Ssar, the northernmost province of the kingdom, its capital is Elocssar, built into a mountain on its southern side facing the Emerald Kingdom. Its northern face, hidden by the mountain, faces the Neharii Wilderness. It is the seat of the major house of the Silent Guard, whose main objective is to safeguard the Emerald Kingdom from any incursions from the civilised peoples of the North.

The province of Ssar is the only possible access between the mountains of the North and the North-East, the border between the mountains covering more than a thousand kilometres, the attention of the Silent Guard is paramount. They are the masters of the borders and protectors of the Emerald Kingdom.

Book, The Emerald Kingdom, Prerogative of the Houses.

Leila had decided to escape from the palace, which had become stifling. They had been advised against going out into the city, but she was prepared to take the risk. Spending several days twiddling her thumbs was not like her. And with the new mood in the Palace after Lucas' arrival yesterday, it was too much for her.

It was sad what was happening to Lucas of course. He'd been a good friend when she was still dating Jonah, but she'd accepted his death months before, so the impact had been less strong for her.

Touching Dune Fallen, strapped to her back, Leila looked out the window in front of her. It might be a little difficult but it wouldn't be insurmountable. She had realised that this Palace had very few windows near the ground, and by very few she meant none. The only possible accesses were through the doors between the staircases between floors or at the big front door at the top.

Of course, she could just walk out the door, they wouldn't stop her. Despite their importance to them, the Eldars had never really tried to restrict their movement, as long as they didn't decide to leave the Kingdom outright. Which would be a long way off. No, if she wanted to sneak out it was to escape the watchers who would be following her.

Glancing out the window, Leila didn't notice any Eldars. She was in the upper city near the most upscale areas. It was the least populated area, and therefore the best place to escape the palace with the least risk of being seen. From there, she could find a way to travel between the different floors.

The roof she was aiming for was indeed about ten meters away, but her fine, probably. Taking one last look down the hallway she climbed up to the window, weaving the increase she jumped. Feeling the wind in her hair, the effect of the fall on her body, Leila smiled. All too soon she landed, rolling over and hitting a corner of the stone. Blowing out in pain, she rubbed her wound and frowned. She was fine, it was just a little sore.

Looking up at the palace window, Leila laughed, she couldn't believe she had dared to do that. It was a beautiful life.

She looked around, hoping no one had seen her, Dune Fallen clutched tightly to her back she then began to climb down from the nobleman's house, which had served as her landing pad. Fortunately for her, the city of Tera was a secure place, access to the various plateaus was not so numerous, and so the nobles of Tera did not usually employ guards to watch their homes.

Leila finally arrived in the alley behind the building, the palace still visible from where she was well over her head. She had just thought of something she had missed, so great had been her desire for adventure. She was human, she risked being noticed if she wandered around the city like that, and she had taken nothing to hide behind. Shrugging her shoulders, Leila figured that they would have found her eventually, whether it was because of their police or because of the search for her prism. Even though Aurora had taught them all the method of making herself undetectable Leila had made a promise to Zarune not to use it until the Towers had been activated. And Leila kept her promises to her friends.

She didn't know how Mat managed to hide from the Eldar, but in her case, as much as she wanted to be alone on occasion, she had no real desire to escape from them.

Leila set off in the direction of the lower town, it was always in this kind of place that interesting things happened. Besides, there was more chance of a nobleman noticing her and going to warn the Palace that she was in town than a normal citizen. Moving between the houses and manors of the upper city, Leila avoided the commercial centre of this plateau. Although there was little here, as most of the plateau was residential, the wealthy did not want to have to move to the plateau below them to access some of their immediate needs.

This plateau of the city was much more cut off from the others than the other plateaus. On the plateaus below, there were stairs up the cliffs where there were no waterfalls. Here, the only possible access was via the central stairs under the palace. So Leila went to one of the waterfalls in the upper city that fell downwards.

Rubbing her shoulder, still a little sore, she looked at the damp mountainside, squinting a little as she observed the distance to the bottom. She smiled, compared to climbing the giant trees of the Emerald Kingdom this was nothing. The waterfall should hide her from some of the attention below, but it was also the reason she had chosen to leave so early in the morning. With the usual twilight environment of the kingdom, leaving in the morning as she had done was a bit like being in the middle of the night. Besides, people, Eldars and Humans alike, rarely looked up.

Well, it was time to go. Smiling Leila stepped over the stone railing that protected the wealthy Eldars ascendant nobles from a deadly fall as they watched the poor citizens below them from their private promontory.

