Per Tolith was ahead of them, the huge walls stark grey in the bright sunlight, blue banners hanging down, pennants flapping in the breeze. Mavrosa’s hooves clipped against the paved road, Janaxia’s arms tight around Stathis’ waist.

‘We could have got another horse, you know. I would have thought that you would want to look as impressive as possible.’

I happen to think that this is rather charming. And it does set the rather firm expectation of our relationship, doesn’t it? I wouldn’t want there to be any confusion, or to have to see off competitors.

‘If you keep squeezing me that tightly you’re going to break my ribs!’

The soldiers were marching in formation on either side of them, their armour creating another steady beat. Dorothea had already ridden off, unable to be separated from her work for any longer, and probably arranging some overly-complex arrival parade.

‘It’s nice to see you in full dress uniform for once. Perhaps you should wear it more often? It is rather majestic. And your armour is even clean and polished for once!’

It was stiff and scratchy, even above her armour, sky-blue fabric and gold decorations, that Janaxia and Dorothea had spent far too long foisting on her this morning. And her armour was parade-ground shiny, far too bright!

Up ahead, Per Tolith looked to be bustling, markets visible over the walls, the gates open to let travellers come and go. Stathis could see the gleam of armour, guards checking travellers. Other banners were flying around the city, showing that dignitaries were present. On one tower, Stathis could see a bronze-and-red flag flapping, long and serpentine – that must be the Sethan embassy?

Janaxia twisted against her, separating slightly, turning to speak to Skotadi, who was mounted on a night-black chair. As she did so, the seat became less throne-like, Janaxia nodding in satisfaction.

‘Good. Now remember, Skotadi, to be on your best behaviour. This is going to be an important state occasion. Stathis must look her best, and we should support her. Once we are more firmly ensconced, then we will be able to begin plans for the next state occasion, at which I will be more central.’

‘We could just elope? That would be easier.’

‘Oh no, I wouldn’t settle for anything less than a full ceremony! Consider it the start of a new era, as well as a chance to truly cement an alliance. And Per Tolith does have some wonderful buildings – the state chapel is said to be wonderful. I was speaking to Dorothea about it, and she seemed entirely in agreement.’

‘She probably just wants to gather dirt on visiting kings and queens!’

Brina nodded, walking alongside Mavrosa. ‘Yeah. Gonna be a lot of behind-the-scenes schemin’ and stuff goin’ on. Just because everyone is lookin’ happy and nice, doesn’t mean it’s gonna stay that way of long. There’s already moanin’ about the power the Iristari have. Might want to go easy on the “conquerin’ hero” stuff for a bit, stop anyone thinkin’ you’re going to try and put yourself in charge.’

‘I don’t want to be in charge! It’s bad enough trying to be in charge of you lot, never mind a whole country.’

But you are so very good at it!

Stathis ignored her. ‘It’s going to be lots of people being painfully polite at each other, isn’t it? Great for you two, but not really something I enjoy.’

The main gate disgorged a shining-bright column of soldiers, marching at double-pace, those at the front carrying banners. Stathis sighed. ‘Looks like things are about to get formal. If you want to switch off, now’s the time, as I don’t think riding two to a horse is the look you really want.’

Janaxia began to chant, summoning up her own floating disk and dismounting onto it. The chair was larger than Skotadi’s, a little more ornamental and decorative, the pair of them floating along close behind Stathis.

It didn’t take long for the column to reach them, with the heavy tromp of boots and jangling of armour drowning out any other noise. As they approached, Stathis winced to see heralds, long horns at the ready. They raised them, Stathis tensing up in readiness, a loud and brassy sound hammering outwards. Pajaran was at the head of the column, giving her a cheeky salute before the horns blared.

‘All hail Stathis, Knight of the Sun, Bearer of the Light and Slayer of the Darkness.’ There was a faint mumbled growl from Skotadi. ‘All hail Stathis, Protector of the Realm, and Lieutenant Commander of the Iristari!’

