"You could tell a lot about a settlement just from how it was walled. Anything from no walls at all, to wooden palisades, to full-on enchanted fortifications, all have their own stories to tell." - Gus Werner, bard and traveler.

A week later, Aideen was on the road towards the western city of Rostem, together with Artair. Zoya and her family were seated across from them in the large carriage, while they had a small escort of ten soldiers on horseback - although three of them actually rode some sort of large feathered lizards instead - who were mostly there for formality.

Those large bipedal lizards had become some sort of prestige mounts in the current empire, Aideen learned, partly because of their resemblance to the emperor, who rolled good-naturedly with the joke by using one as his own personal mount.

They had small, nearly vestigial arms, but long, powerful legs that ended in three sharp claws, one of which was far larger than the other two and shaped almost like a sickle. While the beasts were carnivorous and thus not as convenient to keep as horses, they did have great stamina, and while not as fast as a horse on a gallop, were far more agile on the run.

She herself had the chance to ride one at the ducal mansion, as Zoya had one she favored and treated much like a beloved pet. The ride was bouncier than on a horse, due to the different gaits of the animals, but no horse would have been able to leap sideways while running at full speed without missing a step either.

The trip itself was uneventful so far. They were roughly halfway to Rostem now, and despite Zoya's warning, her children had been well behaved so far, as they remained mostly busy with Aideen and Artair.

Aideen guessed it might have to do with them meeting their new "uncle" and "aunt" since both of them had been born after the family had separated during the civil war. Zoya herself had gone to her mother's original tribe in the western isles with her mother for safety, and her eldest child was born there.

When most of the family had reunited after the civil war wound down, her child was very enthusiastic to meet more of the family. Artair was the only one who had not returned at that time, and now he too was here, with Aideen in tow.

Rostem, the city they were headed towards, held the distinction of being the westernmost city in the current Empire. The city itself was fortified and served double duty as a military fort in less peaceful times.

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The main reason for that construction were the tribes of therians, orcs, and goblins that inhabited the western isles. The first empire's expansion never managed to subdue them before the empire ended, with Rostem the furthest they ever reached.

On the other hand, the second empire had more success, and pressured the tribes to accept vassalage to the empire, their livelihood and semi-independence maintained by yearly tributes and some levy to be incorporated into the imperial army.

Nowadays, the western isles were freed once more. They had supported Khaer Ul's faction in exchange for their freedom, and the emperor had delivered on his promise. Because of that, Rostem became the westernmost city of the empire once again.

In exchange, however, trade bloomed freely between the tribes of the western isles and the merchants of the empire, especially with those sponsored by western nobles, who tend to be therian themselves.

One of the empire's economists had calculated it, and by his count, the profits from the tariffs the trade had generated more than covered the tribute the tribes used to offer, all while they kept a cozy relationship that bordered on an alliance, even.

After they spent another few days on the road, Zoya pointed out the city visible by the horizon to Aideen. The tall walls of the city were visible in the distance, as well as the spires of the inner fortifications in the center of the city. Zoya was quite familiar with the place and pointed it out, for after all, when her brother took over for their father, she would take over the city as its governess as well.

The walls were very tall and smooth, at least eight meters tall, and its surface so smooth it shined almost as if polished. It made sense, since they were meant to guard against therian tribes, and Aideen knew some of them could easily scale a cliff as fast as a human could run.

The gatehouse was similarly sturdy, with triple the portcullis behind, all of which were left wide open since they were at peaceful times. Even as they entered the city, Aideen saw many merchant caravans that either departed the city or lined up to wait for their turn to enter.

They passed an open area that served as a large marketplace for visitors on their way. Aideen saw many orcs, goblins, and therians who wore tribal garbs there as well as they peddled their merchandise, and made a mental note to pay the place a visit when she has time on a later day.

It already neared the evening by the time they arrived in Rostem after all, and Zoya had her carriage driven straight towards the inner fort at the center of the city. The governor of Rostem traditionally also served as the city's military leader, and the inner fort was where they reside.

Since their arrival was preceded by a letter sent by a messenger bird, the current governor themself had awaited them, together with a welcoming party that included an honor guard in dress uniform.

The governor turned out to be a governess instead, although Aideen only managed to tell from the clothing the older woman - a different breed of therian, one that looked a bit similar to a goat, but with long, curvy antlers in their heads - and the fact that the similarly aged therian male behind her had a beard on his chin which she lacked.

Three adult therians of the same breed, though visibly younger, also arrayed themselves behind the older two, and Zoya was the first to step forward. She greeted the old governess with a tight embrace that practically hid the elder woman from sight other than her horns, since she was a good bit smaller in size.

Even Aideen was taller if they didn't count the horns.