Lady Jiao stood atop the highest balcony of Golden Blade Palace, her golden robes catching the desert wind. Below, the city sprawled like a living organism, its borders shifting with each new arrival. What was empty sand yesterday bloomed into a vibrant marketplace today.
Merchant caravans rolled through the streets, their wheels kicking up dust as they sought prime locations. Tribal leaders planted their standards - some bearing ancient symbols, others displaying newly minted crests. Their tents rose from the ground in a spectrum of colors, from deep crimsons to royal purples.
A particularly gaudy pavilion caught her eye. Its owner had draped the entire structure in golden silk, with precious gems sewn into the fabric. The display drew crowds of onlookers, exactly as intended.
"Such obvious attempts at grandeur," Lady Jiao muttered, her lip curling slightly.
