Almost losing his balance on his horse, and letting out a scream a little louder than he intended.
“Well Kas hello to you too, Thank you for scaring the absolute shit out of me, much appreciated.” said Lucien. He then heard his mother add in.
“Watch your language young man, you haven’t gone through the Chamber just yet.”
“I do try to make my appearances worthwhile, I don't want you to forget about me when you're some big bad commander.” I do give you some credit though I noticed that you were able to spot me once or twice, but unfortunately for you, you decided to spend more time paying attention to me then you did to your other surroundings. For example, where are your brothers?”
With that, Lucien’s head snapped forward and both of his brothers and his mother were gone, they are not where they were just a few short minutes ago, but his father is still there riding forward like nothing has happened.
“While you have good senses about you, when you focus too hard, you tend to lose touch around you, and miss things that you shouldn’t be missing. Now ask yourself, you have been staring into the woods looking for me for the last fifteen or so minutes, when did your family leave? Were they taken? Did they go off and tend to something else? Did your father see something and move them to a safe space? While you did very well in trying to find me you dropped all your other senses just to focus on one. You need to practice splitting your mind and being able to multitask, I can tell you now your father never lost track of me or my men the entire time he was holding a conversation with you mother. While I don't expect that from you, you need to get better with noticing the things around you.”
“Thank you kas, I have always held your lessons above everyone else's. I will be sure to fix this mistake in the future, that I can promise.”
Ok Kas that’s enough come up here and give me an update.” said Lucien's father
With a quick nod and a smile Kas kicked the side of his horse ever so lightly and the stallion picked up the pace to move up to Lucien’s father. With those two in conversation, Lucien looked back to see his mother and brothers behind him like nothing ever happened, like they were there the entire time. His brothers had big smiles on their faces knowing that Lucien just messed up and got caught, while his mother was holding an endearing look, saying you will get better next time.
The rest of the ride to the city was rather uneventful, Kas was riding with lucien’s father and his brother and mother caught up to lucien to hold conversations to pass the time. When the group was within visual distance of the gate it always seemed to take Lucien’s breath away. Knowing there was nothing ever like this in his world, he always took a moment to appreciate just how amazing it was. The walls to the first tier of the city stand at an imposing 40 feet in height, with their massive metal doors reinforced with layers of dark steels. There in the center of the door is the depiction of an ancient tree standing tall with the roots dug into the ground, but the branches and leaves are moving in the wind. The layers of swirling patterns on the door show the wind cutting through the tree,but it is standing steadfast.
At the entrance to either side, you can see guards standing post, watching everyone coming and going into the city. Above the ones on the ground are the guards keeping their post at the top of the ever looming walls. There are guards walking around and at all times, and other guards that are standing next to two heavy looking ballistas ever defending the city from the skies. Lucien follows the guards on patrol walking the wall. There are twenty if not more guards walking the length of the wall, and that is all he can see before the bend of the wall. Thick chains control the massive metal door from an unknown location. Above the city entrance there spans an archway with an enormous warhorn at its center; when air is pushed through it, the whole city can be alerted almost instantly of incoming danger. As they get closer Lucien notices that the guards are standing at attention when their group passes. Sometimes Lucien forgets just how high of a position his father holds in the military.
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When his group finally reached the main gate, Kas bid a farewell, looked at Lucien, gave him a quick nod and went his own way into the city. As the guards saw that Colonel Darius was approaching they made a path from everyone waiting in line to allow him and his family through. Lucien watched as his father gave nods to all the guards at their posts, as we passed them Lucien did the same thing. When passing through the first gate the immediate reaction was to hide the nose, Lucien was warned not to do that before even entering the city. To hide one's nose would be an insult to an already open wound that the first tier felt. While the residents of the first tier knew it was a poor situation they didn’t need anyone from the other tiers to point it out to them.
As everyone entered into the first tier of the city Lucien seemed to notice that even the air has changed, and seems to have gotten heavier. The perfect road heading into the city are now broken and missing some pieces. Slightly off the road the stone is replaced with packed dirt, waiting for the morning rain to mix it into thick mud that finds a way to stick to everything in its path. Cloaked figures looming in the dark alleyways watching your every move, waiting for an opening or even a coin. The smell of damp wood, rotten produce,human sweat, and sewage overwhelms the nostrils in very little time. It’s a simple reminder that all the problems in the city all flow downhill and by the looks of it this is as low as it can get.
Lucien looks at all the people staring at them, with eyes that bleed jealousy, anger, hate, resentment or any other of the half dozen emotions it can stir seeing people in power while you sit so low at the table. He watches as some people come up to his father and the guards around us begging for money or anything he is willing to give up. His mother and father send some guards to the local shops in the second tier to buy bread and food and bring it down to these people. Lucien thought to ask why not just give them gold but gave pause when he put more thought into it. He knew that if he just gave gold straight to the people the ones that it would be given to would find themselves with a blade in their belly when their family left. Passing through the first tier of the city was taking longer then he remembered it did, watching all the people, hoping they no one tried anything stupid was exhausting. Lucien just wanted this part of the ride to be over, the quicker they could get into the second tier the better.
The massive metal doors at the second tier gates are a mirror copy to the ones at the entrance to the city. When passing through these gates Lucien’s senses were immediately assaulted by the scents of sizzling meats cooking for lunch rushes, the shops putting out freshly baked bread, and the aroma of different spices floating in the air. The sounds of different conversations going on, merchants making offers, consumers asking for deals, street performers asking for attention, and the morning criers calling out the news for the day. Going up the road on each side Lucien looks at all of the different carts selling all sorts of items. Some carts were selling jewelry with the vendors stating they these gems are so perfect there has never been another like them since. Other carts are selling silks or breads or adventuring equipment, there are stalls and vendors for anything a person could want. The taverns that line the market square add a whole new layer of energy to the already busy morning. Lucien wished he had the time to stop and enjoy the morning here in the city but he knew he couldn’t, his focus needed to be on the Chamber and what the gods had in store for his future. As the horses moved closer to the center of the tier, Lucien could just make out the tops of the chambers as the horses turned some corners. The panic, excitement, dread, and adrenaline has all kicked in at once, it took everything in him not to throw up on the spot.