were clear across a country that tooka mounted traveller at least a month to traverse.Farms,orchards and vineyards thickly dotted the landscape alongsidebustling villages and tiny hamlets. Yonder was a wide highway thatcut through the Great Field. Laden carts and wagons drawn by peopleand beast alike hauled sundry goods up anddownits length. There was a general air of prosperity that the moreisolated communities would be hard pressed to match.Whilethe group made its way onto the highway, a guard raised the Ardansstandard. A strong breeze caught the banner and it unfurled,revealing a spray of royal holly within a circlet of white-silveragainst a deep blue field. With his standard raised, Rohyr loweredhis hood. The others followed suit.Asthe royal party continued along the highway, folk made way for them,stopping and making gestures of obeisance to Rohyr. Many furtivelypeeked at the youth who rode with the king in intimate fashion. Theoblique scrutiny made Lassen wish that he could pull his hood up oncemore.Afterseveral minutes, they crested a low hill. Welcome to Rikara,Las-min,Rohyr softly said.Lassenstared at the panorama. Veres almighty! he softly exclaimed.Rikara.The Royal Houses millennia-long seat of power. Backdropped bymajestic, snow-capped Mount Sarak some three leagues behind it, thecity was grander and far more beauteous than Lassen had imagined.Itwas a massive metropolis that had somehow avoided the sprawl of mostlarge cities during its evolution from compact fortified market townto ever expanding preeminent center of trade, culture and politicalpower. The silvery Azira neatly bisected the city and from this greatriver ran many streams and canals while broad streets sliced acrossin systematic fashion. The stark white stones of which the homes andbuildings were built appeared almost immaculate in the sunshine andadded to Rikaras pristine appearance.Tothe east of the city center was a low hill and on this stood a walledmultileveled cluster of buildings of stone, steel and glass. This wasthe fabled Citadel, fortress residence to countless generations ofEssendris.** * *Therewas little pageantry when Rohyr entered the capital for he did notfavor pomp. But many of Rikaras citizens lined the streetsnonetheless to welcome him home. Lassen became conscious once morewhen they stared at him and descried his earring. Even before hisname was known, the news would quickly spread that Rohyr had acquiredhimself a leman.Lassenstrove to keep calm as they ascended the long road to the Citadel.Peering upward, he saw that numerous archers and spear-bearers mannedthe outer wall. Here and there, through apertures in the wall, hecaught glimpses of the stout ropes and well-oiled levers ofcatapults.Hewas quite dazed by the time they passed through the Citadel gate intothe capacious bailey and dismounted. They then entered a largecourtyard fronting the royal keep. It was an expansive space madewelcoming by slender ivory birches, lush greenery and two gracefulfountains flanking the entrance. A stone-paved path lined withfaultlessly kept hedges and statuary led to a massive double paneleddoor flanked by soldiers liveried in the silver and lapiz lazuli ofthe Citadel Guard. Courtiers and retainers had gathered before it togreet their king.Ashe walked behind Rohyr, Lassen let his eyes sweep up the pale wallsof the Citadel, overwhelmed by the sheer immensity of it all. Hesurreptitiously studied