As Arran had already guessed from the carts, the journey from the fortress was as long as it was slow. For days on end, the column of soldiers and borderlanders moved through wide grasslands, traveling at so slow a pace that Arran could not help but be frustrated.
After the first few days, Arran began to see signs of civilization among their surroundings — farms, several villages, and even a small town. And although they didn't stop in any of those places, he could see farmers working the fields, and several merchants passed them as they moved along the road.
The familiar sights caused Arran some pause.
He'd known there was more to the Imperium than just a powerful army, but knowing it was different from seeing it with his own eyes.
