The next morning, Liraeth and Lumberling rode through the winding avenues that led straight to the emperor's castle. The palace loomed higher with every step, a colossus of white stone and gilded spires that seemed to pierce the sky itself.
At the great gate, two guards stood at attention. Their armor gleamed, their auras sharp and steady, True Knights, Knight One Stages.
Lumberling's eyes narrowed slightly. 'Even True Knights here are treated as door guards?' The realization sent a quiet ripple through him. In most places, such men would be commanders, heroes in their own right. Here, they were simply stationed to hold a post.
He glanced at Liraeth. She caught his look and gave a faint, knowing smile. "The capital doesn't measure strength the same way the provinces do. Here, being a True Knight is only the beginning."
They passed beneath the archway, and the palace unfolded before them.
