone whom he\u2019d never seen before, and who looked like they needed a good knife.<\/p>\n Of course, everyone<\/em> needed knives, but Lorent had to admit that his business had been slow today. Not that it was ever necessarily brisk; he was resigned to that. He got a lot of his money from repeat customers, really. Still, more business would be nice.<\/em> With a sigh, the Dullahan put down his blade and adjusted his head in the comfy basket he\u2019d set up.<\/p>\n And then he heard the crowd. They swept down the street like a carnival in progress, only Lorent had never seen a carnival and had no idea what it was. To him, the crowd was like a mob at first, and he was grabbing his wares urgently when he saw a familiar Human waving at him.<\/p>\n \u201cHere he is! Stop the door!<\/em> Lorent! It\u2019s me!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin Solstice, the young woman who he\u2019d sharpened a particularly fine kitchen knife for just last week, stopped in the street next to a\u2026Lorent stared. He\u2019d seen the magical door to Liscor, but the sight of a huge crowd, and the inn\u2019s floor hovering in the air<\/em> as two Drakes supported it, made the Dullahan\u2019s stomach turn. Slowly, he picked up his head and rubbed his eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cErin Solstice?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s me! Hey! Hey, everyone! Liscor especially! This is Lorent! He\u2019s a cool dude. Lyonette, Selys, Krshia, I told you about him. Maughin, look who it is! Lorent\u2019s here!\u201d<\/p>\n Lorent blinked. He turned his head and saw Maughin<\/em> walking behind the crowd. Maughin, who was practically the most important\u2014Lorent was bowing his head hurriedly, flushing with embarrassment. How could he have missed the Dullahan, even in the crowd? Maughin nodded back, looking amused.<\/p>\n Lorent was speechless, but Erin was not. She turned and waved into the door filled with Drakes and Gnolls. A lot of them were seated near the door, munching on some food out of a bowl. The rest were standing and pointing, clearly enjoying the view.<\/p>\n \u201cLorent\u2019s a [Sharpener]. Isn\u2019t that so cool. This is what Pallass has. Libraries, bathhouses, [Sharpeners]. Amazing.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the people on Pallass\u2019 side of the doorway sniggered. A Drake standing in the inn looked embarrassed. She called out, leaning down to address the young woman.<\/p>\n \u201cWe do have<\/em> [Sharpeners], in Liscor, Erin. It\u2019s not like we haven\u2019t heard of them.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh. Well, Lorent\u2019s the best<\/em>. By far. Hey Lorent, do your thing! I told you I\u2019d do something fun! Now\u2019s your chance!\u201d<\/p>\n Stunned, the Dullahan stared at her. But Lorent was too good at his job to miss an opportunity like this. He whipped out his best knife and his block of wood. He called out to the crowd.<\/p>\n \u201cLorent. Dullahan. You all need knives. Better knives than the ones you have in your city. You may think<\/em> you have [Sharpeners], but can they do this?\u201d<\/p>\n He raised the knife, tilted it so the edge was face-up, and dropped the wooden block on it. Lorent held his breath\u2014this trick was risky even for his best work\u2014but it worked. The knife split<\/em> the block of wood in half as it fell. The crowd, Pallassian and Liscorian both, gasped<\/em> in surprise. And Lorent felt an inordinately pleased smile cross his face. He knew it was immodest to display that much emotion, but he couldn\u2019t help it. And Erin\u2019s beaming smile could have lit up Lorent\u2019s shop for days.<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who wants a knife, grab \u2018em and pass them through! Lorent, follow me! This door needs to go back, but you can move your shop, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Lorent looked up. He took one look at the door, the Drakes and Gnolls eying his blade with the utmost appreciation, and sprinted back in his shop to grab his tools. He hurried out after Erin, part of her crowd. And it was still<\/em> growing. And then one of the people Erin had been waiting for appeared. On Liscor\u2019s side.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n \u2014\u2014<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The crowd that surrounded Erin\u2019s inn was beginning to shrink a bit. Not because of lack of interest, but rather because frustrated people who wanted to see and hear what was going on inside were squeezing into the inn, taking seats further up the common room rather than wasting time standing outside. Perhaps that was why few of them reacted to the new group that appeared out of the Floodplains. Few exclaimed to see the band of Antinium, sixty Workers and half as many Soldiers, tromping this way. True, it was an unnerving amount of Antinium to see in any one spot usually. But Liscor\u2019s citizens had bigger things to attract their attention. And anyone who looked at the Antinium who lived in Liscor would know what they were about.