The journey with the Empress's entourage was faster than Richard expected.
They entered the capital not long after, though the Empress, of course, did not go to the royal palace.
"Do you wish to come to the banquet, or get off here?" the Empress asked Richard.
"Your Majesty, I'll get off here," Richard replied.
The Empress nodded, then ordered her maids to halt for a moment, giving Richard the chance to step down from the carriage.
Richard quickly disembarked and ran toward his inn.
He had been out since morning, leaving Athena behind at the inn.
When he arrived, he found the mare fast asleep.
"Athena!" Richard called, waking her, and Athena immediately stood up.
After that, Richard quickly wrote a letter for the Spirit Queen of Fire.
"Deliver this to the Spirit Queen of Fire. You must hand it to her as soon as possible," Richard said, placing the letter before the mare's mouth. She accepted it and nodded before soaring swiftly into the air.
Fiuuuh!
