One month after the passes fell, Aiden stood on the observation deck of the sky-palace as it drifted south above the Great River. The vessel no longer flew alone.
Below it, a reinforced fleet of captured barges and armed riverboats stretched for miles. Troops moved between decks with crisp efficiency, their gear marked with the new imperial sigil. The river was the prize.
Whoever held it controlled trade, food, and movement for half the continent. Right now, the cities and barge lords along it played both sides. Aiden intended to end that game today.
The first stop was Highbank and Stoneford, two cities separated by a crumbling dam that had leaked threats of flood for three generations.
Aiden gave no speeches about loyalty. He simply acted. The sky-palace settled into position above the dam while engineers and Golden Womb operators descended on ropes.
