The Wall was beautiful.
It was five hundred feet of white marble, polished to a mirror sheen. Runes of protection pulsed along its surface in soft, rhythmic beats of gold light. It looked less like a fortification and more like a monument to the Spire's arrogance.
"They built a cage and called it a palace," Elric muttered, staring up at the ramparts.
Kael sat on his Strider, looking at the soldiers on the wall.
The Golden Guard.
They wore armor that cost more than a village. Gold filigree, red velvet capes, plumes of exotic bird feathers. They held ceremonial halberds. They looked like toys.
"They're laughing at us," Horg growled.
And they were. The Golden Guard were pointing and jeering at the ragged, grey-coated army camped in the dust.
"Look at the ash-rats!" one shouted. "Did you lose your way, beggars? The garbage dump is north!"
"Do we fire?" Valerius asked, his hand on his sword. "The Striders are in range."
"No," Kael said. "Not yet."
He spurred his mount forward. He rode alone to the base of the gate—a massive slab of star-metal alloy.
"I demand audience!" Kael shouted. His voice, trained in the howling winds of the Void, carried effortlessly up the wall.
"Audience?" A Captain on the wall laughed. "With whom? The stable master? Be gone, vagrant, or we'll loose the archers!"
Kael didn't shout again.
He raised his right hand.
He channeled a fraction of his will into the Ring. The Star-metal flared. It didn't glow gold. It shined with a brilliant, blinding white light—the Light of the First.
The symbol of the Supreme Commander.
The laughter on the wall died instantly.
The Captain leaned over the parapet, his face pale. He knew that light. Every knight in the kingdom was trained to recognize it.
"That... that's impossible," the Captain stammered.
"I am Kael of the Ash!" Kael roared. "Bearer of the Seal! Open this gate, or I will consider you traitors to the Throne!"
Silence. Absolute silence.
Then, the grinding of heavy gears.
The small sally port at the base of the gate began to hiss open.
"They're opening it," Horg said, stunned.
"For a parley," Valerius noted. "Not for the army."
Kael turned back to his men.
"Wait for my signal," Kael said.
"What signal?" Elric asked.
Kael looked at the massive main gate.
"When the wall falls," Kael said. "That's the signal."