Divided Nation

Lexington

"Hailed as one of the oldest and most respected cities in Gala, Lexington traces its origins back to the Golden Empire, around 350 BFI. Built first as a trading post with the nomads of the area, it later evolved with the founding of the Yellow Kingdom. After the Golden Empire fell, Lexington fell into Yellow Kingdom hands and still do to this day. However, their loyalties were always to themselves, never to Titian's Landfall. They participated in all of the paper rebellions against Titian's Landfall, unsuccessfully trying to separate from the kingdom via law. To this day, the rebellions have never been successful." - Galian History Book

The chariot tumbled and creaked as it was pulled across the bumpy stone floor. Another week had passed since we left the Heart. Kyxio had been true to his word, a letter from the Sea States said after about three days. He had brought an additional 5,000 soldiers up to the East Turret and were marching them up through the marshes.

     On the other hand, there was bad news. Winter was almost halfway done now, though we couldn't feel it at all, being this far West. Louis had been relentless with his attacks. The Sea State troops garrisoning the South side of the Rapids were almost constantly under attack now, with the river frozen and easy to cross.

    A letter yesterday had brought the worse news yet. A plague was sweeping across Gala. Leon believed that it had originated near the battlefields of the North-East, and it was spreading quickly. The Sea States had already lost hundreds of men to the disease and their already thin lines were starting to crack.

     "Blood Skin, the disease is called," The letter had said, "It first starts with the coughing of blood. Then the skin starts to turn red as blood seeps underneath. What follows is a total collapse of the body. There is no known cure and anyone that touches the blood of the infected will in turn be infected as well."

      Alexia had promptly ignored the letter. "The plague is in the far East," She said, "We'll be fine. It'll die before it reaches the central plains."

     Now, we were approaching the biggest city in Gala, Lexington. I had never been there before, but I heard that it was nothing like Crown's End. Crown's End was a relatively new city, being only built after the First Invasion. Lexington, on the other hand, had stood for hundreds of years.

     "You've ever been to Lexington?" I asked Alexia, trying to spark some conversation.

      "No, never been," She replied, keeping her eyes on the road. 

      There was another soldier on the chariot with us, who had been designated to drive, but Alexia had instead volunteered to take his place. We were surrounded by around 50 rough riders, soldiers in boiled leather and wooden pikes. Better than nothing, but Kyxio had taken all of the able fighters to the East, leaving us with the newbies.

     "We're approaching Lexington, your Grace!" A rider shouted, returning from a scouting party, "About 10 minutes out!"

      I nodded in acknowledgement and surveyed the land around us. Already it seemed that the country was melting away, instead being replaced by something more urban. The West was more or less like the Central Plains, being all flat land. Ideal for agriculture, but really, nothing else.

     Our riders thundered to a stop as the city came into view on the horizon. It was early morning, so there was a bit of morning mist hanging around the ground, giving the city an even more majestic look.

    They were right. Lexington was nothing like Crown's End. It was built on a naturally strategic bay, giving good trade while also keeping a defensive position. There were three walls circling each part of the city. The first wall was the highest and protected the inner most part of the city, granted where the governor and nobles all lived.