the
technological ability—to separate its large cities into multiple
levels to minimize crowding. They had human janitors clean the
streets only when they could be bothered to clean them at all, and
they could never work fast enough to keep the streets from getting
dirty again almost as soon as they'd begun. Magus was captivated by
the mechanical street cleaners that worked so diligently at their
tasks. He admired the buildings that were tall enough to touch the
sky with their metallic spires, and he was warmed by the positive
energy that all of the people seemed to possess, even in a time of
war. Perhaps he might have fared better on the streets if the streets
back home were more like the streets here.
That's a load of bull, he
scolded himself, forcing such a thought away. The
streets are theeyes just sparkling in the summer sun...

The
dirt road that led out to the Palace of the Jewel was too rough for
the carriage to manage. They abandoned it by the signboard, and Magus
heard Leana turn a key in a padlock. He reached for Leana's hand as
they walked. The air was still, the reeds and grasses lightly rustled
by the breeze that gave the two a welcome relief from the summer
heat. Something
is wrong, thought
Magus suddenly, and no matter how he told himself not to be silly, he
couldn't shake the thought. He turned to Leana, but the archmage's
face was neutral. He let go of her hand and quickened his pace.

“Magus!” Leana called
after him. “Where are you going?”

“There's something wrong,
Leana!” he said without looking back at her.

“Something
wrong with what?” she inquired, and Magus