Using the weave to strengthen her fingers, and the augmentation to make them stronger, she looked for crevices to cling to. And when she couldn't find any, she dug, with nothing but the strength of her fingers. The drizzle from the waterfall wet her back, and soon her hair was soaked, her back wet, the cold water running down the neck of her leather armour. She felt so alive. Alone against the elements, with only the sound of the waterfall crashing to the river below, the power of her muscles, her ever-evolving Weaving skills, her trusty Dune Fallen on her back, with no responsibility other than to choose the right place for her fingers and feet so as not to fall to her certain death, she was happy.

Her climbing skills had become important, and with Weaving as a cheating method, it was hardly difficult, she had perhaps slipped once or twice, having to hold on with the tip of a finger even. Yet not once did she think she might fall.

Finally, she landed on solid ground, smiling with satisfaction. Soaking wet she turned to go and visit that part of the city, yet she stopped before she could start, with a tight smile on her face. Right in front of her was a group of Eldars children who were looking at her with wide eyes. They must have seen her coming down the waterfall.

She waved at them, and then walked nonchalantly towards the city, hoping they wouldn't tell on her. She heard them whispering as she left, Leila let her ear linger to get an idea of what they were up to. She smiled, sure they were just kids, but it was always nice to hear someone talk about themselves with such wonder. She had completely impressed the Eldars children. She was glad that her little escapade was not over so quickly.

She still had a lot of money leftover from her stay in Tuanon, so she might do a little shopping on the way, buying some local food probably. Even if she was well served at the palace, nothing was better than eating a good treat from a street vendor in her opinion.

The second set was mostly made up of citizens a little better off than the average Eldar of Tera. Mostly merchants, or artisans, the whole of this plateau being the commercial centre of the city. This was where most of the processed goods were found, and as Tera was an important commercial and tourist pole it would have plenty of choices.

The rest of the morning passed like this, she went from shop to shop, looking at the different items on display, often stopping at a food stall to eat the local specialities. She bought some gifts for her friends. For Aurora, she got a book about the torrid and forbidden romance between an Eldar living in the hidden coves of the north coast and a mermaid from the Tia Sea. For Zarune she found an amethyst earring that would set off her silver hair. She hesitated to take something for the others before deciding that she didn't have enough money to do anything more foolish. Besides, she was hungry.

She took nothing for herself, having everything she needed. Dune Fallen of course being her prized possession, but all the rest of her daily necessities had been amply provided for by the Eldard. She had her two daggers, the second given to her by Zarune. She thought briefly of the sword she had thought of acquiring when she was in the monster ant hill but quickly dismissed the thought. Dune Fallen would suffice, and if she needed to get closer, she would have her daggers. Although she didn't see why she would need to get closer. Her daggers would just be used to deal with her prey, one dagger making it easier to skin the animal and the other to deal with the bones.

Throughout his journey in the city, the Eldars were very courteous, they knew that humans were present in Tera. And the Eldars, merchants and citizens alike, were delighted to meet one. For most of them, if not all, this would be the only time in their lives they would get to see this mythical creature who was a human other than in stories. If some were intimidated by the terrible stories that were told about humans at night by the fire, most of them thawed out quickly once they had engaged in conversation with her.

It was a radically different atmosphere from what she was used to. She mostly hung out with the nobles who had a hidden agenda, and the soldiers who saw her and other humans as a threat. The normal citizens were happy to meet her, and many were even grateful that the humans helped them with the situation in the south.

Although life went on without apparent worries, the Eldars were very aware of the state of their nation and had a good knowledge of the local geopolitics. The end of the southern threat was a real concern for them. Leila had even spoken to some Eldars groups who were actively discussing the politics of the nation and the manoeuvres of the various powers that be, the most important being the houses. And even though Leila was not particularly interested in this subject, it was interesting to have the opinion of the population, it was an interesting change of perspective.

On this plateau was also the temple district, where the Eldars deities were represented. Leila avoided this place, Zarune had warned them all to avoid anything to do with the divine.

All the priests, other worshippers and zealots of the Eldars gods were evacuated from all the places they went. And this was not for trivial reasons, but very important for the Eldar culture, and the survival of the human group. As the queen had told them when they arrived here, the presence of humans in the Emerald Kingdom was punishable by death, it was divine law. One of the foundations of this Kingdom, only the Eldars among the so-called civilized races were allowed. And if the Eldars know how to be pragmatic, they couldn't completely turn their eyes away from their laws. That's why their priests avoided them. If they didn't see them, they could pretend they didn't exist. A bit hypocritical according to Leila, but she was glad not to have to deal with them. They looked like a pain in the ass, as much as the nobles.

