Shale and Bandor sat on opposite sides of the battlefield. She had just wiped out his Shadow Clan and had now trapped his Goblin Army in the Marble Cavern.

Her Magizyra Unit waited patiently outside, at the cave mouth. Both players were down to their final candle, their king, which meant there was no room for error.

Gazing into his mossy green eyes, Shale tried to read him. Was this a trap or was he genuinely stuck? Did she use a yellow chip and cast water to flood him out? Did she use a blue chip to descend into the Cavern? Or did she play a red chip and start a fire to suffocate them with smoke?

Ezil leaned over the field. Her eyes were hungry to see her brother on the edge of defeat.

Shale ran her fingers along the chip stacks. Too many choices. What to do? Subconsciously, her hand stopped on the red stack and toyed with a chip.

Bandor's cheeks tightened. Was that a show of nerves or eagerness? Was he trying to mislead her? She lifted the red chip and was about to set it on top of her Magizyra Unit, trusting her gut, when the cabin door creaked open.

The Stargazer poked his head through the gap.

"So much for special knocks," Ezil said, throwing her hands up.

"And so much for keeping the cabin door locked," Karlar retorted.

"Ugh, we don't have time for this, Karlar. We're in the middle of making history here. The tyrant is ready to crack."

"Truly, I am sorry for intruding upon such a momentous occasion." He raised a sceptical eyebrow. "I only wished to inform you that we are in sight of land."

In sight of land. Who knew four little words could cause such a rush of excitement?

They'd been overdue for a couple of days now, due to weak winds, and Shale had started to believe that the western greatland was only a myth, that they were destined to drift along the Arinoa for eternity. But now, their destination was close. Unable to contain her feelings, her mouth spread into a giant, unfettered grin.

"Oh, go on then," Ezil said.

Bandor's shoulders slumped as he let out a breath.

But Shale no longer cared about their battle. The tyrant could keep his title. She hopped up and followed Karlar up onto the deck. The Orian siblings convened with them on the bow.

The city of Tumble hung on the horizon. The eastern peninsula was just a blur, but the closer they drew, the more she comprehended its enormity. There were thousands of overlapping buildings, shaped as domes, blocks, and towering spires. Many made Silverwood monastery seem like a common shack by comparison.

Between the buildings were colourful plumes of smoke. There were dozens of each colour. Pillars of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet gushed into the sky, creating rainbow clouds.

"What in the name of Bragan are those?" she asked.

"Those are colourfires," Karlar said. "They're lit for the Changing."

"The Changing?"

"In Elorona, it is customary to hold a celebration at the start of every new season. What you see before you is the ushering in of Eloronian Winter, which is a very diverse season of extreme weather. In this part of Yim, you could expect sandstorms one day then rainstorms the next. You could see a yesterday as warm as Yernish summer then a tomorrow as bleak as Damelishan winter."

"Sometimes they happen on the same day," Ezil said grumpily.

"Really?" Shale said. That was a fascinating difference. In Yern, winter just meant it'd be colder, but here it meant more extreme?

"Typical Eloronian hedonists," Ezil said, leaning on the rail. "So hung up on the passage of time. In Orian, we celebrate the coming of a new year at the beginning of spring and that's it. But you people will make any excuse to hold a party."

Shale grinned upon realising this was directed at her. She still had trouble thinking of herself as Eloronian.

Karlar frowned after receding into his thoughts.

"What is it?" Shale asked.

"I just realised we're very late. Master Daziran hoped we would arrive well before the Changing."

Bandor shrugged.

"I have to agree with my brother. What's a couple of days late, Karlar?" Ezil said. "We've arrived in one piece. That'll be enough."

"I suppose it'll have to be."

When the ship drew within a league of the docks, the four of them went around the crewmen and gave their goodbyes. Over the past month, they'd all gotten used to each other's company. It was sad, but Shale was growing accustomed to saying farewell to things.

When they landed in port, the gangway was set out and their party descended down into the docks.

It was overwhelming right from the start. The docks alone were full of more people than she'd ever seen in one place. As they moved into the city proper, she expected the activity to dwindle, but it only increased. The people were packed together like schools of brightfish, so dense they formed their own currents.

As they picked a current to flow along with, Shale was given a visual feast through every street.

The people wore all manner of clothing. There were velvets and silks, wools and cottons, and furs and leathers. Some even strutted around in fine togas which barely hid any flesh at all. They might as well be nude.