A few other pedestrians looked on in surprise, as the soldiers all saluted, Stathis dying inside. Some of them even saluted themselves! Nevertheless, she drew her sword, raising it high to catch the sunlight. ‘Against fire, against darkness, against death!’ Mavrosa reared up and kicked the air, as the soldiers answered the call. Pajaran stepped forward.

‘We of the 3rd Home Guard are honoured to provide you with an escort, Knight Stathis! We have been instructed to escort you to the palace, where you will be debriefed by the Commander herself.’ She spoke more quietly. ‘Welcome home, good to see you! Despite you buggering off without leave right after the fight. Scared the shit out of me!’

Both Janaxia and Skotadi purred, basking in the second-hand authority, as Stathis nodded and gestured forward. ‘Onwards, then. It’s been a long journey – it’s good to be back.’ She slid her sword back into the sheathe. Pajaran raised her mace, swinging it through the air to create a shimmering cloud, using it to try and keep the onlookers back.

As they got closer to the walls, she could see other guards notice her and point, groups gathering. Murmurs were starting to spread through other travellers, as well as those that lived here, a crowd forming, pointing and gawping at her. She tried to focus ahead of herself, Mavrosa’s steady trot vibrating through her, ignoring the cheers that rippled through the crowd. This would have been a lot easier if she had just snuck in. Although that would have caused more problems later on!

Now they were closer, she could see the Sethan banners flapping above a tower, more flowing down from windows. Had they established a full embassy already? The main avenue stretched ahead of her, celebratory banners hanging everywhere. More trumpets blared, sounds echoing off the buildings, loud and brassy, followed by the ringing clatter of steel, as swords were unsheathed and held high.

Soldiers lined either side of the broad avenue, a wall of steel all the way up to the central square, with the palace walls ahead of them. Stathis supressed a wince, although could feel a thrum of satisfaction from Janaxia, along with an increase in her pulse. Still, there was nothing for it but to kick her heels, Mavrosa trotting faster.

The horns all blew in unison, drummers starting to beat, sending vibrations through the air, strong enough that Stathis could feel the beat through her body. They started to fall in line behind her, feet all beating the ground in unison, perfect parade-ground movements. She could see the banners of the different groups, some now looking more weathered and battered, a lot of the soldiers still bearing wounds. And there were non-Iristari as well – groups of elves, other humans, ranging from crisply-dressed soldiers, to more ragged mercenaries or irregular units, even a few members of other races, scaled dragon-kin and broad-shouldered dwarves.

Now this is more what I expected! Take note, Skotadi – this is what a grand entrance looks like. Janaxia was turning in her chair giving genteel waves to the audience, her clothing a brilliant, azure blue, the red slash in her hair throbbing happily, although the brightness of the sunlight made that mercifully hard to see.

There was nothing else she could do except keep marching forward, trying to look proud and confident, turning her head to bestow nods on the soldiers around her. Was this really necessary? Up ahead, in the central square, she could see even more assembled units, legion banners held high and proud. Sunlight gleamed off bright bronze and vivid silks, green, copper and red from a cohort of Sethans. Behind them was the hulking body of Zarazonnia, her snake-body letting her rear up, swords sheathed at her waist, all six arms crossed, her armour brilliantly burnished, half-hidden beneath silk robes.

The drumming got even louder, soon joined by the slamming of spear-butts on the ground. It was impossible to hear anything else, the sound deafening, so loud it even drowned out something Janaxia was trying to broadcast to her. Fortunately, Mavrosa was well-behaved, obediently trotting forward.

On the palace walls ahead and above her, she could see a pavilion had been erected, the command-flags vigorously flapping, animated by magic to draw attention to them. Stood there was Mother, in full dress armour, shining brilliantly bright.

There was a large open space at the end of the square. Stathis could see large crowds behind the soldiers, everyone trying to crane their heads and see, before trying to focus on looking appropriately combative, although she wanted nothing more than just to fly away. Every window was crowded, the whole damn city here, all looking at her!

