Whooo!
The Steam Train, pulling a long string of carriages, slowly rolled into the station at Holmes, capital of the Strathlade Kingdom.
Once the train stopped, an elderly man with graying temples stepped down, carrying a black wooden case in one hand and a dark cane in the other.
Behind him, a fair-skinned middle-aged man leaned out of a carriage window and called to him.
"Mr. Yarlin, are you sure you don't want to wait before doing business in the Strathlade Kingdom? People say the greater the risk, the greater the reward, but I think merchants like us should invest where things are stable and safe."
The old man chuckled and glanced back at him.
"Normally, yes. But my business is different. There's only a market for my goods in places where things aren't so stable. No one in peaceful, prosperous countries would buy them."
Yarlin looked at the fair-skinned man with sapphire-blue eyes and smiled warmly. "Still, thank you for your concern. May the Goddess bless you with a good return on this trip."
The whistle soon sounded again. Steam billowing from its engine, the long train picked up speed along the rails. Yarlin freed one hand to steady his top hat, then carried his things out of the station.
Holmes was cold. Once he was out in the open, the wind came howling at him. Yarlin pulled his collar tight and hurried toward the palace.
Though the palace had been renamed the Consul's Residence after Count Shuesterm was elected consul, everyone still called it the palace, just as they habitually called Count Shuesterm the king.
Before long, Yarlin reached the palace gates.
The guards stationed there reacted as the old man approached. One of them called out,
"Who are you?"
Before he could say another word, strands of