<\/p>\n The Workers were armed with hammers, saws, nails, picks, buckets, shovels, and more tools. The Soldiers were carrying huge beams of lumber on their shoulders, or rocks. They proceeded up the hill, led by a pair of Workers. One of them paused when he saw the inn. The other, Belgrade, assumed it was normal and calmly turned to his Workers.<\/p>\n \u201cThe inn is currently occupied by a higher ratio of guests than normal. Begin earthworks. I will direct you to the building site in time. Eight Painted Soldiers, adopt a perimeter.\u201d<\/p>\n The Workers and Soldiers spread out, placing their burdens on the ground. Eight Painted Soldiers broke off to watch for monsters as the rest grabbed digging instruments and tromped over to a smaller hill next to the one The Wandering Inn stood on. There was no hesitation, no milling about\u2014they transitioned from walking to work in a heartbeat. Belgrade turned to Pawn.<\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps we should confer with Miss Erin first?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn nodded slowly, eying the crowd around the inn.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that would be wise. Lyonette did say today was the day. But maybe Erin is doing something. Let\u2019s find out.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium marched up to the doorway and saw it was blocked. The door was open, and filled with Gnolls and Drakes peering inside at\u2026something. Pawn hesitated. Belgrade, with a [Tactician]\u2019s quick thinking, raised his voice.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me. We are here on business. Please make way. Excuse me. We are on the business of the Hive of the Free Antinium. Please make way\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n His call made those closest to the door turn. A Drake spotted the two Workers, jumped, and grabbed at his friend. A Gnoll looked around, saw Pawn and Belgrade, and laughed at his friend.<\/p>\n \u201cLet them through. Hey! Move on! And now\u2014quick! Follow them in! That\u2019s our ticket!\u201d<\/p>\n The duo enterprisingly pushed at the crowd ahead of them and were promptly rebuffed. But Pawn and Belgrade moved forwards, and the Drakes and Gnolls, seeing them, moved aside. They didn\u2019t quite<\/em> want to stand next to a Worker, but Pawn didn\u2019t see half as many looks of disgust or horror he sometimes recalled seeing. Still, the Antinium made progress where no one else could. Pawn stared around at the packed room, somewhat dizzy from all the body heat and voices.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going on? What is\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. There.\u201d<\/p>\n Belgrade grabbed his arm and pointed. Pawn saw a little Gnoll peering over one table, her tail wagging excitedly. Apista, perched on her head, took flight when Pawn and Belgrade approached, and the Ashfire Bee, who had already been given her own bubble of space, further widened it as she flew around the Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cHello, Mrsha. We are looking for Lyonette. May we know where she is?\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn greeted Mrsha. She peered at him, then pointed. Pawn saw a flash of red hair, and then another familiar young woman. Erin. He pointed, and Belgrade nodded. The two Antinium moved forwards again, towards Erin and Lyonette, who stood at the magic door. They passed by the Horns of Hammerad, who were sitting at a table.<\/p>\n \u201cGood morning, Ceria, Pisces, Yvlon. Ksmvr.\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn stopped to greet them, and he barely stumbled on the last name. The Horns looked up. Yvlon waved. Ksmvr hesitantly nodded at Belgrade, who paused, just staring at them. Ceria smiled.<\/p>\n \u201cHey Pawn. Some day, huh?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going on, Ceria?\u201d<\/p>\n The half-Elf shrugged.<\/p>\n \u201cErin.<\/em> She\u2019s got the door open to Pallass, and everyone\u2019s coming to look. Something to do with the election? We\u2019re just here in case something explodes with monsters or something amazing happens.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd to talk to that [Mage]. Grimalkin. You said he\u2019s a big shot, didn\u2019t you, Pisces?