"It is certainly that," she said; Starfall's 'ugly' fortress had been a fallback to keep its people safe during the Eclipse, and even during particularly violent blizzards. "And Kalzasi can certainly be overwhelming."
Kala rather enjoyed the chaos of it, but then she had grown up in such a quiet place where everyone knew everybody else. The chaos had been a nice change for a young woman, and she was a young woman still, but now she bore the yoke of responsibility not only for her family's finances, but for trade relations throughout Karnor. The thing she was proudest of in that regard was reestablishing trade with Zaichaer and its allies; economic ties between Kalzasi and Zaichaer were important for regional stability and a deterrent to war.
For all that Naori had claimed her as a daughter of chaos, she did like there to be order.
Acquiescing to his decision, she stayed in the cart. No doubt there would be plenty of walking to be done in and around the fortress. This would be educational. Not only was she curious about the Dawnmartyrs, whose stories she had grown up hearing, but she had her own nascent order, the Silver Wings, to think about. For the time being, they were a mercenary troop, their contract supported by House Leukos.
But they all knew who she was. They knew Who she was. Whether they became shining knights like Pahoren and his, or something else, remained to be seen. But they were hers.
A few people waved or called greetings, either to Pahoren, Inume, or all of them. She smiled and waved back. It was always heartening to see happy people. That was what all her labor was for, in the end.
"The Imperium is a strange place. Strange magic, strange technology. The people are merely people. They aren't evil, though many have been taught to accept evils as truth. They treated me well enough, but if they knew of my parentage, they might have incarcerated me with the hopes that an Avialae-blooded mother would be better able to withstand forced childbirth."
She sighed; body horror avoided.
