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Adonai nodded. "I'm getting the horses. We're hoping to leave within the hour. Just come out here when you're ready."

And he headed off towards the barn, where the horses that they were going to be using had been kept for the night.

Before the sun had risen very high in the sky, everyone had gathered in front of the house with their bags. Adonai had the horses saddled and ready to go, and he was in the process of tying the packs to the saddles.

"Triton, I've set that one aside for you," he said, nodding towards a bay. "He's a good head on him. Calm, good for inexperienced riders, but he can handle himself if something comes up. Cindy," he added, turning to her, "you take that one over there." He nodded at a smaller black horse. "Perfect for beginners. Just sit on her and you'll be fine."

Whisper of course would be walking (or flying), since she was too big to ride anymore. She was quite happy to trot alongside Rhea, though, so she didn't mind.

Rhea allowed her father to tie on her bags, then hopped lightly onto her horse's back and picked up the reins. Shael was given a special horse, one of the very few that had been trained to carry someone side-saddle: with Shael's weak leg and the fact that she refused to wear pants, it was the only way she could ride.

"All set?" Adonai asked, looking around at everyone. "Off we go, then." He swung into his own saddle and clicked at his horse, and the five (six with Whisper) of them set off along the river.

The Eastland, like the Southland, was mostly desert, until the city came in sight and then the slightest bit of green began to become visible. The city itself was surrounded in stone walls, and though the buildings were also of stone, the craftsmanship was such that even the plainest of houses had fine details, and fancy masonry, and each and every house, despite the dryness of the desert, had a garden and a flower-lined walkway leading from the street to the front door.

Rhea looked around in amazement at all of the buildings. Of course it was the first time she had been anywhere outside of the Borderlands, and every bit of it was a brand new experience. Shael's eyes were focused on the street ahead of them, guiding her horse around the crowds of people.

Adonai moved his horse closer to Triton. "Would you like to come to the inn with us?" he asked. "Or were you planning on heading straight to the palace? It might be best to give advance warning of your visit, I don't know ..."

Adonai nodded slowly. "You'll need a guide," he murmured, "as well as someone to get you inside ..."

He smiled, "Perhaps you should come with us after all, at least at first. I'm sure Shael's brother would be happy to guide you."

"Of course he will be," Shael beamed. "And really, we have to pass the inn to get to the palace anyways. Come and meet them at least ..."

"It's not far," Shael assured them all, "right in the center of the city. They have a livery as well, so we can keep the horses there. But come on, we're nearly there, and then we can rest and get something to eat."

"Oh, good," Rhea grinned. "I'm hungry."

Adonai chuckled softly. "All in good time."

When they reached the inn, Adonai offered to take the horses to the livery while the others headed inside. It was Shael who led the way, while Rhea walked alongside Whisper, giggling at the stares they were getting.

"You'd think they'd never seen a winged cat before," Whisper murmured, slightly self-consciously, as she padded along closer to Rhea's side.

"They probably haven't," Rhea decided. "If they did, they wouldn't be staring like that." She looked towards Triton and Cindy. "Isn't it nice here? Kind of crowded I think but still, pretty nice. I wonder what my aunt and uncle are like ..."

Shael held the door open for them. "Go on in and we'll find out," she smiled.