The deeper their carriage traveled into the Royal Capital, the more Sage understood that what they had seen from the hill had barely conveyed the city's true scale.
From above, the Capital had appeared to be one enormous mass of buildings contained behind gigantic walls, but from the street it quickly became clear that it was closer to several cities pressed together, each district possessing its own purpose, population and rhythm.
The avenue leading from the western gate remained crowded enough that their carriage rarely maintained a steady speed for more than a minute.
Wagons loaded with timber and grain occupied the heavier lanes, hired carriages constantly stopped to collect passengers, and workers pushed carts between warehouses built so close together that entire sections of the street smelled of grain, leather, spices or livestock depending on which building they were passing.
