The guards looked quite intimidating in their silver armor with white light coming out from under some parts. They were wearing breathing masks over their mouths, but I still easily could recognize their race. They also had a crest on their torsos looking kinda like a tree. It was a ball with multiple lines coming out of its top part, and crossing each other like branches. The truth though was a bit different from my first thought, but I'll write about that a bit later.
They were equipped with long lances coated in pulsating energy flowing through the top parts. It was similar to a weapon I once already saw back on Dispur. The strange device an alien called Mershuk Var'tar used during his fight with Tai. Maybe it was not the same thing, but it seemed very similar.
They all hit the plates under their feet with the bottom parts of their weapons and then went on one knee. There was still some distance between them and us, yet they already were showing their deep respect to Ashal Kal Anur.
He spoke something loudly to them, but the piece of technology on his lip didn't translate. Fortunately for us, we had a person who could understand.
- I greet you the noble guards of the Sky Palace. I greet you sons and daughters of Ashanti. And I praise the name of High Queen Ixa. Let her rule never end - said the Atri.
Her words caused the imperial official himself to look over his shoulder, then he smiled, and kept on going further as nothing happened.
The guards answered, but the only word I could understand was 'Sabhetani'. Katri Xel Avakadaisu again came to help with translation.
- Prise the queen. Glory to the Blue Palace - she said.
After her words Ashal Kal Anur let out a short laugh, he then said:
- You are quick to find yourself a new home after your escape from Zor'xal's grasp, Atri.
- I'm simply trying to be useful, my lord. This is a foreign land for humans, and the fact that they cannot understand a word that is spoken around them might make them feel more anxious.
He didn't reply to her at all. We just passed through the gate and reached the staircase leading up, to another street surrounded by walls. It looked quite ridiculous, and throughout what whole travel I just couldn't help but think that this whole structure had almost no defensive capabilities. It was like they build it just for the sake to look magnificent.
Then we reached a small plaza with a fountain in the middle. There were four statues of aliens standing in the middle of it facing four directions, with their backs turned to each other. All of them had a jug in their hands and were pouring water from it.
The only one I could recognize was clearly a Sabhetani.
- Those symbolize the first four vassals of the queen. Sabhetani, Ksaukha, Paraque, and Bimuwa - explained Atri.
I didn't focus on them for too long though, as the massive staircase leading to an even more astonishing gate caught my whole attention. There was the same symbol displayed on the whole big-ass doors. Not to mention soldiers fully armed on each step on both sides leading there Easily over a hundred, just standing there, with the same crest covering their chests, although varying armors.
Four different types, which led me to conclude they were from the four first vassals. The first one had broad shoulders, longer heads, and two strange balls on wires drifting above their shoulders. All packed in the silver armor with a bit of white light coming from underneath some of the parts.
The second one was a bit slimmer, with long limbs and fingers, all seven of them, and a diamond-shaped helmet.
The third one immediately brought a picture of a humanoid alligator to my mind. They were the tallest ones, and had a thick tail, reaching the ground. The frame was surprisingly slim, with broad shoulders, making their torsos look very triangle-shaped, and obviously alligator-like faces with impressive-looking jaws.
The fact that they all had their armors covering them completely could mean I was wrong with the images inside my head, although the future confirmed them mostly.
The last ones were clearly Sabhetani, although now without masks on their mouths, but in full helmets.
As we already passed by the fountain, I had to peek over my shoulders, to verify with the four statues and confirm my assumptions. Those four indeed were from the races of the first four vassals.
Ashal Kal Anur spoke again, loud and clear, to the guards. Some of his words were just a repetition of what we heard him say to the guards protecting the previous gate, but there were also a few new ones.
The soldiers replied, and their words combined in a very loud cacophony as they all went down on a single knee.
- I greet you the noble guards of the Sky Palace. I greet you sons and daughters of Ashanti. I greet you sons and daughters of Clachloth. I greet you sons and daughters of Ekki. I greet you sons and daughters of Fassa. And I praise the name of High Queen Ixa. Let her rule never end - Katri Xel Avakadaisu translated immediately.
The guards responded with words we already heard before.
- Praise the queen. Glory to the Blue Palace - Atri also translated those for us.
Our climb of the stairs started like this, all the way to the gate above. As Ashal Kal Anur reached the final step it opened, revealing a bright, gargantuan hall inside. It was almost empty if not count few more soldiers inside, guarding the corridors leading to the different parts of the palace itself.
On the other side was a simple, throne made out of a black stone, possibly obsidian.
- This is the entrance hall. Here are handled the merchants and other of the lower status.. We are going further - said the imperial official, as he just simply walked in.
The source of this c𝐨ntent is fre𝒆w(e)bn(o)vel