Serena gazed in awe at the towering walls of the Capitol. As the carriage rumbled through the large stone archway, Umar's sights and wonders unfolded around her. Peasants carried baskets of goods, and drove past in wagons filled with hay. Children ran through the streets, laughing and chasing one another.
         Passing through the market square, Serena marveled at how many merchants there were, calling out to passers by hoping to sell them some trinkets. Some were selling foreign fruits and vegetables, and others were auctioning off animals Serena had never seen before.
I'll have to convince Uncle to take me there one day, Serena thought as the carriage drove out of sight of the market and into the richer part of the city. Stone houses that were two stories high surrounded her, with miniature gardens in the front. Small, compared to the gardens at her castle home, but still beautiful. The carriage soon was passing through another large archway and into the castle grounds.
Nobles stood in various places around the vast courtyard, decked out in fine robes and chatting with one another. Some eyed Serena as she passed by, staring at them through the carriage window, muttering and whispering to one another. Serena leaned back in her seat, not wanting to be stared at. She slid to the other window and poked her head out.
A sprawling garden met her eyes, filled with peach trees, rose bushes and a marvelous fountain, spewing crystal-clear water from the mouth of a baby angel, holding a harp. A voice sounded close to her ear.
"Did you know that the fountain was enchanted by an Alubi?"
Serena rolled her eyes and looked at her tutor, who sat in the seat opposite her. He was a prim man, with a navy buttoned up coat, a pointed chin, and a monacle perched on his right eye. His blue eyes bored into her through a thin curtain of greasy brown hair. He smiled slightly and continued. "Long ago, as a gift to the emperor, a very famous Alubi enchanted that fountain so that the water would never stop flowing. A noble present, but sadly, only a mere decoration."
He peered out the window as they crossed over a wooden drawbridge. "If I could, I would give the emperor something worthy of everyone's admiration. Something useful."
Serena had to suppress the urge to roll her eyes again.
The carriage slowed down and came to stop before large wooden doors, covered with ornate spirals. A man, holding hands with a woman, stood before them, smiling widely as the carriage door was opened. Serena rushed out and yelled, "Uncle!" The man laughed and caught Serena in a hug. The two stood there embracing each other. Serena pulled away and hugged the woman, who was laughing as well.
        Serena took a step back and beamed widely at both of them. "It's good to see you both!"
        The man nodded and asked, "How was the journey here?"
       "Oh it was fine," Serena replied, glancing back at her tutor, who was just now climbing out of the carriage. "But he wouldn't stop talking about the emperor." She turned back to her Aunt and Uncle. "I think he'd move here if his job didn't pay as well as it did."
        "Well-"
        "Jacob!"
        A man, dressed in the finest robes Serena had ever seen, walked through the large wooden doors, looking at her uncle. He smiled widely at the trio, his hazel eyes glinting in the reflecting light. He looked down at Serena and asked inquiringly, "Is this the niece you told me about?"
        Jacob nodded. "The one and only. Serena," he pulled Serena towards in front of him. "I'd like you to meet the my old friend, Emperor Cornelius." Serena curtsied and studied the golden rings on the emperor's fingers.
Cornelius nodded slightly. "I see she has good manners."
"Her tutor told us she was a little lady most of the time," Jacob said, looking at Serena's tutor who had walked up next to him. The tutor beamed at Cornelius and bowed low to the ground. "It is a great honor your majesty," he said excitedly, "To be in the presence of one who is of great hon-"
"Come, Jacob," Cornelius said, cutting off the tutor, "And I'll show Serena to her quarters. It's been specially prepared for her, and has one of the best views in all the kingdom." He grabbed Jacob's shoulder and steered him towards the doors, everyone else closely following.