smelt clean and fresh, like Tamzin's skin after her bath. There were purple flowers that grew on the trees and wrapped around them in vines. Will was enraptured by the sight.
"No wonder more people want to live in the South," Garrett said behind Will as he reached out and picked a purple flower. He brought it up to his nose and inhaled deeply. "I have no words for how good this smells." Garrett handed Will the flower and Will tucked it into the bridle around Angus.
When he looked up, he saw the grandest outer walls he had ever seen. Thurston's gates were made of iron and other metals, while this gate was a cream white and solid. The actual gates were a darker marble of sorts, with a large "R" in the middle.
"Halt!" a brusque voice called out and Will looked up the high walls to see an entire line of archers pointing their arrows at him and his men. "We have no orders from the King to expect visitors."
"I am Prince William Thurston of Thurston Territory. I am traveling with one thousand Thurston men and my wife, Her Royal Highness Princess Tamzin Thurston of Thurston and Roth Territory," Will called out with his hands around his mouth to project the sound.
The archer looked taken aback as he turned to his men and they conversed for a brief second.
"Present the Princess!" the archer called back to Will. "You present her and she confirms who you are, we will let you in." The archer seemed suspicious of Will and his men. He could only imagine how he was portrayed to these men after Turner Roth returned home after his wedding. Will handed the reins to Garrett to hold onto Angus as he hopped down.
As he walked, Will removed his jerkin completely and held it in his hand as he approached the wagon where Tamzin was resting. She was sitting up when she saw him approaching her and she sat up on her knees, her belly protruding more.
"Will?" Tamzin began as she approached the edge of the wagon. "Is everything okay?"
"There is an archer that won't let us in until he sees you," Will said as he held out his hand. He approached her again and picked her up like a child, with his hands beneath her armpits and lifted her effortlessly. Her feet touched the ground and she took his hand.
"It's most likely Rolf," Tamzin said their fingers laced together. The men watched as Tamzin led Will back towards Angus and the entrance to Roth Territory. "I've missed home," she said as she breathed in the fragrant air. She craned her neck up to look up at the archers and raised her hand towards them. "Rolf, is that you?"
"Princess Tamzin? We wanted to make sure that this man is who he says he is," Rolf responded as he glared at Will.
"This is Prince William and his men. Please open the gates. I need to speak to my father," Tamzin said in a strong voice. Will turned to look at her as Rolf and his men began to open the gates. On the other side of the gate was the courtyard, surrounded by trees with white and pink flowers. With the gate open, Tamzin stepped forward, with Will in tow, and he saw the Roth Palace for the first time.
In front of the palace were the homes of the Roth people. They were huts, like in Thurston, but were much better made. The people wore shorter breeches and sleeveless dresses. The men didn't have longer hair or thick beards and the women wore their hair high on their heads to expose their necks, backs, and shoulders. There were miles between the entrance to Roth and the first steps to the palace, but Tamzin pushed past the people who had begun to congregate around Will and his Northern men in interest.
"Tamzin!" Will called out, which made her stop. He ran to her, where he put his arms around her. "Tamzin, I..."
"It's best if I speak to my father first, Will," Tamzin interrupted before she cocked her head to see Rolf and some of his men come down from their post. "Rolf, please assist my husband and his men. We have been traveling for three days and my husband's men have been through a war and more."
"Yes,