The morning light has just emerged, and the golden sun has just given a layer of warm color to Tuck Fortress's battlements. Liz's team has already formed up in front of the city gate. The fully armed cavalry Standing in the morning breeze, the breath of the war horses condensed into white mist in the cold air. The more than a hundred elite soldiers led by the Herbert family also had a neat military appearance, and their iron armor shone with a cold light in the morning sun.
The lords who came to see him off lined up. Katz strode forward and generously embraced Herbert's shoulders. "Good brother! When you get to the capital, you have to say a nice word for me in front of His Majesty!" His loud laughter echoed at the city gate in the early morning.
Herbert straightened his clothes and pretended to be serious. "How can a little lord like me speak in front of the emperor..." Then he lowered his voice and leaned close to Katz's ear. "But I will let Yavi find an opportunity to mention you."
When Katz heard this, his bell-like eyes widened even more, and he slapped Herbert hard on the back. "Hahaha! You are indeed a good brother who has passed away!" His rough laughter startled the birds in the nearby treetops.
Liz raised his head and looked at the sky, raised his hand to signal the attendant to blow the horn. The deep and deep sound of the horn resounded through the fortress, and he loudly said, "The time has come, let's set off!"
All the lords touched their chests and saluted. "May the Holy Light protect the Lord of the City and have a safe journey!"
The team set off slowly, and the iron hooves made a neat sound on the stone road. The lords who saw them off stopped for a long time, until the team became a thin line in the distance.
On the highest watchtower of the fortress, a slender figure stood quietly. The morning breeze blew through her skirt, raising a few stray strands of hair. Her eyes followed the retreating team, and her hands unconsciously clenched the railings. Until the last black spot disappeared on the horizon, the figure remained motionless, as if it had become part of the stone tower. A gust of wind passed by, bringing with it the faint sound of horse hooves in the distance, which quickly dissipated in the morning light.
The morning fog has not yet cleared, and the motorcade has been moving slowly along King's Road. The carriages ridden by the female relatives of the Herbert family were arranged in the middle of the team. The thick curtains isolated the dust from the outside world, but they could not stop their longing and anxiety for the royal capital.
Herbert, Jace and Yavi are riding war horses, guarding the city lord Liz. Liz Deliberately slowing down his horse, he lowered his voice and said, "Pontar Royal Capital is no better than our border. The nobles there greet you with smiles on the surface, but secretly..." He made a noose gesture, "Even their breathing is full of calculations."
He explained the audience etiquette in detail, "When you see His Majesty, you must curtsey, and your right hand should be placed on the left chest like this..." Herbert imitated stiffly, and the armor made an awkward friction sound; Jace almost slipped off the horse, causing the nearby guards to laugh.
Only Yavi's movements are smooth and smooth - the angle of bending the knees is just right, the posture of touching the chest with the right hand is elegant and natural, and even the amplitude of lowering the head is impeccable. Liz narrowed his eyes. "Boy, have you met any king before?"
Yavi shook his head slightly, his cloak fluttering slightly in the morning breeze. "My teacher served as a royal sorcerer in the court in his early years. During those years, in his drunken chatter, I actually listened to the palace etiquette as a story."
"Royal Warlock?" Liz raised his eyebrows high, "No wonder you know these complicated etiquette so well." He looked at Yavi meaningfully, "It seems that the Witcher Sect has taught you much more than just swordsmanship and spells."
After three consecutive days of trekking, the midday sun penetrated the clouds and coated the outline of Pontar Royal Capital with a layer of gold. As the motorcade climbed over the last hill, the entire capital city unfolded before everyone's eyes like a scroll - the towering white city walls stretched for miles, seven minarets reached into the sky, and the golden dome of the temple shone brightly in the sunlight.
The curtain of the carriage was lifted eagerly, and the female relatives let out bursts of exclamation. Herbert unconsciously tightened the reins, and tightened his rough palms on the saddle. "Saint Thomas City's city wall... is not even half as high as this..."
Jace opened his mouth, his eyes wandering among the rows of buildings. "Those towers... and the stone bridge across the river!" His voice trembled slightly due to shock, "How many craftsmen are needed to do this..."
Yavi just stared calmly into the distance, the figure under the cloak motionless. Liz looked at the young man with his peripheral vision - at the moment when everyone was speechless for the magnificence of the capital, only his eyes were as calm as a deep pool.
"It seems that your teacher not only taught you etiquette," Liz rode closer to Yavi, with new considerations in his voice, "But also showed you a lot of the world."
Yavi nodded slightly. "The path of spiritual practice for a demon hunter... is always long and distant." He glanced at the garrison flags on the city wall, "But a capital city of this size is indeed rare."
Liz stroked the reins thoughtfully. This seemingly ordinary demon hunter apprentice hid a deeper mystery than he imagined. He stationed the army outside the city and only brought a few dozen personal guards, Herbert and his family into the capital.
After passing through the city gate, you are greeted by the bustling atmosphere of the market. There are many shops on both sides of the street, the colorful flags of the silk and satin shops are fluttering in the wind, and the strong smell of the spice stalls is intertwined with the aroma of baking bread. The shouts of the vendors come one after another, and the carriages loaded with goods make a dull sound on the stone road. Occasionally, a noble carriage passes by, the curtains are slightly lifted, revealing a pair of curious eyes, and then they are hidden behind the gorgeous carriage walls.
The guards had already cleared the way in front, and the crowd separated to both sides like a tide. Yavi noticed that although the civilians bowed their heads and saluted, there were still bold children standing on tiptoes to look around until they were dragged back by their parents. An old woman selling clay pots grinned at Yavi, revealing the few remaining yellow teeth.
Liz did not stop, and the team continued to march towards the inner city. As it went deeper, the streets gradually became wider and neater, and the architectural style also changed from the chaos of the market to the solemn unity. Finally, the outline of the inner castle appeared in In the field of vision - the towering black stone city wall glowed coldly in the sun. The suspension bridge had been lowered long ago, but the heavily guarded iron gate was still closed. It was not until Liz showed his badge that it slowly rose with a dull sound of hinges.
When passing through the doorway, Yavi's eyes were searching for something, as if he sensed something. He looked up and saw that the courtyard of the inner castle was empty and solemn, completely different from the hustle and bustle of the outer city. The stone floor was spotless, dotted with a few neatly trimmed shrubs, and deeper, the shadow of the royal city was quietly waiting for them...
Liz reined in the reins, turned over and dismounted in the courtyard of the inner castle, and the soles of his boots made a crisp sound on the smooth stone floor. "Baron Herbert," he turned around and said, his voice echoing in the empty courtyard, "You and your family will temporarily stay in the guest room on the east side. The attendants of the inner castle will arrange everything."
He raised his hand to signal, and several attendants in black maid uniforms immediately came forward and respectfully took over the Herbert family's luggage. Yavi noticed that the movements of these attendants were so light and almost eerie that even the sound of the friction of clothing materials was inaudible.