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~~~Third Person, Third Moon, 277 AC~~~
~~~Tavalar~~~
The seizure of Qarth by part of the Xandarian army was at its height; those walls that had survived the bloody century and a thousand other tribulations could not stop the advancing Horde legions and TNT cannons. As a result, the fall of Qarth came closer and closer.
While that was happening, a movie scene was playing out in Tavalar, the newest city in Xandar.
A hundred wyverns were eating or drinking in a massive clearing near the white-walled city of Tavalar. With their riders beside them, they waited for the order to begin their mission.
While Azrael did not participate in the seizure and conquest of Qarth, this did not mean he was doing nothing. He was organizing a whole retinue to go somewhere else.
What was it?
This destination was the other power that had joined forces with Qarth to attack Port Royal. So far, the information as to why Yi Ti made enemies with Xandar is unclear since Xandar possessed good relations with the Golden Empire, partly thanks to the intervention of Prince Bao Li Jie of Asabhad.
So, the fact that a retinue of Yi Ti had joined Qarth to attack Xandar was unheard of, but that did not mean that Xandar would not respond. That is why Azrael would personally go to the heart of Yi Ti.
"My king, everything is ready now." Maicol, the first villager Azrael had summoned, was now telling him his new transport was ready.
Azrael had been with the idea of air transport ever since Micaela brought the wyverns, and while the idea had slipped his mind for a while due to getting Endoxes' company, he had already relayed the core idea to Maicol. Being the excellent blacksmith that he was, he set about creating what he thought Azrael would like.
And now, all that effort made by him and his assistants in the smithies had given life to a beautiful and fantastic contraption.
Several men were carrying large crates to giant contraptions in the green clearing on the city's outskirts. The vast structures looked like airships, but they were square, supported by four large, strong metal legs, with a ramp with removable ladders that allowed the men to climb up and carry the crates into the structure.
Also, from the top of the structure, six metal columns protruded at about 45 degrees, with a broad, strong plate resting on each of the six columns.
If someone were to see them, they would observe that they were similar to the airship of Grimmel, the villain in the third installment of How to Train Your Dragon. Only these structures were different; they didn't have that rustic and ugly look but looked like a carriage without tires.
But the six black wyverns stationed on each vehicle's plates caught everyone's attention. They were fastened to the structure with huge chains that allowed them mobility and, due to the leather protection covering the chains, kept them comfortable.
These wyverns had been chosen specifically for this job, with stronger joints and more enormous wings, which would lift themselves and the airship's weight. They are also long-trained to carry loads four times their body weight.
"We have called them airships; their structure is made entirely of netherithe metal, which makes it as light and strong as possible. According to the tests done, the structure has the capacity for four devastators, which means that twenty-eight people can be inside without space problems," Maicol was explaining to Azrael as they approached the 'airship,' happy and eager, like a child waiting for his parents' approval after showing them a drawing made by him.
"The airship's facilities are made for long journeys, where comfort and luxury are the top priority. It has two bedrooms, three functional bathrooms, a restroom, a kitchen, and a cellar. Plus, the airship's operators can control the movement and direction of the airship directly in the control room on the roof without the need for its crew members to worry about it."
Azrael nodded and smiled, fascinated by Maicol and his team's creativity and work and eager to use the airship as soon as possible. "Are all the tests done yet?" Azrael asked, wanting to be completely sure of the airship before using it.
"Yes, we have already made flights in it from here to Xandar; its systems have worked flawlessly, and the wyverns have been comfortable with it."
Nodding, Azrael then decided to board the airship, climb up the stairs, and marvel at the structure. "Let's not wait any longer; we'll head for Yin, the capital of Yi Ti."
At Azrael's command, the airship operators climbed to the top of the airship, where several levers controlled the movement of the columns that held the wyvern chains and, moments later, whipped the wyverns around, urging them to rise.
At first, the movement was a bit jerky. Still, once the wyverns were in the air, the motion didn't feel as strong, with the airship rising with the help of the flapping of the wyverns' wings, causing the airship to take flight and begin its march towards Yin, as the wyvern riders climbed onto their mounts and followed the airship closely.
"ROOOAAR!"
Endoxes also joined the group, flying over all the wyverns at a certain distance to avoid stressing the wyverns, who were still not feeling calm in his presence.
After half an hour of flight, after leaving Tavalar, fifty riders separated from the leading group, heading south, specifically towards Qarth, to help in the war against the ancient city. The leading group continued on its course without stopping, flying over the vast peaks of the Bone Mountains.
Soon, the Bone Mountains were left behind, and vast swathes of green land, extensive forests, and paved roads appeared on the ground, looking very much like those of ancient Valyria.
However, as they cut through, and after three hours of flight, a vast city came into view from the distance, stretching as far as the human eye could see, rivaling the size of Xandar.
As members of the city became aware of the uninvited visitor, multiple alarms began to sound throughout the city, with soldiers and guards rushing towards the palace.
Soon, Azrael's airship hovered above a gigantic garden of the golden palace, carefully descending with the help of the operators controlling the wyverns.
Only the airship and Endoxes landed, with the other fifty wyverns still in the sky on standby in case a fight developed.
Soon, a retinue of soldiers and palace guards arrived in the garden, wielding swords and bows, ready to die if necessary to protect the palace and the emperor's life within it.
They all lined up impeccably in front of the airship, ready to attack at the slightest provocation, although still alert due to the giant dragon and the smaller ones in the sky.
However, Azrael did not make them wait long. Once the airship door opened and the ladder was lowered, Azrael descended from the airship, sporting enchanted Netherite armor that glowed purple and blue.
Azrael walked until he was only fifty feet away from the group of men. "I am King Azrael Jaesyrian! King of Xandar and the lands west of the Bone Mountains, and I am here today because Yi Ti has violated the sovereignty of my kingdom. I demand an audience with your emperor regent in five minutes; know I am being reasonable; do not abuse my olive branch."
The men did not know what to do; in part, they knew the names of Azrael and Xandar, where even those stories of a kingdom rivaling in greatness with the dawn empire were rising. But at no time did they think they would receive a visit from the king of that place at a time like this, especially since said man seemed furious.
Fortunately, another posse of men arrived, led by a middle-aged man on a white steed, followed by ten heavily armed men.
"It is a pleasure to finally meet the king of Xandar," the man greeted, bowing once he arrived in front of Azrael. I am Feng Yi, leader of Emperor Bu Gai's expeditionary forces. It would be a pleasure to escort you to the emperor."
Azrael was silent for a moment. Considering the proposal, one thing he had noticed was that he did not feel threatened by Yi Ti's men, which made him frown because Valka's reports had said that Yi Ti was involved in the attack on Port Royal, something that so far did not seem to be true.
However, he wouldn't know that until he met with the leader of Yi Ti, so nodding, Azrael accepted Feng Yi's guidance to escort him to the emperor. So quickly, ten wyverns descended from the sky and landed near the airship, descending from them ten witches in their characteristic golden armor. All were ready to protect Azrael during his passage to the emperor Bu Gai's palace.
"Very well, come with us." Feng Yi said, leading the way to the palace, while Azrael was treated with all possible respect.