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked pointedly at Pisces. The [Necromancer] sniffed and folded his arms.<\/p>\n \u201cHe is of some renown, but infamy<\/em> is a closer descriptor for his level of fame. He might be an interesting personage to converse with\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI saw him throw a boulder twenty feet straight up.<\/em> If he can teach you to cast that spell on me and Ksmvr, you\u2019ll call him Sir Grimalkin<\/em> and treat him like an Archmage.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon jabbed a finger at Pisces. Ksmvr raised a hand.<\/p>\n \u201cI will call him Sir Grimalkin for you, Comrade Pisces. However, it seems I am disliked by Grimalkin. If you would like, I will remove myself from this room, Captain Ceria, Yvlon.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo way. You\u2019re part of the team, Ksmvr. And Pisces and I can play nice. Right, Pisces?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Pawn heard a sigh as he and Belgrade proceeded. The crowd was especially thick around Erin and Lyonette, but the two Workers simply tapped people on the shoulder and waited for them to turn around. The sight of a Worker\u2019s mandibles, even politely smiling\u2014was enough to make most people step back hurriedly. It didn\u2019t work on Krshia, but only because she was conferring with Elirr and Selys.<\/p>\n \u201cI have no idea what Erin is up to, yes? This is welcome\u2014Lism has barely anyone but his supporters to shout at in Liscor, but should I begin talking about the election now?\u201d<\/p>\n Selys shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cBetter not. It\u2019s not the right mood, and Erin\u2019ll probably give you a signal. I have the you-know-what<\/em> armor in my bag of holding, and I\u2019m not sure when I\u2019ll show it to the [Smiths]. That Maughin guy? We just have to wait and see.\u201d<\/p>\n Then she caught sight of Pawn and Belgrade. Selys paused, and then a smile came over her face. Elirr sniffed the air before he saw the Antinium. The [Beast Trainer] turned and grinned.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I begin to see part of Miss Solstice\u2019s plan, Krshia. Look.\u201d<\/p>\n The Gnoll [Shopkeeper] turned around. Krshia paused. Then, silently, she pulled the Gnolls in front of her out of the way. Mystified, Pawn walked forwards. Belgrade just marched towards the door. Erin turned and saw them. She spread her arms, stepping around the door. Pawn stared, fascinated, through it. Was that Pallass<\/em> on the other side? He\u2019d never seen it. Erin walked in front of them and gave the two Workers a hug.<\/p>\n \u201cBelgrade! Pawn! Just the Antinium I wanted to see!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Erin. Miss Lyonette. We are here to begin construction on the inn and surrounding area as Revalantor Klbkch promised. However, the crowd around your inn will obstruct our building. We may even have to remove a substantial piece of the inn\u2014the damage to the second floor is substantial, and the third floor likewise, and we would like to remodel some key components of the structure\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He got no further, because as he was turning and Erin stepped aside to let Lyonette come forwards and join the discussion, Pawn suddenly had an unobstructed view of Pallass and the crowd of people on the other side. And they had the same view of him. For a moment, Pawn saw a bunch of curious faces, chatting, talking, sampling hamburgers, and for some reason, a Dullahan sharpening a bunch of knives on the ground\u2014and then their faces all turned to horror.<\/p>\n \u201cAntinium! Run for your lives!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n A Drake in a velvet dress recoiled and screamed. Half the crowd screamed with her. Several eyes rolled up in their heads, and the Gnoll [Chef] fainted into Venim\u2019s grasp. The rest of the crowd turned and tried to run. The Pallassian [Guardsmen] at the door whirled, spotted the Antinium, and grabbed their weapons. They formed a wall as Watch Captain Venim recoiled. But it was Erin who whirled, a gleam in her eye, and bellowed with her [Loud Voice] Skill.<\/p>\n \u201cSTOP!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The word had more force behind it than just volume. As one, the crowd halted in their tracks, shaking loose the almost primal fear that had gripped them. Erin clenched her fist.<\/p>\n \u201c[Crowd Control]\u2014Venim, don\u2019t let them run! They\u2019ll get hurt!\u201d<\/p>\n The Watch Captain had the same thought. He turned and bellowed, thrusting an arm in front of Kel, who was about to make a run at Pawn and Belgrade through the door.