The weather in July was sweltering. That evening, the small city of Butuya finally came to the end of its day's bustle. The residents gradually finished their work, some hurrying home for dinner, while others gathered in groups of three or five at the taverns to enjoy beer chilled with cold water.
At the western city gate, the guards kept glancing up at the setting sun, hoping it would hurry below the horizon so they could close the gates and change shifts.
Just then, they saw a carriage slowly approaching Butuya from the west, accompanied by several mounted guards.
Few people entered the city at this hour on ordinary days. The guards widened their eyes and watched the approaching carriage carefully. As it drew nearer, they gradually made out its full appearance. A banner was mounted on it, bearing the image of a fearsome flying dragon.
The squad captain recognized the family crest on the banner. "It's a carriage from the Greiman Family."
He immediately ordered the nearest soldier, "Quick, ride my horse and inform Viscount Anqiluo. Someone from the Greiman Family has arrived."
The soldier immediately ran inside the gate to find a horse. Before long, the sound of hooves gradually faded into the distance.
The squad captain stepped forward and stopped the carriage, calling loudly, "May I ask which lord of the Arda Territory is inside?"
After the coachman reined in the horses, the carriage door opened. An old man with grizzled hair and a kindly face stepped down. Smiling, he said, "I'm Baron Wakely Ford, the Seal-Holding Chief Steward of the Arda Territory. I've come to visit your lord, Earl Ganard, and deliver my lord's invitation to his birthday banquet."
The squad captain respectfully said, "So you're Baron Ford. Allow me to accompany you to the Lord's