The "Herald" docked on the tower of the city of Nelia, much to the relief of the crew. They had exhausted next to all of their storage of crystals, and now relied on the great tower to maintain the ship in the air.

The ship was towed, and once they were securely attached, they could allow the refugees to leave the ship. The crew had come together to pool for clothes and a fair sum of money that'd last them a while.

After the refugees the Sky Knights not on shipwatching duty got to take their leave, before it was time for the Hope´s guard to touch solid ground. They quickly split up to fullfill their roles.

Mellador went with Thaeus to purchase stock for their supplies. The half-ogre to carry, and Thaeus to do the negotiating and to make sure no complications arose with their companion.

Aeneya dragged Cairon out of his room to the crystellerie to replenish their near exhausted storage.

Fiona at last was left behind to watch over the ship, and mainly to not scare the locals and causing another scene. Ellyrie really did not want to be banned from another city.

This left the captain alone with Melnia, and the most uncomfortable task. Dealing with the bureaucracy.

At the base of the tower was the harbormasters office. When she entered, the man behind the desk quickly scrambled to his feet.

"Your, your highness, it is an honour!"

How she hated this part of her duty. Ellyrie forced a smile and walked over to his desk, sitting down after being offered the seat.

"What event has such a high guest of honour arrive at our humble port your highness, transit, business, official matters?"

The captain shook her head and laid her folder on the desk. It contained their ship´s registration papers, names and initials of crew members aboard, as well as the various licenses El had the fortune of getting by weight of her name alone.

"We just returned from a mission and our supplies are low, we just mean to restock, take in what news we missed while on high and be back on our way."

The harbour master hardly checked her documents, he was too busy trying to maintain eye contact and filling out here form of admission.

Less than five minutes after entering, Ellyrie left the office once more and briefly shook herself like a dog caught in a flash of rain. Sure, it was nice to finish within minutes that took less fortunate captains at times hours, but the things she would give to be able to hand the task to someone else.

Melnia had waited beyond the door, and quickly went back to her side. She eyed the other travellers and captains with worry, and would not let go of Ellyrie´s left arm.

Together they left the tower, and were greeted with a view that had the captain relax for the first time since leaving the castrum.

Nelia was a city that was Atali through and through. The white stone used in both the architecture of fortifications and houses stood in a strong but warming contrast to the flowing, golden fields beyond the walls.

Nelia was built on a hill, with the tower at it´s peak, letting Ellyrie and Melnia look down on the bustling daily faire of the city. Atal´s milder climate attracted people from all across the empire, and it was the only imperial territory where not all inhabitants were human.

As they walked through the wide streets they saw people from the high mountains of Frista in the north east, easily discernible by their pale blue skin and it´s leathery texture. Their caravans were some of the few, minuscule contacts that Atal had with the world beyond the empire´s borders.

Another sight that anywhere else would provoke a riot were traders from eastern lands of Ghne-Tyr, bordering the great ocean. Their fish was widely sought after in the empire, letting even some of the fiercest Zanaan aristocrats forget their origin. The Tyrian were one of the few inhuman peoples who shared most the proper human appearance, save for their complete lack of hair and the fine net of scales covering their bodies that glittered in the warm sun.

Here they walked down the main street of Nelia, without covering their faces, some even carrying weapons, and without looking over their shoulder every step.

For it was a peculiar for Atal that most of the imperial garrisons did not parade the streets daily. Unless they were off duty, and not in uniform, they stayed inside the barracks, the daily task of maintain order was instead taken up the civil watch, local people, lightly armed and standing at their posts in benign calm.

Ellyrie had a spring in her step as she took Melnia across the market square. Perhaps they should stay in Atal for a while, return to their roots.

"My oh my, Captain Ellyrie herself."

The low female voice stopped her dead in her tracks. She looked to her right.

Leaning against the doorframe of "Lady Riesqeu´s Clotherie" was a tall woman, wearing a sundress the likes of which Ellyrie had never seen. With every little movement the fabric was changing colour, displaying every shade of the rainbow in sequence.

"And what is this, a sister, a friend, a lover? Well regardless captain, I am appalled." She laid her hand on her chest with an exaggerated gasp. "You cannot let the poor girl walk around this way, what will the palace think. Come, come."

Ellyrie was much too confused to even protest as the tall woman took her hand and dragged her inside the store.

