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Elros was indeed right behind her, and the moment he closed the door behind them, he turned and smiled down at her.

"We are on the east side of the castle," he explained to her as he began to lead her down a path, "where the barracks are located. Also in this area are the stables and training areas."

The land around them was mostly sand, though there were areas where rich soil had been brought in and flowers were growing in green grass. The paths, lightly dusted with white sand, were of stone, leading neatly away from the door through which they had exited and joining several nearby buildings.

As they neared the training area, they passed by a cluster of palm trees that were nearly twice Elros's height, with large leaves that waved lazily in the slight, warm breeze. There were palm trees in regular intervals on the grounds, except near the castle, where the ground had been cleared for construction.

"One thing you might notice," Elros commented as he led her towards the training area, nodding at the nearby barracks, "is that none of the windows have any glass in them ... none of the buildings in this city do. Glass traps heat inside and intensifies it, and it is hot enough here without that. There are wooden shutters in case of a sandstorm, but that is it."

Elros though about that for a moment. He had never measured the time between sandstorms, though he was certain that Amora would have experimented on it at one time or another.

"Perhaps once a month," he answered finally. "Not more than three or four times in a year. There is very little warning of their approach, so we are always prepared for one. I think Princess Amora would be able to tell you much more ... she studies such things very closely."

"Thankfully not," Elros replied with a smile. "A few minutes perhaps. But the damage they cause can be great, if you are not prepared for them. Many have died in them ... thankfully, the walls of the city are able to keep much of the sand out when there is a storm, though the wind is still great."

They arrived finally at the training area, and he led her through a door and into the facility, which was essentially a walled-in area with a smooth stone floor in the middle of it. Sand scattered over the stone floor, so little of it that it was almost invisible but just enough to look like a light dusting. Seven rows of young men were training, led by one man at the front of the area.

"That is Lord Elwin," Elros nodded at the man who was leading the trainees. "Son of the magistrate of Daal Kregger, to the south of here. He is eighteen years old, and has requested to be a part of the royal court. He trains some of the younger trainees, but he is also a member of His Majesty's council."

Elros smiled. "Believe it or not, being a council member does not take up as much time as one might believe," he said softly, bowing his head respectfully as the young lord looked in their direction. "The training takes up only his mornings, and so he has most afternoons and evenings to himself to do with as he wishes."

He turned and led Lin back out of the training building, and headed now towards the barracks.

The barracks here were quite different from those in the Borderlands in many ways, primarily in size, a fact which was very clear right at the outset. Easily a quarter the size of the entire Southland castle, stone walls rose high into the air, round towers at each corner.

"I believe," Elros commented, leading Lin through a large wooden door braced with metal, "this will be far different from what you are used to."

Inside, the corridor was lit with sunlight that filtered in through a large square window above the door. The walls inside were of stone, just as the outside walls were, and there were torches hanging on brackets along the walls. To the right was another door, also wooden and braced with metal, and it was to this door that Elros was directing her.

The room which Elros led Lin to was rather large, about twelve feet wide and fifteen long. One wall was lined with various weapons and armour, a second with bookcases and papers, and the third and fourth walls were bare. A large wooden desk was in the back of the room, well lit by the window behind it as well as a window in the side wall.

"My office," Elros explained with a smile. "Here, I conduct all things necessary for the guard. Shifts, training, special missions, recruiting ... all of it goes through me."