Caelus had painted a grim, complicated picture of the kingdom they were about to enter. It was a land of ghosts and tyrants, of open threats and hidden daggers.
Riku leaned forward. He rested his chin on his steepled fingers. He looked at the map, then back at Caelus.
"The Triumvirate and the Great Houses are the big picture," Riku said, his voice thoughtful. "But what about the small picture? Where do normal people live?"
Caelus looked at him, confused. "Normal people? They live where they are told. In the mining towns. The farming villages. The fishing ports. Why does that matter?"
"It matters because that's where you find real people," Riku replied. "Not just politicians and generals. Tell me about the smaller towns between here and the capital. Are there any local powerhouses we should be wary of? A town run by a retired legionnaire? A merchant guild with a stranglehold on a local trade route?"
