Nobody disturbed us that evening. Elnora got in touch with the delegations of Iron Rock and the dwarves via magic, both were fine. The Empire only sent someone to talk with us the next day. They apologised for the lack of security and asked us about the attack. We told them that we detected the magic attack and could protect ourselves in time. I was not going to tell them about Lucy and myself being immune to lightning.

In the end they had no information for us. They did not catch an intruder, nor did they know how their wards were breached. At least that is what they told us. They also mentioned an increase in security and that they would send guards with us if we left the palace. That would make it much more challenging for Lucy and myself to disappear.

Still, we wanted to go forward with the plan. Loriel and Elnora were meeting with the other delegations during the day. Meanwhile Lucy and myself would explore the city. The idea was to just stroll around, let the guards get comfortable, and then in the evening Elnora’s people would switch with us.

The Empire’s soldiers were not very happy with our decision to leave the palace. But we were guests and not prisoners. So they sent a squad of six people to guard us. They all looked rather tense while Lucy and myself were quite relaxed. I doubted another attack would happen so soon and in public. We also were quite capable of defending ourselves. Honestly, we were likely a lot stronger than our protectors. They were more of a formality really.

We strolled out of the palace and had a carriage waiting for us. Our guards would be mounted. The driver was an older gentleman who bowed to us. “Where will you be going my ladies?”

“Are there any places you can recommend? Any sights one must see?” I inquired.

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“I would recommend the imperial plaza. It is a beautiful square with several statues and a magnificent fountain. Right next to it is the central garden which is nice for a walk. There are a lot of high quality shops in the area and excellent restaurants.”

“Sounds good, what do you think Lucy?”

“I like it. I loved the garden in the palace, let’s go.”

The driver bowed to us once more. He even opened the door for us. I checked for any listening magic but found nothing. The carriage was moving slowly through the streets while I took in the sight. Unitera reminded me of a modern european city. Sure, people were dressed differently and there were no cars. Horses and carriages were a common sight. But the houses seemed well constructed, at least in this area. The streets seemed clean. I also spotted some small cafes, where people enjoyed a late breakfast.

“The city looks lovely.” I said. “It’s a shame that the Empire itself seems so rotten.”

“Yes.” Lucy sighed. “When I was little I dreamed about visiting the capital. I never imagined I would be here as a foreign diplomat.” She touched her throat while she looked at someone wearing a slave collar.

I took her hand and squeezed it. “We can’t change the nation. But maybe we can at least stop Beira. I also wonder how stable the Empire really is. Who knows what will happen with the inquisition.” I decided to change the topic. “Let’s enjoy our day. What do you want to do Lucy?”

“I can see you drooling when you look at those cafes. So I suspect we might end up in one. Other than that, why don’t we check out some shops? And of course I want to see the park.”

“I am not drooling!” Ok so I was fantasising about some coffee. I only had two cups for breakfast. That was over an hour ago! I wondered if they would have something like viennese iced coffee. That is basically vanilla ice cream with coffee and whipped cream on top. It is more of a dessert than a drink but really delicious. The perfect food to consume in a little cafe on a nice day. And it was a beautiful day. A nice pastry would go perfectly with that. Maybe we should also look for a bakery.

Lucy snipped her fingers in front of my face. “Are you back from your food fantasy?”

I blushed a bit while she laughed. “Food is a great thing. It’s the best thing about travelling, trust me!” I said confidently.

Lucy patted me on the head. At least I got her in a good mood now.