The next day,
If Rurik's style was "Rustic Fortress," Rajah's style was "Aggressive Luxury."
The airship waiting for them at the Capital docks wasn't just a ship. It was a floating palace. The hull was plated in gold leaf. The sails were made of crimson silk embroidered with tigers. The figurehead was a roaring tiger made of solid ruby.
It was blinding in the morning sun.
"Is this necessary?" Primrose asked, shielding her eyes. "It's very... shiny."
"It is magnificent!" Rajah declared, striding up the gangplank with Arjun in tow. "A Tiger King does not travel in a wooden box! We travel in style! The sun must know we are coming!"
Caspian followed, looking deeply skeptical. He was holding Orion's hand.
"It looks heavy," Caspian noted. "If this thing crashes, the gold plating alone will kill us."
"It won't crash!" Rajah shouted over his shoulder. "It runs on high-grade Solar Stones! It is the fastest ship in the Empire!"