It was barely lit, and the smell of fine fresh clothing and expensive perfume made her head spin all the more. The lady took Melnia´s hand and pulled her to the side. She gave the young woman a few looks before vanishing off into the corridors of dressed, hats and other garments.

"I know you like to fashion yourself a knight, lady Ellyrie, but it is high time that you also learned to appreciate the more refined parts of life." Her voice still rung out to them as she continued her search.

"The day your engagement to that Serafin girl reached us in our little town, oh you have no idea the jubilation! I do declare, half my wine cellar was empty the next day!"

The lady returned with a large stack of clothes, half the height of poor Melnia. "Now if you would excuse us, lady Ellyrie, a professional requires space."

Without awaiting her answer, she dragged Melnia to a small changing room at the back. Ellyrie just looked at the door separating them now, her mind had still not finished processing what was going on.

One hand went down to her blade, but it was calm, and at ease. It usually warned Ellyrie of danger in unclear situations, and as it did not stirr, she decided to wait instead.

"Ah no, green will just not do! What was I even thinking. Rose red, no, no, wearing such a thing and holding hands with an engaged woman? The outrage, oh it would be lovely, but I just cannot allow it. Aha! Of course, I should have thought of it sooner. Now sit still girl, we need to deal with that hair of yours. There is a princess hidden among that mane, I am sure of it!"

After what felt like an eternity, the door opened, and Lady Riesqeu returned with Melnia in tow, and Ellyrie had to blink a few times before recognising her. The girl barely resembled herself.

The lady had chosen a sky blue dress with detached sleeves that went a bit over her wrists. It was held together on the back by a fine arrangement of strings which ran together into a beautiful bow just below her shoulders, resembling a flower. The dress went all the way down to her kness, acceptable enough to be worn in higher places while not being overbearing in the current summer.

But most importantly, the lady had bound Melnia´s hair into twintails, with the ribbons tied and folded to resemble the ears of a bunny. She was completely red in the face and seemed stuck between her desire to hide at Ellyrie´s side, and her own embarrassment.

"Why judging from your reaction I have done my work most flawlessly, no?"

The captain slowly nodded her head. "I, would have to agree, yes. Uhm, lady Riesqeu, I take it? I want to thank you for your forward offer but we Sky Knights are currently in quite the bind financially and-"

The lady wagged her finger and silenced Ellyrie. "Oh no, worry not, I see it as my imperial duty to ensure that our beloved heiress and her company does not wander the streets of our fair city without looking their most stunning self. Please consider this a humble gift from us, as a thanks for your tireless work for the good of the empire."

This time her relief and polite demeanor were no play, but sincerity.

They left the little shop after another tirade of thanking and exaltation. Both Ellyrie and Melnia had troubles looking at each other as they traversed the rest of the main street towards the governmental palace.

"You, you do look very uhm, good." Ellyrie was looking the other way, though it did not help remove the image of Melnia that was now seared into her mind.

"I, never got to wear anything like this before." Melnia reached up to her hair, the crimson flush still not leaving her cheeks. "She looked rather scary at first, that woman, but it was really kind of her."

"Yes it's, well, something that tends to happen a lot for me. It's why I let the others take care of the shopping, I'd feel bad if everyone tripped over trying to be generous. It kind of makes me feel bad." Ellyrie was scratching her head, and thanked the pantheon under her breath as they finally reached the palace.

It was an open house, without walls or guards. Daily matters in Atal were handled by councils, another reason why Ellyrie loved every time she got to visit Atal. So much less procedure and protocol to follow.

They got to walk through the main hall, and headed straight to the aviary. The two were welcomed by the cries and calls of tens of birds. The black crows of the guardians, the white dove used by Atali administration, and a few private birds of all different sizes and colourations.

The scribe on duty was visible overwhelmed, and greeted them with great enthusiasm.

"Lady Ellyrie! And a new face, a new sky knight? What can I do for you?"

Ellyrie took her seat beside Melnia and leaned back. "Just here to hear of any news. Me and my Sky Knights will be around for a while, so we would be able to handle anything you might need help with."

The scribe began to dig through the letters littering his desk. "While we are of course overjoyed to have such a honoured and esteemed group offer their help, Atal has been relatively peaceful, save for a lack of news from the castrum. Let me see, oh, oh!"

He produced an envelope that made Ellyrie´s heart beat faster when she laid eyes upon it. On it was the seal of an hand, with the symbol of a crown on the palm. The seal of the Sovereign Viceroy of Atal.

"It would seem his highness Elias wishes to speak with you."