Herald of Steel

Alexander was informed of Pasha Farzah's imminent arrival by a small, fast skiff that had been sent ahead of the main fleet to alert him.

And it let Alexander know that the main fleet was 2 days away and numbered around 150 ships, with 135 cargo ships and 15 warships.

It appeared Pasha Farzah was coming here with many gifts.

The very first thing Alexander did after getting this information was breathe a sigh of relief, as finally the worry about his food shortage was alleviated.

And then he got to preparing to receive the guests.

Thus under Alexander's command, many of the extra guestrooms in his mansion were cleaned and refurnished, the security around the city tightened, and the places to hold the about-to-arrive slaves allocated.

He even reserved some high-level courtesans to entertain the guests.

And with almost no time to spare after these preparations were complete, the designated time had arrived.

On one glorious summer morning, from the harbor that expanded to the vast expanse of the ocean, a magnificent sight emerged on the horizon, as first appeared a sea of black, blue, and white sails around the horizon, with soon the sight expanding to a fleet of wooden ships, all gracefully gliding through the waters, their sails billowing in the gentle breeze.

The rhythmic creaking of the wooden hulls and the distant calls of seagulls mingled with the anticipation that filled the air as a huge crowd gathered around the harbor to greet them and the huge fleet quickly approached them to not keep them waiting.

And as the huge number of ships got closer and closer, standing on the wharf itself, Alexander could identify a variety of types of ships in the group.

There were fast, small scout ships designed similarly to the Viking longship, there were huge, wide merchant ships laden heavy with cargo, and there were sleek, maneuverable triremes which served as warships to protect them.

All of which were making their way toward the harbor, their magnificent sails fluttering in the wind, and polished wooden hulls gleaming in the sunlight, reflecting the shimmering waves beneath them.

But perhaps the most eye-catching of the group was the leading ship, which it was Pasha Farzah's personal warship, and looking at it across the harbor, Alexander certainly could not help but marvel at the grand warship.

Layla, named after Farzah's eldest daughter was a colossal feat of engineering marvel, among the biggest of the trireme class, it measured approximately 40 meters in length and 8 meters in width, making its dimensions be closer to a cargo ship, than a warship.

But the huge size did not seem to hinder its speed at all, as its sleek and streamlined hull, constructed from the best cedar wood which Matrak was famous for, reinforced with iron fittings and covered in protective bronze plating to ward off shipworms from eating the wood, seemed to cut through the water like butter.

The entire hull was painted in a regal shade of deep red, symbolizing the might and authority of the Pasha, and at the prow (front) of the ship stood a magnificent beast head, sculpted in the likeness of a huge black bear that inhabited the cold outback of Matrak.

This revered animal of the province was crafted from shining bronze and painted a dazzling gold, with its eyes gleaming with fiery gemstones, which seemed to make the animal exude a sense of power and dominance that could strike awe and reverence in all those who dared to gaze upon it.

The bear was most certainly the most striking feature of the ship, but not the only one, for there were many other ornate decorations and embellishments throughout.

The hull had many frescos, gilded reliefs, and intricate carvings depicting scenes of victorious battles as well as pictures of Ramuh that seemed to seek the protection of the almighty god from the wrath of the sea.

Within the ship's interior laid a grand war room, lavishly decorated with marble floors, intricate mosaics, and richly upholstered furniture, with maps and charts adorning the walls which proudly displayed the vast coastal resources controlled by the Matrak province and marked many of the places of the ship's conquests.

While outside, the stern of the vessel was graced with a lavish pavilion, where the ship's commander, adorned in resplendent armor, oversaw the operations with authority and presence.

Alexander suspected whether he had not glimpsed at a huge, bear-like figure of a man sitting on a magnificent throne on the ship's deck.

But it was possible that his eyes mistook that something else, as the ship's sails, made of fine linen, and dyed the same vibrant shade of red as the hull and emblazoned with the iconic black bear, when unfurled, these majestic sails would catch the wind and propel the ship forward with great speed, making it a formidable force on the open seas.

