The River of Two Realms

By the following afternoon, the expedition arrived at the historic border city of Aethelgard. Built across the mighty Aethelgard River, the city was a breathtaking fusion of two distinct architectural civilizations. On the high northern cliffs stood the dragon quarter—towers of dark volcanic stone, open-air aeries for flying drakes, and massive forge towers billowing blue smoke. On the southern banks sprawled the human quarter—half-timbered houses, bustling grain markets, and stone…