After they had left Ladhidh, captain Haidar set course for the nearest town and pushed the sand boats to nearly their full speed.
Amira had worked out the details with the remaining administration in Ladhidh and they were going to have supplies and personnel sent over from the next town over.
Most of the guards in Ladhidh had been killed when the Nubah Clan attacked, and the scoundrels had stolen a good portion of the town's food which had been stored onto their sand boats.
Unfortunately, during the battle, Captain Haidar had made the decision to eliminate all of the enemy sand boats so that the members of the Nubah Clan could not escape. This inadvertently led to all those supplies being blown up and now the town was running low on food, and if nothing was done they would likely have citizens start to starve in a couple of weeks.
Thankfully the next town which was nearly double the size of Ladhidh was more than happy to accept Amira's request since she promised that the Eazim clan's head family would make sure to lower the town's taxes for a few years.
Once that had bene sorted out they continued on their journey through the desert towards Aezam's capital.
It took them another eight days traveling through the endless sands of Aezam's deserts, but finally the sight of the largest city on the entire continent came into view.
From afar it looked like there was an endless wall sticking up out of the desert that went across the entire horizon for as far as the eye could see.
Most of the buildings within the city could not be seen over the walls, but a few stood proudly above the twenty-five-meter-tall walls and made for an impressive sight.
'It really does remind me a bit of Borealia's capital. Both of them are cities so big that they seem to stretch on forever.' Marcus thought seeing the city that was their destination.
Just like when he had first approached the royal capital in Borealia, it seemed like no matter how long they traveled that the wall was not getting any closer. That was just how grand of a scale it was.
Another detail also caught Marcus and Mrazivy's eyes, and that was how the area just outside the walls for a couple of kilometers was much lusher than the rest of the desert.
Of course, this made sense, as the largest source of fresh water in the entire country lay at the center of the mega city.
'Oh, there are some structures outside of the wall.' Marcus observed once they got closer.
It looked several small fortresses had been set up at varying intervals around the wall.
Some were just a couple kilometers away from the wall while others extended several dozen kilometers away.
When Marcus asked what these were Amira informed him that they were all manner of facilities.
Some were protective fortresses to fight against beasts and monsters, while others were rest areas that travelers could stop at before entering the city or if they wanted to circumvent it.
For those going through the desert, if they had a destination to reach and no business in the capital it was easier to just go around than head in and try to travel through the city even if it was technically a shorter distance.
"Also, the ground around and inside the capital is solid. There is no way to continue by sand boat. We will actually be stopping at one of the facilities outside the wall to dock our sand boats and switch over to carriages. It is likely we will be staying outside the city tonight judging by the time." Amira explained.
Nodding his head, Marcus thanked Amira for the explanation.
By the time the sky was beginning to turn many vibrant shades of orange and red and sun set was beginning they reached the sand boat dock owned by the Eazim clan.
The facity had a dozen buildings built within a ten meter walled off area and was fairly large in compassion to the other outposts within view.
When their carvan apprched the gates of the wall opened up and allowed them to enter.
Once inside several people came rushing over to greet Amira.
"Lady Amira, it is a great pleasure that I can once again welcome you to our humble outpost. I am glad to see that you are in good health." The man in charge of the sand bost dock said while bowing his ehad.
"Yes I am glad to be back as well, Salman. I assume that you have already been informed of our vist and have made the enssercry prepaeration." Amira said, her head held high.
"Yes, we have prepared our best rooms for you and your guests. The carrgies are also ready and waiting to take you into the city proper." Salmna said.
However, as he was rasing his head and going to show Amira, AMrcus, and Mrazivy to their room, a slight buzzing could be heard from his pocket and a look of shock appeared on his face.
Hastily Salman pulled out magic tool that Marcus and Mrazivy recognized as a sending stone and answered the call.
The man's eyes went wide eyed and he began to shake when he heard who was on the other end and he intently listened with a look of fear on his face.
"Understood sir. I will inform her." Salman said with a tone filled with respect and fear.
Looking inquisitively at the man Amira was wondering what was going on. She could only assume that whoever had just called Salman was of an exceptional status otherwise he would have immediately hung up since it was ride of him to ignore Amira and her guest for so long.
"My apologies Lady Amira, but there has been a change of plans. You will not be staying at the here tonight. Your great grandfather has prepared accommodation for you at his estate and is sending his personal carriage to pick you and your guest up tonight." Salman informed them.
This news stunned Amira completely silent, and her mouth gaped open for a few moments.
Her great grand father was the current grand elder of her clan and one of the most powerful men in the nation.
Their original plan had been to stay at one of the manors the Eazim Clan owned within the city, but that was certainly not an option now.
While it may have been phrased in a way that made it sound like her great grand father was being accommodating, it was actually an order for her to bring her guests to him.
Her relationship with her great grandfather was practically nonexistent and she had only briefly met him once before. And frankly never wanted to again. He had a sort of pressure to him that made her feel like gravity was bearing down on her.
Nevertheless, she had not option but to go to his estate with Marcus and Mrazivy in tow. It was at this point that she wished her father had given this job to one of her other siblings.
"So, I guess we will be meeting you clan's grand elder. I am surprised that such an important figure wants to see us." Marcus said trying to probe Amira for information.
"The grand elder must certainly have his reasons. He is the one that originally started the trade agreement with the Chelmer resort back when he was the head of Tijara, so perhaps he wants to speak with you both about the resort." Amira said, making some speculation.
Unfortunately, Marcus was not able to get anything out of her since Amira was just a surprised as they were.
To add onto their shock, the carriage that arrived for them was far from ordinary.
'Now that is not something you see every day.' Marcus thought, looking up at the flying carriage.
It was being pulled by two gryphons that were far larger than the normal and with a quick appraisal Marcus found that these gryphons were not the usual type that were at the rare grade but were both evolved epic grade beasts.
The carriage itself was also beautiful on the outside with expert painting and the highest quality materials used in its construction. Most notable being the large wings shooting out the side of it to help it balance while flying through the air.
When the carriage touched down it sent up a plume of sand around it and the two gryphons that had been pulling it began shaking their heads to knock the sand away from them.
When the door opened, everyone in the vicinity did not simply bow but got on their knees and kneeled.
'He is way younger than I was expecting.' Marcus thought, seeing the man who exited the carriage.
He had been expecting an old man, but the person that came out looked to be in his earlier thirties at the oldest.
"Is that the grand elder?" Marcus whished to Amira who he was kneeling beside.
"No, that is my cousin and our great grand father's head aide. Other than my father who is the head of the clan and the grand elder who sits on the ruling council, he has the highest status in our clan."