When she reached the middle of the open space, the drumming suddenly stopped, sounds echoing for a moment and then the silence boomed, her ears taking time to adjust. Her mother jumped down from the inner wall, magical energy flaring to slow her fall, her cloak fluttering out behind her, as blue as the sky. The formation of soldiers beneath her moved to make space, armour clanking. As she fell, she spoke, words getting amplified to be as loud as the drumming.

‘The battle was long, but victory is ours! As was foretold, the light has vanquished the dark.’

Stathis had to focus to not look at the two thrones of darkness following in her wake, or the night-black steed she was riding, hoping no-one else would draw attention to them.

‘The night, which threatened to be eternal and un-ending, has fallen before the dawn. The mortal races allied together, against the greatest threat since the Black Triad! And, together, we have been victorious. An alliance, forged in blood and steel, sworn beneath the light itself, that shall be recorded in the annals of history!’

She landed, touching down in front of Stathis, smiling at her. Stathis dismounted, trying to get her feet out of her stirrups as gracefully as possible, not wanting to get them snarled and end up falling off face-first. It seemed far harder than normal, but she eventually managed it, stepping to the ground. To her side, Janaxia dispelled her throne, gracefully striding forward, taking a position a little behind Stathis, radiating smug pride, the beat of her heart rapid on Stathis’ finger.

Stathis strode forward, hoping she was moving at the right speed – brisk enough to keep things moving, but not so fast she looked nervous.

‘My daughter, Stathis, was at the forefront of the battles. She destroyed those who had bought the long night upon us. She travelled to distant Setha-in-the-Ash, to bring us unexpected allies, to turn the tide in our favour.’

Zarazonnia drew two of her blades, twisting them through a complicated series of motions, before dipping her entire humanoid body down then sheathing her swords. An “ooooo” ran through the nearby crowd, impressed by the display.

‘She destroyed the shards of darkness, the splinters of shadows, that had infested so many of our men. She has borne the light of hope, the promise of the new dawn within her.’

Stathis was trying not to wince, hoping this would be over soon. It was probably good for morale, but being stuck here, everyone staring at her, made her want to be pretty much anywhere else.

‘While there will be many troubles ahead, for now, we can celebrate a grand victory! An ancient darkness has been shattered, and the Black Triad are no longer a threat.’

Was that a hissing snicker from Skotadi? It was suddenly silenced, probably Janaxia telling her off.

‘For the first time in many centuries, the great threat of the darkness is now more. Now untroubled by our ancient foes, no longer bound by the prophecies of old. The petty disputes that divided us can be cast aside, as we move forward into a new future!’

One of the soldiers behind Mother was moving strangely, eyes unnaturally dark, mouth splitting wide into a fanged gape. Their armour shifted, their skin warping and bulging, painful-looking cracks emerging, oozing with thick black blood.

Stathis drew her sword and charged, light blazing from the blade. Sounds of panic and chaos started to ripple through the crowd, along with the sounds of violence.

The strike connected, slicing through their armour, cutting into the skin beneath. Janaxia’s eldritch blasts whizzed past her, knocking them back, letting Stathis follow up with another attack. She twisted, trying to figure out what was happening – small fights were erupting throughout the crowd. Pajaran’s hammer smashed into armour, shattering the metal as she started to fight.

Her mother drew her own sword, dodging beneath the strike of another flesh-warped attacker, their form having grown enough to splinter their armour. She sliced at them, magical blade cutting deep, slicing through a bulking, oversized arm, making it fall to the floor. Stathis lunged, piercing into their chest, their body melting away into sticky ash.

Wings flared from her back, and she jumped into the air, trying to see what was going on – there were small fights occurring throughout the various groups, weapons flashing, everyone unsure what was happening. She dove down, slashing at one attacker, then circling back around, hovering above Janaxia.

‘Do what you can to pick them off, and avoid any collateral damage!’

Then she fluttered her wings, skimming towards where the fighting looked most intense, bellowing for calm, trying to pick out those causing the damage. Amongst the elven cohort, there was suddenly a dragon, long neck snapping forward, biting through an attacker and then spitting them out, everyone else scrabbling for space, fear and panic spreading.

Stathis sighed, readying herself for combat. Why was nothing ever simple and calm!?