<\/p>\n \u201cOrder! <\/em>No one move! The situation is under control! Guardsmen, do not<\/em> advance! Hold your ground!\u201d<\/p>\n The panicked crowd stopped, held by both Venim and Erin\u2019s Skills and authority. The Pallassian City Watch held their ground, staring at the two Workers and clutching their weapons with white-knuckled grips. The only people not frozen in this tableau were Maughin, who looked only mildly alarmed, Grimalkin, who looked mildly disgusted, and Lorent, who had looked up once warily and then went back to sharpening his knives.<\/p>\n And of course, everyone on Liscor\u2019s <\/em>side of the door. Bemused, Krshia, Selys, Elirr, and hundreds of Liscor\u2019s citizens watched as Venim kept shouting for order. They stared at the Workers. Someone\u2014the Gnoll [Hunter]\u2014laughed nervously.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s just two Workers. It\u2019s not like it\u2019s an army of Soldiers, right?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone in earshot nodded, including Selys. Her eyes flicked to Erin. The young woman was standing in front of Pawn and Belgrade, and only from behind could you see Erin\u2019s hand was on her kitchen knife. But the smile she gave Venim as he rounded on her was saccharine.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is the meaning of\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re Workers<\/em>, Venim. Antinium Workers. Pawn and Belgrade. They\u2019ve come to work on my inn. Rebuild it after the Goblin Lord\u2014no, those Human jerks\u2014blew up the top of my inn. It\u2019s completely legal. They\u2019re in Liscor. They\u2019re not trying to cross into Pallass. They\u2019re just here<\/em>. There\u2019s no problem, except if Pallass\u2019 citizens panic.\u201d<\/p>\n Venim stared at Erin. His arm tensed\u2014he was gripping his sword hilt.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Antinium have been under a non-aggression pact with the Walled Cities for ten years. However, their presence in any lands controlled by Pallass is an act of hostility\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNot Pallass. Liscor. You don\u2019t like it? Close the door.\u201d<\/p>\n Erin met Venim\u2019s gaze, and hers was suddenly electric. She glared across four hundred miles, and the look in her eyes was suddenly direct. Challenging.<\/em> And scornful. The Drake\u2019s jaw tightened. He put his hand on the door to do just that. He began to swing it closed, never looking away from Erin\u2019s gaze. And to stop him, she spoke two words.<\/p>\n \u201cScaredy cat.\u201d<\/p>\n The door halted<\/em> halfway. It opened, and Venim\u2019s eyes locked on Erin\u2019s.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat was that?\u201d<\/p>\n Erin raised her hands, giving him a not-so-innocent roll of the eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cNothing. I just thought you were brave enough to look<\/em> at a bunch of Antinium. They won\u2019t cross through the door. But hey, if that\u2019s too much for you, go ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n If it were possible for Pallass\u2019 City Watch to get even more hostile, they did. Venim\u2019s claws tightened on the door\u2019s edge. He clenched his teeth so hard that Erin could have sworn she heard a crack<\/em>. He stared daggers at Pawn and Belgrade. Belgrade waved hesitantly. Venim glanced at Erin.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they so much as cross over the line\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n He was not prepared for the finger that came through<\/em> the portal and grabbed the collar of his armor. Erin yanked, and Venim stumbled forwards a step before he caught himself. She leaned forwards, glaring at him nose-to-nostrils.<\/p>\n \u201cIf they cross the line, it\u2019s an accident. And if they do, you\u2019d better think twice about stabbing them. Because until they do something wrong, they\u2019re Liscor\u2019s citizens. And if you stab them first, you\u2019re breaking the law.\u201d<\/p>\n She met Venim\u2019s eyes, and then let go. He gaped at her as she pulled herself back. The crowd<\/em> stared. The Drake to Venim\u2019s left raised his spear.<\/p>\n \u201cAssaulting a Watch Captain\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShut up,<\/em> Kel!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin stepped back and folded her arms. She waited, daring Venim. But he didn\u2019t take her up on it. He looked at the door, clearly regretting not slamming it, then whirled and marched back without another word. The [Guardsmen] glanced at each other uncertainly. Erin glared.