Solae and Rene followed Lithyll into the small palace that evidently served as his dwelling. There had been nothing on the overflight to suggest that the Kalderi, at least in this city, had anything recognizable as public buildings. Any Imperial settlement would have government centers, public service hubs and the other amenities of a community, the Kalderi seemed to be doing without such things, or perhaps they existed in a form too unfamiliar to the humans to be recognisable. Even Lithyll’s manor, though grand was indistinguishable from a half dozen other similar structures the sensors had imaged during the descent.

The interior of the building was surprisingly airy. Rene had expected that the towers on the exterior would make the inside space cramped and segmented, but the opposite was true, it was though they were within the bellows that powered a vast pipe organ with delicate stair ways tracing upwards into the towers above. It was also literally airy. Gentle breezes blue from a dozen different directions, not strong but obviously present. Works of textured art covered the walls, some were clearly designed to channel the winds, and Rene suspected if he understood the principles better, the less obvious ones did also. 

“You come to us at an interesting time,” Lithyll explained as he lead them into one of the wings of the manor.

“I was pleased to be the one to take responsibility for you,” he continued before glancing at the humans. Seeing no obvious reaction the alien elaborated.

“I understand that in your Empire you have very strict hierarchies, an Empress, Nobles, Lords and so on. Even governors and elected officials. Among the Kalderi we prefer those in position and with an interest to take charge, for the Good of All.”  

They entered a large circular room which was created by the base of one of the towers. Smaller rooms, separated by archways with what looked like falling water created the doors. Rene experimentally reached out and touched one of the doors, surprisingly it had form to it, though it wasn't quite solid, perhaps some kind of force field. Noticing this Lithyll reached out and placed his hand on the door and then rotated it. The door vanished as though it had never existed revealing a bed chamber beyond. Reversing the motion the door appeared again blocking the view.

“Unlike humans we enjoy the circulation of air, my people would feel trapped if we closed them off the way you do,” Lithyll explained. He gestured them all to seats around a central table made of some kind of polished stone. As protocol dictated Rene waited for Solae to seat herself before settling into his own chair. Lithyll waited for the whole party to be seated before taking his own ease. The long limbed alien seemed to fold himself into the chair crossing his legs as a human child would have done.
“I know you must be weary from your travels, but I have arranged for a … social gathering for tonight. Many of the Kalderi who make decisions on...Ranal Pindi,” he said, clearly pausing before choosing the human name for the world, “will be in attendance.”