Staring at the third plateau at her feet Leila hesitated, the last two plateaus were mostly residential, with small local businesses with a few cultural buildings like theatres or museums, though the most prestigious ones were in the merchant or noble plateau. She had visited a few museums but quickly enough, the evening was approaching and she did not have time to go everywhere. However, it was also in the district at her feet that the most interesting taverns were found according to the Eldars. It was still far too smooth here. Downstairs there was a tavern mounted on a huge barge on one of the lakes that made up the city, the best in the city according to an Eldar with old but still bright eyes.

Uncertain, Leila's eyes began to shine, perhaps she could convince the girls to go out with her. They both needed to have a little fun. Aurora was depressed about what was happening to Lucas and Zarune was struggling with her guilt, a girls night out at the most upscale tavern in town would probably be enough to put a smile on their faces.

Deciding to take her chances she set off at a brisk pace towards the palace. As she approached the palace she could see the dirty looks the guards were giving her. Her absence had not gone unnoticed, and they held her responsible for their current problem. Leila gave them a mocking look, it wasn't her fault that they were doing their job badly.

Ignoring them afterwards, she entered the palace, after walking for a while she grabbed a servant and asked him to take her to where Zarune or Aurora was. The servant bowed, unable to hide the contempt in his eyes. Leila sighed, she preferred the citizens of the city, that to have to live here on the nobility's estate.

About ten minutes later, after the servant had questioned some of his colleagues, she was taken to the palace library on the second floor. She should have known better. As she entered the huge library she found Aurora in an armchair with her feet tucked under her reading a book. Not far away she could see Mustapha, a book on his face and his feet stretched out in front of him, apparently taking a nap. Knowing him, Leila thought that he must have stayed close to Aurora to support her without seeming to do.

- Aurora! How about a night on the town, on the best barge in town?

Aurora gasped in surprise before looking at her puzzled friend. Leila could see Mustapha glancing discreetly behind his book, before pretending to sleep again.

- Isn't the city too dangerous?

Aurora was uncertain, shuttling her eyes between her book and her friend.

- Come on! Life itself is dangerous, you have to have fun when you can.

Mustapha acquired vigorously in the distance.

- I'm going to invite Zarune to come with us, you'll see we'll have fun.

- Erm...

Seeing her friend hesitate, Leila threatened her.

- If you don't come, I won't give you your present.

Aurora was immediately interested and looked at her with a shining eye.

- A present?

- Yes!

- Yes, I will!

- Good! Let's go get Zarune.

Catching up with the same servant he had brought here, she asked him to take her to the princess.

- What kind of gift is that?

- Here.

Aurora grabbed her gift and looked at it with enthusiasm.

- A book! What's it about?

As Leila gave her the quick summary the salesman had given her they arrived in one of the meeting rooms or courtrooms as they called them, of the palace, apparently Zarune was not far away. Not hesitating to interrupt any meeting that might take place Leila entered the room.

Ignoring the cold or shocked looks of the Eldars present, she said.

- Zarune, I need to talk to you!

The princess, amused by her friend's antics, raised a puzzled eyebrow. Before looking around at the assembly she said.

- I think we're done here, we'll see the rest tomorrow.

- But your Highness...!

Zarune only made a gesture and all the Eldars present left in disappointment. They still gave Leila several unfriendly looks. Zarune turned to her and Aurora who was entering the room, smiling.

- Did your visit to the city go well? Your shoulder doesn't hurt anymore?

Leila paused for a second before approaching her friend.

- That's why I have something to offer you. But first here.

Leila presented her with the amethyst earring.

- For me?

- Of course, it's a gift.

Zarune took the gift and gave her a beautiful smile.

- Thank you," she said.

Leila nodded enthusiastically.

- Now the three of us will go to the best tavern in town.

- The one on the lake?

- So you know it! Good! I'm sure they'll let us in. I'm sure they'll let the princess of the Emerald Kingdom in easily enough.

Zarune looked calmly at her two friends before giving a small smile.

- All right.

Happy that she was accepted, Leila said over her shoulder to go and get ready to her two friends. As she quickly entered her flat, she hesitated for a second before deciding to drop off Dune Fallen. She couldn't take a gun into town to party. Probably. Still, she kept her two daggers hidden.

Taking off her leather armour and putting on one of the dresses provided by the Eldars, she tied her daggers to her thighs under the dress and left to join her friends.

Both of them had put on their best, Zarune had even put on some make-up which she lent to Aurora. Leila preferred not to use it. Once the three of them were ready, they left, passing a puzzled Jonah and Brenin on the way. Laughing amongst themselves and ignoring the two boys, they headed into town. Leila pretended to ignore the shadowy guards protecting them. They were going to have a good time.