<\/p>\n \u201cStep back.\u201d<\/p>\n They did not. Erin\u2019s glare only went so far. But the scene had stemmed the flight of Pallass\u2019 crowd. And they did come back, although this time it was to stare in disgust as Pawn and Belgrade moved backwards. Lyonette whispered to Pawn and Belgrade.<\/p>\n \u201cGo do your construction. Don\u2019t worry about this. We\u2019ll handle it.\u201d<\/p>\n Both Workers nodded. They pushed back through the crowd as a Dullahan spat on the ground in front of the door. She coldly lifted her head, making eye contact with everyone around her to prove just how offended she was. She pointed at the backs of the Workers.<\/p>\n \u201cYou let Antinium into your inn? This inn is foul. Disgusting. I regret eating any of the food there.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMe too!\u201d<\/p>\n One of the Drakes looked close to being sick. He gagged. On the other side of the door, Liscor\u2019s citizens looked bemused. Even insulted. A Gnoll growled, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cWhy are you panicking? There were two of them. There are hundreds of you. And us! They\u2019re not even the scary Antinium, you know? Workers.<\/em> And besides, the Free Antinium, they\u2019re part of our city. You do know that, right?\u201d<\/p>\n He peered at another Gnoll standing in the crowd. She sniffed the air and recoiled. She growled back.<\/p>\n \u201cWell, of course, we know that. It\u2019s history, no? But\u2014Ancestors, I\u2019ve never seen<\/em> one before.\u201d She shuddered. The Drake lady wearing velvet nodded.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m shaking.\u201d<\/p>\n She held out a claw to demonstrate. Selys snorted at the slight tremor in her hands. She wasn\u2019t alone. That needled the Pallassian Drake. She narrowed her eyes at Selys.<\/p>\n \u201cHow can you live with those things in your city? Are you all insane?\u201d<\/p>\n That stung. The [Receptionist] lifted her head and retorted angrily.<\/p>\n \u201cJust like you live with Gnolls\u2014or Garuda or Dullahans! They\u2019re not a threat!\u201d<\/p>\n Her words provoked a ripple of incredulity, and outrage from the Garuda and Dullahans in the crowd. Someone actually shook a fist at Selys. The Gnoll [Chef], who\u2019d been revived, got to his feet, shaking his head.<\/p>\n \u201cJust as mad as I heard. Liscor. Really? Even those Drowned People that visit Zeres have to be better than Antinium. By far.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMadness. They\u2019re touched in the head!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone else agreed. Selys gasped. She looked around and saw Krshia had gone stiff. Elirr frowned, his normally kind face turning dark. And they weren\u2019t the only ones. Every Drake around Selys stiffened, and the Gnolls bared their teeth. As one, Liscor\u2019s citizens felt the same thing.<\/p>\n Outrage. <\/em>A Drake with a scar on his chin leaned forwards, putting his head through the door to snap back.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re mad? Says the lot who can\u2019t tell a Worker apart from a Soldier and run screaming at the sight of two!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWho needs to tell them apart? Who would let them into a city? Or walk down the same street as one?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnyone who has a Hive in theirs, that\u2019s who! They don\u2019t just attack people out of the blue! They\u2019re our<\/em> Antinium. And I\u2019ll have you know that we haven\u2019t had any incidents with ours in years. The last Aberration that appeared\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAberration? <\/em>Dead gods. What do they even do? Collect refuse? Dig?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThey build.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Selys snapped back. The Pallassians scoffed\u2014Selys wanted to curse at them. She saw Belgrade moving back around the side of the crowd, and Lyonette hurrying over. The Worker bobbed his head deferentially.<\/p>\n \u201cExcuse me, Miss Lyonette. We need to take down this wall to finish repairs on the side of the inn.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Really? Uh\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo it!\u201d<\/p>\n Erin shouted over the heads of the crowd. Belgrade nodded. He turned his head and signaled with three of his four arms\u2014and the far wall came down. Two dozen Antinium Workers \u00adpulled<\/em> the wall out as Soldiers positioned pillars of wood and scaffolding under the ceiling, which creaked<\/em> but didn\u2019t fall in. The move was so sudden that even Liscor\u2019s citizens recoiled.<\/p>\n