"It's . . . not as I envisioned it," Kutur said nervously. Of course, he was imagining the form of the bathhouse, he had thought on the lines of something more . . . human. His mind hearkened back to his own youth, studying as an apprentice in the University of Constantsea, marveling at the grand structures of the human city, not least of which was the bathhouse, easily fitting thousands of concurrent bathing citizens. "The draconic influence upon the design is certainly prominent. I shall go and take a look at those libraries. Do you think you can manage the little ones alone for a bit?"
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"Are the soldiers rallied?" Mardex asked. An officer, clad in full armor, nodded curtly. "Excellent." He turned to his quartermaster Zandex and gestured that he join him by the window. "Look out that window there. Do you see that?" Mardex continued, pointing out at the rising cloud of dust. "Infringement. How many times has it been this year alone? I don't have the numbers, maybe you do. See, this is why we keep constant vigil." A military courier ran up the stairs, himself dressed in mail.

"The men await your command at the fort's entrance, my lord. They are growing restless. Legate Ajax says-" the courier began, but Mardex interrupted him.

"I know what Legate Ajax said, even before he sent you," Mardex groaned. He slapped the messenger's shoulder, his talon meeting the mail with a sharp clank. "Ajax, Ajax. If he weren't such a good taskmaster, I would have thrown that reckless beast out of my force. Shame, that I cannot spare him. Run back down to him, let him know that I will be on my way, and I'll get there when I get there. If he protests, well, threaten him with something on my command. I don't care what, as long as it gets him to quiet down. Do you think you can do that?" The messenger nodded, and rushed off, clattering down the stairs. "Can't get good help these days, not out here at any rate," Mardex says, half to Zandex and half to himself. "Get your armor, you're coming with me to meet them in the field. It's lucky that we have exactly what it is they don't," he smirked, then. "I hope you've brushed up on your red discipline. It's all the rage back in the city, isn't it?"