This trireme which stood 4 meters above the sea level might be huge, but it was no slouch, capable of covering 8 knots per hour under high tides.

Its speed was further augmented by three levels of oars, holding 170 skilled rowers positioned on each side, with the oars themselves being meticulously crafted from sturdy oak, with intricately carved handles painted in gold leaf.

And as the ship slowly paved its way into the harbor, the synchronized movement of the rowers created a mesmerizing rhythm, as the sound of trumpets and drums resonated through the air, signaling their arrival, while the crew members on the decks scurried about, adjusting the rigging and preparing to dock.

The men then expertly skillfully guided the vessels into their designated berths with great finesse, securing them with ropes and anchors, and as the 'Layla' settled into their resting places, a sense of majesty and prestige seemed to envelop the scene.

'Well he certainly knows how to come in style,' Alexander smirked at the grand display, as he then quickly took Cambyses to greet the man exiting the ship.

"Esteemed prime minister, welcome to Zanzan. I hope your journey has been smooth and without worries," Alexander and Cambyses lightly bowed as the elder gentleman, lavishly dressed in golden robes and sporting a mass of white hair and beard disembarked.

Being currently the prime minister, the man was technically a bit above Alexander's peerage, hence the show of respect.

"Hahaha, so you are alive brat. Good, good," The bear-like man let out a huge, happy roar as he stepped on the concrete harbor, and then heavily slapped Alexander's shoulders to show his happiness.

From the looks of it, it appeared he was genuinely happy to see Alexander alive.

"All by the grace of His Majesty and the gods," Alexander only replied with the same hackneyed words, to which the elder pasha only smirked.

He knew certainly very well how 'high' an esteem the boy held Ptolomy at.

But such matters were never suitable to be revealed to the public, and so he then quickly turned his attention to Cambyses, who handed him a bouquet of flowers decorated.

These flowers were not organic but made from the finest linen, and colored bright red, blue, yellow, and even the most expensive color in the world-purple.

They were then adorned with gold and silver chains around the buds, and glued with various colorful gems on the petals, making the entire structure look like a present from the gods themselves.

Alexander had ordered this made a few months ago in anticipation of the Pasha's arrival.

"It is our honor to have you visit our small city, my lord," Cambyses dressed in her finest handed the present over, while Farzah laughed and greeted back,

"Hahaha, Shordar (Baron) Cambyses, congratulations on your marriage. I see that you have become even more radiant than the last time we saw you."

Following this, the elder pasha then moved on to greet the others who were also there, starting from the Queen mother, to Mikaya, to at last the twins.

"Azira, Azura, how are you?" And Pasha Farzah perhaps let out his loudest greeting when meeting his granddaughters, as he then even took both of them up in his arms, making the act of lifting around 60 kg with one arm look effortless.

The man might be in his mid-fifties, but he was no weakling.

While Pasha Farzah continued his continued, his entourage slowly made their way down too.

The first surprise for Alexander was Nanazin and her daughters, who, it appeared that the pasha had managed to smuggle out of Adhan.

"It is a great pleasure to see you again, lord Alexander," The curly-haired, voluptuous beauty and her three daughters gracefully bowed at Alexander, though Alexander would not help but notice the haggard face and the stiff movement of the mother.

Alexander did not know much of what happened to Nanazin in the last six months, but he had some inkling given how hopeful the tone in her voice was.

It was unmistakable.

"Pasha Alexander greets the Queen. Your Grace's presence honors this little noble," Outwardly Alexander gave a full noble's bow, and then turned to greet the triplets give a similar greeting.

While the mother did not bother to hide her scorn for the respectful reception and particularly word queen.

She was not here blaming Alexander, but just her own powerlessness as she knew that Alexander was very likely aware of just how little that word applied to her.

While Alexander finished receiving the queen, and then moved on to his last surprise, which was Lady Inayah!

It appeared the lady had also decided to see how Alexander was doing.