The journey to the capital went a lot smoother than Illiam had thought. The cart was escorted by a small battalion of soldiers which likely scared away any would-be bandits. The men escorting Illiam were cordial to him and seemed to be trying their best to keep decorum. He found this attempt endearing but wished they would let the mask fall and act more naturally around him. Although they were at the end of the day, soldiers that were sent to escort both a duke’s son and a concubine of the king. The differences in their status was far too great to risk offending him. 

 The scenery on the route was also quite nice. It had been a long time since he had seen fields of flowers and lush forests. He was too busy to go through the glens of Ashton since he had returned. The small scatterings of settlements and villages also brought some comfort even though they didn’t go into any of them. 

 When the sight of a fortified city came into view Illiam muttered a brief prayer in the language of Ashton. His fate was almost sealed, in a few moments they will enter the capital. 

 Although there wasn’t a parade welcoming the caravan, the city’s citizens did peer out to look at them. They must have been wondering why there was a full troop of soldiers escorting a cart. The royal capital was far more packed than Illiam had thought. He was used to cities like that after his years studying on the continent but had always assumed that cities in Angleterre were more spread out like the capital of Ashton was. 

 Once they got to the gates of the palace a group of courtiers greeted them. Illiam only vaguely recognized one of them, it was an older man. 

“Welcome Illiam Ashton.” The familiar man bowed to the cart. “I have not seen you since you were a babe hanging off your father’s cloak.” 

“You know my father.” Illiam squinted trying to remember the man’s name.

“I do,” he smiled, “Although I fear you likely don’t remember me. You were small when I joined the royal court. I am Elric Blackwood, I’m an advisor to the king.” he bowed again. 

 The name Blackwood reminded Illiam of something his father had once drunkenly mentioned but couldn’t entirely remember the context as to why. 

“I should not keep you here much longer.” Elric walked to the side of the cart and offered a hand. “The king is waiting for you.”