The diversity of races fascinated her too. In West Yern, most people were Carsenati, who were distinguishable by their tan olive skin and dark hair. But everyone here seemed to exist in equal measure.

There were those of Murkini origin, like the Orian siblings, who mostly had toneless skin. Then there were the Armaethau, who were bronze, had thick hair, and almond-shaped eyes. The Kalavosi were the indigenous people of Elorona. They were the most striking to Shale, because their skin tones were binary, with no spectrum. Either someone was as black as coffee or as white as milk. And of course, there were many people who were complex mixtures of multiple races.

It was bizarre, to see these things she'd only ever read about in books, coming to life.

"Come on," Karlar said as they sifted through a group of onlookers around a violet colourfire. "Let us not dally."

He led them further into the city. Shale scarcely thought it possible, but it somehow became busier the further inward they went.

In the city centre, she was humbled both by the volume of people and by the mammoth buildings rising above them, casting the streets in shadow. The architecture was wonderfully intricate. Most impressive were the colossal ornate stone bridges arcing over the flowing canals and the great stone markets and courtyards outlined by doric columns.

Minstrels could be found at every street corner, playing lutes and lyres, flutes and fiddles, drums and harps, and instruments she didn't even recognise, making sounds she never knew possible.

So much music played all at once should have been chaotic, but somehow it mingled into a cohesive energetic atmosphere, creating a sweet swelling cacophony.

Just as common as minstrels were the street performers. There were mummers plays, dancers, fire eaters, marionette shows, animal acts, and light and smoke illusions cast by faux Magizyra.

They took a shortcut through one of the markets. That's where Shale saw stalls bursting with dyed clothing, candles, Hekkari relics, food, drink, olive oil, pet birds, pet rodents, jewellery, and precious stones procured from across the realm.

Vintners poured samples from casks and preached the virtues of their wines, while outdoor bars were set up underneath pavilions for men and women to gather around to smoke and drink. Exotic mammals roasted over spitfires while large fish crackled in lemon-soaked pans. One stall was selling charred vegetables and glazed fruit on a stick. The aromas from that one made her stomach gurgle.

Karlar paid heed to none of it. He kept a relentless pace, never allowing them to linger too long in one spot.

"Don't worry," Ezil said, noticing Shale had turned her attention to a stall selling pies and fresh baked bread. "We'll get some good food at the inn. I've had about all I can stand of salted fish and pickled cabbage."

Oh Eleven, did she agree with that. The shortage of fresh fruit, vegetables, and bread was the most challenging part of their journey. Never did Shale think the day would come when she'd so crave the bite of a juicy apple or a fat orange. She could imagine it exploding with sticky mist as the segments were pulled apart.

They approached a guarded gate where Karlar had to pay a toll of six silver coins to cross a bridge. After they crossed, they entered a part of the city distinct from the others.

The buildings were cleaner and wider, with more space between them. More properties had gardens and were protected by walls. In place of the narrow, cobbled roads, the streets were open and lined with flagstones. There were still crowds, but one could actually progress without bumping shoulders.

The performers and musicians had more control as they performed from stages to the people beneath.

Hats were much more common in this district. Most men wore linen caps and colourful cravats, while most women wore wide rimmed hats, and what hair spilt out was woven with flowers.

"That's just asking to be attacked by bees," Shale remarked at the sight of one woman who seemed to have an entire garden on her head.

Bandor wheezed a laugh.

"Try to remain respectful," Karlar muttered.

That was easy for him to say. He was receiving respect in return. Many people acknowledged him and even bowed as he passed. Less welcoming gazes were reserved for Ezil, Bandor, and Shale, who scurried behind, looking like ragged street urchins who had somehow managed to sneak beyond the toll bridge.

Soon they turned into a quieter, narrower street.

As they walked along, the celebrations of the Changing grew distant. In the middle of the street, they stopped outside a giant green and white building.

The swinging sign outside identified it as The Whistler Inn.

Craning her head, Shale took it all in. It was huge. Four Blackbird Inns could easily fit inside this monster.

"Wait here a moment," Karlar said, "Furcile is a careful man who likes to take precautions. I'll call you when it's okay." He turned and ascended the steps.

Upon the large green ornate door, he gave a firm knock.

A few seconds later, a panel slid open. A pair of hazel eyes peered out from the other side and fixed on Karlar. Then the panel slid closed, and the door clicked and swung open.